The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-01
Postal Possibilities OF The Balkan Mia UD
aR n HM b a a nr.

Whatever else happens war is always followed by two things--peace and a new postage stamp. It does not mat ter where the war or who the warriors the. cause at issue is settled sooner or later, and then the stamp appears
 The present critical situation In the Balkans will not be an exception to the rule. Indeed, the probabilities are that in the event of direct hostiltties not one or one series of stamps, but two or three or four will be the out come and from as many different coun- tries. The reason of this Is that at this moment a half dozen countries are interested in the tangle and the political conditions in each would be so affected by war that the present subject matter of the stamps would necessarily be changed to coincide with the altered complexion of affairs.
 War and revolution have already played a prominent part In postal pie ture changes in these very states.
 The Bulgarian stamps of 1879 were issued as a result of that country hav- ing secured semi-independence through the Turco- Russian war. That same historical event was responsible for the 1881 stamps of Eastern Roumelia. In 1885 stamps of South Bulgaria were the outcome of revolution in Eastern Roumelia and the attempt of the peo- pie of that. state to join their fortunes with the Bulgarians.
 The 1879 stamps of Bosnia were also the result of the Turco-Russian war, and followed the occupation of Bosnia by Austrian troops.
 The Servian uprising a few years ago when the unfortunates King Alex ander and his bride were slain In their palace resulted in new stamp issues within few. weeks. Pending the manufacture of the necessary dies for printing these stamps the old stamps showing a picture of the dead king were used with a grim surchargeed that resembled nothing so much as grinning skull. These issues are even yet known as the death mask" stamps.
 At the present time with Bulgaria the center of agitation, with Servia equally disturbed as to her future, with all neighboring states apparently anxious not to be left out of the reck- oning with Turkey straining to make war and keep peace at the same time, with Russia on the qui vfve that her interests are not affected. with Austro- Hungary ready to play a part if oc- casion demands, and with others of the mighty powers of Europe delib- erating as to what role they shall as- sume, a promiscuous war has threaten ed for weeks, the coming of which will just as surely be followed by gen. eral shake-up in continental postage stamp pictures.
 In the issues of many countries the entire political history may be read in a collection of It's postal carriers. The whole story of French politics from the middle of the last cen tury may be gathered by perusal of an assortment of stamps Issued by that government. The transition from empire to republic and the wars with her neighbors are all reflected in her stamps.
 Chinas trobules. her cession of treaty ports. the boxer rebellion, the war with Japan and other internal and external disturbances of the Celes- tial empire are narrated in stamps.
 The Transvaars rough handling by her conquerors is graphically told in the little postal stickers of that land
 Mexlcos transformation from the old order of things, the Russo-Japanese war, the civil war in the United States, the trials of Crete and Cyprus. South and Central of America ebullitions.