Evening star., 1933-09-17

thought some OF the stamps were of
real value. and obtained permission to
show the album to a dealer.
After keeping the album for two
days, the dealer offered fl0 for choice
OF a few stampS-not more than q
dozen. He was SO interested that I was
convinced there was something very
valuable in the book, and insisted on
having it returned
Miss Thomas described how the
dealer followed her to her friends house
in Kensington and tried In vain to buy
the album
AFTER the dealer had gone con-
tinued Miss Thomas. we examined the
book again. 1t opened of its own ac-
cord at the place where the blue Mauri-
thus was. That gave us a clue, for 1t
was clear that the book had been re-
peatedly ope ened at that place.
I'VE realized that we had found a
treasure. MY friend at once decided to
sell t by auction. The sale took place
at rooms in Leicester Square, and the
bidder who eventually secured the
stamp for the Kings collection met with
very strong competition from German
collector"
Marco Polo, in his celebrated
Travels" says: From the city of
kanbaiu there are many roads leading
10 dlffcrent provinces, and upon each of
these, that is to say. upon every great
high road, at the distance of 25 or 80
miles, accordingly as the towns happen
to be situated, there are stations, with
houses of accommodation for travellers,
called yamb or post-houses. These large
and handsome buildings, having several
well-furnisned apartments, hung with
until r, inn M
able TO persons of rank Even kings
may BE- lodged at these stations in a
becoming manner. as every article re-
quired may be obtained from the towns
and strong places in the vicinity, and
for some of them the court makes
regular provision. At each station 400
good horses are ke9. in constant readi-
ness, in order that all messengers going
and coming upon the business of the
grand khan, and all ambassadors, may
have relays, and. leaving their jaded
horses. be supplied with fresh ones.
Even in mountainous districts. re-
mote from the great roads, where there
are no villages and the towns are far
distant from each other. his majesty
has equally caused buildings of the
same kind to be erected, furnished with
everything necessary and provided with
sends people to dwell upon the spot,
in order to cultivate the land and at
tend to the service of the post, bv
which means large villages are formed
In consequence of these regulations.
amba ssadors to the court and the royal
messengers go and return through every
province and kingdom of the empire
with the greatest convenience and
facility. in all which the grand khan
exhibits superiority over every other
emperor. king or human being. In his
dcminionS no fewer than 200 900 horses
are thus employed in the department
Of the post, and 10000 buildings, with
suitable furniture. are kept up, 1t is
indeed SO wonderful a system. and so
effective in its operation. as it is
scarcely possible to describe"
The famous traveller was writing in
1898 or 1893; the grand khan TO whom
he refers was the magnificent Kublal,
and the city Of KanbGlu was the capital
of Cathay or Northern China.
Frank I. Morse, Boston philatelist.
says: Its fact that one of the things
which hurried up the founding CT a
regular post office Gn Massachusetts,
was the sailing of Colonist's mother
in-laW from London to Boston. She
had sent her daughter a letter by a
previous boat telling her how delighted
she would be to come and stay with
the family in the New World, when
she would land and where. The letter
was left on the table of Ye Olde Lon
don Coffee House awaiting claiming by
its owner. A kind-hearted neighbor
picked 1t up. intending to deliver it. but
forgot. Well. mother-in-law arrived.
and poor son-in-law caught the devil
because he wasn't at the dock to meet
her. To avoid such tragedies, the Mas
sachusetts General Court, November 5.
1889. passed the first Colonial postal
act
The Washington Air Mail Society will
meet at 1085 National Press Building
tomorrow evening at o'clock. Visitors
welcome.
The Washington Stamp Club of the
Air Will have broadcast meeting from
Station VOL Tuesday evening at 6:45
o'clock. Mr.. Kunze will discuss United
States stamps commenorating events
IN the Colonial period of the Nation S
history.
The Washington Branch Of the So
ciety of Philatelic Americans will meet
at 1900 r street northwest Tuesday
evening at 8 o'clock.
The Washington Philatelic Society
Will meet at the Hotel Carlton. Six
teenth street, Wednesday evening at 8