Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-05-05
MOBILES REVENGE.
he GOT EVEN WITH THE AUTHOR
oE.THE SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP.

The Actors Letter of Congratulations to
Postmaster General villas Withdrawn
For sumoient Reasons, Which Appear
In This Story. .......:.
Milton Mobiles, the actor and author,
and Senator Villas were schoolmates in
Madison s5 years ago, and they went
from the schcolhouse to the war to-
gether. Mobiles thinks good deal Of
his old schoolmate and is proud Of the
distinction he has won among the great
men of his party.
When the special delivery stamp
made its appearance, Senator Villas,
who was then postmaster general, re-
Deived many complimentary letters,
among them cne from Mobiles. The rest
pf the story is best told by the author.
himself:
when / wrote this letter of congrat-
ulation to the general, I hadn't had ,oc-
casion to use or receive any of the
Btamps, but the idea, seemed to me to
be good one. I was spending week
at home in Brooklyn at the. time. One
bitter morning about 8 o'clock l was
awakened by what seemed TO me. to be
the ringing of all the fire bells in
Brooklyn. Showing my head out OF the
second story window. I could see a
mufHed figure ON the steps below jerk
ing the bell with savage fury. What is
itf' ! asked. At that moment the bell
wire broke, and the figure fell back
ward down the steps. The snow was
knee deep, and the wind was blowing
90 miles an hour. AS the figure rolled
down the steps could hear some choice
specimens Of explosive English in
familiar accent, mingled with some
thing about letter, special delivery
After removing chains and bolts
opened the outer door, and the messen.
ger blew into the yestibule in q sheet OF
now.
"'What is it? What have you got!'
Letter
,"'What the Helen Blazes are you
bringing letter here for at this time Of
night2' 49,.
Especial delivery, sir, please
''I backed into the hall and slid my
hand all over the wall. trying to find
the matchsafe. The vestibule was full
Of snow, and had commenced sneez-
ing; -. ,.:-,, -.,,
ed. Bang went the door and out went
my match Just as I had got the gas
turned on. The messenger bumped up
against me In the dark, stepped ON my
toes and shook a shoveiful Of snow of
his shoulders about my feet, filling my
slippers and dropping down my back.
/ finally succeeded in lighting the gas,
Bigning the book, pushing the messen-
ger out and boiling the door. Then I
went mp stairs with my prize. 1'exam-.
lined the long blue stamp carefully. It
was the first one that had received.
Then ! devoted about five minutes to
wondering what the dickens it was all
about. After a time it occurred to me
to open it and see. The handwriting
was unknown, but the refrain was IA
miliar. Here 1t Is:
"sHEBoraAs. Wis. Jan. ID.
"Milton Mobiles, ESQ.,:
"DEAR S1R-You viii doubtless be surprised
ut receiving this letter from an entire stran'
ger. But feel that was born to be an actor.
az am but %. 8 feet Q. light curly hair, blue
eyes and have played several parts with the
sheboygan Amateur society. tnclose notices.
Ny family object to my going ON the stage, but
I feel that It Ii my duty, and rs would only
ioin first class company my friends urged
mo to write to you. Should like to play lovera'
parts. ! Eaw you play In Mil '- 's -