Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23
Capital sideIights

Pointing out that, while we are ac-
eustemed to speak Of the Western
Hemisphere as the New World, there
are evidences and reminders that
America Is no longer young" Post
master General Walter r. Brown Illus
trates his point by displaying the de-
sign for the special stamp he has Just
authorized commemorative of the 300th
anniversary Of the founding of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony. The stamp
Is TO bear o reproduction Of orig
inal seal Of the colony. Designed
with the primitive artistry of the early
Colonial days, when men were more
skilled in drawing swords than in draw
ing pictures" the Postmaster General
explains, 1.-THE seal consists of the
crudely fashioned figure of an Indian,
holding q bow in one hand and an
arrow on the other. f1anked on either
side by a dwarf pine tree, the whole
surrounded by an inScriptif l in Latin
signifytng-Seal OF the Governor of
England"
Mr.. Brown recalls, apropos of Latin
inscription in connection with the t4r-
centenary stamp, the recent request of
q president emeritus of one of our
great universities for the issuance of q
special stamp commemorating the
2,O0Oth anniversary of the birth of the
poet Vergil. Having some doubt about
going so far from home for the subject
OF q. stamp, the Postmaster General
asked Q member of Congress, who hap
pened into his offlce, what the latter
tnougnt OF issuing stamp In honor of
VeFgil. Looking q bit puzzled" MFR.
Brown naFrates, Hthe CONGRESSMAN In
CURED, What state was he fromP' I"
And Mr.. Brown adds, ~ need hardly
say that the Congressman was not from
- *k
shortly after he came into ONCE as
postmaster General, Mr.. Brown ran
INTO an experience that has furnished
MIN with an excellent anecdote. The
department was receiving numerous
complaints concerning the postage
stamps. One woman in particular
wrote, Nov that Calvin Coolidge is
no longer President, can we not have
enough muetlage on our stamps to
make them stick?"
Mr.. Brown replied that he believed
the stamps would stick II they were
properly applied, and commented that
1t was with mucilage much as with
eakes-0ne cannot have 1t and eat it,
too. His complainant replied with
some asperity, 1T is with you much as
it is with your stamps--you stick at
nothing"
So the Postmaster General drafted
g committee of seientists-chemists
and physicists-to make q study of the
stamp materials and process of manu-
factuFe. In the course of few
weeks" he says, "the essential facts
were developed and their significance
understood. The mere statement of
those facts suggested the appropriate
remedy and am pleased to say that
since we have changed the character
OF the paper used and the process of
applying the gum, complaints concern
ing the adhesive qualities of our stamps
have practically disappeared"
y #*
Testimony regarding some of the
great leaders Of thought in the history
of the United States was quoted In the
House the other day on q subject
which members Of Congress do not fire.
quently enough keep In mind In. con-
nection with their legislative duties.
Representative Morgan G. Sanders of
Texas was discussing 'our public
schools" He called attention to one
paragraph in President LamaT's fRst
message to the Texas Legislature, en-
phasiziHg that Texans are the only
people In the history of the world who
solemnly declared in their declaration
OF independence that the failure of the
government TO provide for the educa-
ton Of the children was Q ground for
revolution" He quoted President Lamar
as follows:
eff we desire to establish a republican
form Of government on q broad and en-
during basis it will become necessary
for us to provide Q system of education.
A cultivated mind Is the guardian genius
OF democracy, and when guided and
controlled by reason Is the noblest at
tribute Of man. 1t Is the only dictator
that freemen acknowledge and the only
security that freemen desire"
He quoted James Buchanan as say
ing, Our Government Is q state Of such
tnestimable value as to demand our con-
slant and watchful attention for its
preservation" Z
The historian Bancroft was called as
witness that "the public happiness Is
the true object Of legislation, and can
De secured by the masses Of mankind,
themselves awakened to a knowledge
and care Of their own interests"
Thomas Jefferson Is quoted as follows:
The information OF the people at large
alone can make them safe, as they are
the sole depository of our religious and
political freedom"
ed the testimony Of Woodrow Wilson:
Patriotism consists Of some very prac-
teal things. It Is patriotic to learn
what the facts of our national life are
and to face them with oandeF."
John Quincy Adams dictum was also
garnered for the symposium, as follows:
ITO preserve, to inform and to perpetll-
ate the sources, and direct In their eff
feetiye channels the streams which con-
Arsfl A. l.
Edgar A. Guest was quoted at length,
but the two concluding lines are,
you can sum its resources again and
again,
But the wealth of the world Is its
women and men,"