Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-08-20
the STAMPS THAT STICK
II In Claimed That They were Al"
vented by an Irishman.

A writer in the New York Press says
adhesive stamps were made expert
mentally bv James Chalmers in his
printing office at Dundee, Scotland IN
August, 1884. These experimental
stamps were printed from ordinary
TYNE and were made adhesive by
wash of gum. "a note in the Encyclo-
pedia Britannica, page 5s5, Post once
reform Ninth, 1877 Lord Monteagle'
then Spring Rice, the chancellor OF the
Excheouer. seemed to have no thought
of adhesive stamps. He recommended
to the treasury that stamped covers anu
sheets of paper be supplied from the
stamp office, and that the various
weights be ]egibly printed on the paper
and also the postage, so that the posi-
Office would be relieved from calculate
ing internal revenue. But here was the
possibility that persons who could not
read might bring unstamped letters:
How should this difficulty be avoided?
Then came the thought that a bit OF
paper Just big enough to bear the stamp
might be used, and that the back OF 1t
might be covered with a glutinous wash.
It is a fair inference that this alterna-
tive had been suggested from without.
$50 says the Britannfca.) A
Inow propose to show where this sug-
gestion came from. Adhesive postage
stamps have for many sA>S Seen IN use
in every civilized and semi-civilize<'
country in the world, and yet the name
of the person who first suggested their
use has never yet been published. This
person was Thomas Bewley, of White
Church, about six miles from the city
of Dublin Mr.. Bewley was very in
genious man, having obtained patents
for various improvements in mail
coaches and a diploma and medal from
the Royal society for a valuable essay
and suggestions regarding the impor-
lance of ventilation, particularly in pub
lie buildings of popular resort. 1t will
be remembered by those old enough
that when the penny postage was first
instituted in 1910 through the persist
ent agitation of Mr.. Rowland Hill and
the parliamentary energy and influence
of Hon. Spring Rice, the chancellor of
the exchequer, an envelope of peculiar
paper with an elaborate design by
celebrated artist of that day, William
Mulready, was first employed by the
British government for the transmits
sion of letters. The use of this envelope
did not give general satisfaction. More
over, shopkeepers and others got in the
habit of printing advertisements on the
reverse side, which was objected to by
the authorities, who contended that
such advertisements were taxable
in the same manner as those printed and
circulated in newspapers.
1t was at this point that Mr.. Bewley
wrote to the chancellor of the ex-
chequer and suggested that an adhesive
stamp be designed and printed by the
government, to be attached to any let
ter, whether Enclosed in an envelope or
written on folded sheet, hitherto COM
monty used. Mr.. Bewley received a
courteous reply from Mr.. Rice. stating
that the suggestion was an excellent
one, and that he would urge it's adoption
by the post office authorities. 1t was
adopted. The stamps represented the
head of the youthful queen, and were
printed in black printers ink. the can
collation. or DETACHMENT being effected
by red stamp. Shortly after their ap-
pearance Mr.. Bewley discovered that
the red ink used to deface the stamps
was easily removed by immersing the
stamps for a short time in a weak solu-
ton of chloride of lime and sulphuric
acid. He again wrote to Mr.. Rice in
forming him of this fact. and saving
that the very stamp on the lstter he was
then writing had been used before, but
that under the circumstances he hoped
he would not be liable to prosecution for
defrauding the government.
Mr.. Rewley in this letter suggested
that stamps should be printed in an
evanescent color. and that the deface-
ment should be effected by printers or
come other irdelihle ink. Mr.. Rice
courteously acknowledged this letter,
thanking Mr.. Bewley in the warmest
manner and assuring him that the i'm
mediate adoption of this suggestion was
matter of necessity on the part of the
government.
This is the true history Of the ad-
hesive postage stamp. We would rather
not be obliged to add that Mr.. Bewlcv
IN no shape or way ever received recon-
pense from the British government for
his valuable suggestions. AS contrast
to this it may be mentioned that orig
lnally the stamps (printed in sheets)
could only be separated by the use of
knife or scissors, and that the inventor
OF the perforation enabling the stamps
to be easily separated received 6 10000
for his invention. He was business
man. Mr.. Bcwley was not.-S. How
land, in st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
A New Kind of Squash.
Little Sadie had never seen a WATER
melon. One of her neighbors sent her