Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02
~ one ZSO <12-Y
g. %a P1szA9e Stamp

verified into sheets. accurately sized and cut,
and finally sent to the bureau of engraving
and printing at Washington. A postage
stamp is a little thing, and millions of them
are made every day at the great govern
ment engraving bureau. yet between the
time the stamp is a part of tree and the
time 1t is pasted to letter 1t goes through
wonderful series of transformations and
experiences.
The paper is sent from the pulp mills to
factory at Lockhaven. Pa. where all the
paper for the stamps Is made under con-
tract with the Treasury Department by
open public bids. 1t is of peculiar quality,
and must not vary in the slightest degree.
1t comes to the bureau in the form of sheets
which will make exactly four hundred
stamps of the regulation size. These sheets
are carefully counted several times before
they even reach the printer. Great presses
are employed to stamp the blank sheets.
die containing four hundred intaglio en-
cravings of the stamp that is to be is
fixed In the rolling press, the operator inks
1t carefully after each sheet passes through
under the deft fingers of a woman operator
and the press does the rest.
Ready to Stick.
The sheet is then a solid one, containing
four hundred impressions of the stamps.
They are not yet perforated, nor are they
gummed. These are separate operations.
and before the little stamp Is ready for the
pubic 1t Will have to pass through many
hands. From the printer 1t goes to the
room where the perforations and cuttings
are made. Girls at machines pass the
sheets under the flying saws and pins, and
the perforations are made, while the sheet
is slit exactly in the middle, for facility of
handling. But they are not yet gummed,
and this is perhaps one of the most inter
esting of all the life history of the stamp
until 1t gets beyond the bounds of the post
office and starts on its world travels.
The gum with which It is treated is of the
purest quality from Arabia, and by a novel
invention is kept at exactly the correct con
slstency all the time. Above the rolls through
which the stamped sheets are passed is a
funnel filled with the gum. This drips upon
the rolls, which is turn revolve as the sheets
pass beneath them on canvas belts on their
way to the drying room There is con-
slant stream of the Sheets and as they are
gummed they are passed to drying ma
CHIMES, which in a short time do their work
and the colored papers are curled at the
edges and otherwise rather diSreputable
looking. 1t would not seem that they could
ever be fattened again. But a hydraulic
press soon settles this doubt in the mind,
and they come forth fiat as the proven
bal tiounder, only more so, for they are
fiat as a new bank note, than which moth
ing conceivable can be fatter.
The sheets are then counted again and yet
again finally, in packages of thousands and
subdivisions of thousands and hundreds. are
sent to the post offices of the country as
they are called for by the varying demand.
The little stamp is then fairly on it's way
into the great world and its real expert
ences as stamp are about TO begin and
end in the fireplace or the ash heap, for
the end is certainly ignominious Through
many post offices some of them pass From
the window where 1t is sold, following the
course of the individual member of this in
teresting family, it will be kissed perhaps
by dainty lips and stuck to a perfumed
note destined for some waiting lover Into
the corner letter box it is incontinentIy cast
and hidden God-speed
Stages of It's Journey.
Later the gray-coated- postman comes
along his key rattles IN the lock and the
letter and stamp are drawn forth and
thrust into his leather bag, to be carried
to the post office. Scores of busy clerks
gather the letters, among which is the one
letter whose course is being followed. Into
the cancelng machines they are thrust,
there to have their beautiful faces scoriated
by the straight or wavy lines of ink, the
name of the city. the year, day, month and
hour of cancellation. 1t is not 50 pretty
an object now when my lady pressed
it to her tongue and attached it TO her low
ers letter, yet it is more bustness-hke and
will soon be doing its hidden duty. Again
into a bundle destined for the same place
it is placed and thrown carefully, yet with
no gentleness of motion, into a huge leather
| pouch, which is strapped and locked with
the seal of the United States Into mail
wa gon goes the pouch and thence to the
railroad depot. Here it is given in the
! charge of the postal clerks, who again open
the pouch and piseon-hole the letter. later
to be again gathered up and put into
another pouch tagged with the name of the
city where lives the waiting lover.
Arriving at its postal destination. the
stamp and letter ere again handled many
times before the letter carrier finally rings
the door bell and hands the missive to the
waiting servant. If 1t is not preserved as
is the fate of only the lovers and other
dearly-cherished letters. the little stamp is
cast into the waste basket and its end
comes with suddenness in the flames. Its
mission has been performed, and it ends its
days ''unwcpt unhonored and unsung.'