The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-08-11
ROMANCE IN POSTAGE STAMPS.
Proud MT. conneIl-cIever Captain
 Leary-The King of Sedang.

From the Elder Monthly.
 The first postmaster of New Bruns- wick, a certain MT. Connell, lost his place because of vanity and postage stamps.
 MT. Connell had an Idea that his own portrait would look quite as well on the new stamps of the colony as would Queen Victorias familiar features, and he de- lghtedly carried out his idea.
 The government, however, showed cruel lack of appreciation. The stamps were demonetized and the ambitious post master was discharged. The result is that those little paper pictures of the conceit- ed MT. Connell are now worth hundreds of dollars.
 The death of Captain Leary in 1901 recalled another philatelic romance. When Guam was ceded to the United States Capt. Richard P Leary was appointed governor. Before he started for his dis tant province he applied to the depart ment for some stamps
 The bureau of engraving and printing gave him a supply of United States stamps, surcharged Guam" The day before Captain Leary sailed some deal CTS and collectors discovered the fact or the new issue and managed to interview him on the boat before he sailed. The Captain refused to sell the stamps, even though fabulous offers were made.
 The collectors were not to be thus baked, however, and within a few months after his arrival at Guam Captain Iearv was overwhelmed with letters containing stamps, money orders, checks and drafts in payment for the new stamps. It is said that orders and cash were received for more than ten times the whole issue of stamps
 Being a business man, the governor did not see why Uncle Sam should not profit by this case of excessive demand, so he ordered a new supply of stamps from Washington. Even this second lot did not last long, Before another supply could be ordered Guam became a part of the United States system, and now regu- lar United States stamps are used there. But it is a fact that the mail matter to and from Guam increased a hundredfoid during the short term of Learys govern orship.
 In many collections are seen a set of stamps bearing the name Sedang. It will puzzle most people even to place the country, but there is a unique history connected with the stamps scarcely re membered today except by the philatel- ist. few years ago there died of a cobra bite, on a small island of the Malay Peninsula a man known as the king of the Sedangs.
 He was a Frenchman whose real name was Marie David de Marena. wan derer in the Far East, he had met with many adventures. and finally on account of some unusual display of bravery be was elected king of the Sedangs, native tribe inhabiting the interior region be- yond Annam in Africa. Here he ruled Tor a number of years with a somewhat laughabe dignity, establishing relations with the French missionaries and making treaties with France.
 Later he visited Hongkong and tried to interest some of the merchants in nego- tiation by which they were to develop the country in return for certain duties on exports, but the French government denounced him as an imposter.
 Then he offered himself and his coun- try to the British. but strange to say they would have nothing to do with him. Next he tried Germany, and was so in discreet as to send an open telegram which. passing through the French office at Saigon, was read, and he was ordered