Evening star., 1934-03-11
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BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
President Roosevelt has received
from Ricardo Jiminez. President of
Costa Rica, handsome album con-
tanning complete collection Of all
the Costa Rican stamps issued to date.
The presentation was made by Con
zales Zeledon, charge d'affaires of the
Costa Rican legation here.
Add to the list of Army men killed
flying the mail the names of F. l..
Howard. A. r. Kerwin, Otto Wienecke
and Ernest B. Sell.
Interest in Washington philatelic
circles centers predominantly in the
Mothers day stamp, scheduled to ap-
pear about May l.
AS announced in The Star Mon
day and Tuesday. the design of the
issue will reproduce James Abbott
Macneiil Whistlers celebrated por-
trait of his mother. considered the
most widely famous picture ever exc
cuted by an American artist.
The size of the stamp will be that
Of current special delivery values, the
lOlOl pIOOdOiy Will DC ldfCllQCl. lkiS
denomination 3 cents. Washington.
almost certainly. will be the scene
of initial sale, and an unprecedented
rush is anticipated. Not tirSt-day
cover enthusiasts only. but thousands
of people who ordinarily pay no at
tention to such events are expected
to storm the City Post Office. and
Postmaster William NJ. Mooney is CO.
operating with Robert E. Fellers. su-
perintendent, Division of Stamps, in
perfecting arrangements for the oc-
CasiOn.
Forecasting the breaking of all
existing records are such significant
developments as news TO the effect
that one patriotic organization wants
$4,000 stamps, that a group of candy
manufacturers will use at least an
equal number, and that florists like
wise will want large quantities for
mailing flowers by parcel post. Greet
ing card makers are circulariZing
their customers to insure the en-
ployment of the issue on their prod
uctS. Churches, schools, fraternal
societies. life insurance corporations.
different kinds are swelling the tide.
Postmaster General Farley says: This
will be the most popular stamp ever"
and Alvin w. Hall. director, Bureau
of Engraving and Printing, echoes
the sentiment.
Momentarily there was doubt about
the design, but President RooSevelt'S S
suggestion that Whistler's painting
should be the motif received editorial
approval in the regular as well as the
philatelic press, and other proposals
therefore were rejected Mr. Hall is
understood to have submitted eight
different models for executive con-
sideration. and the final choice was
made by Mr.. Roosevelt.
Work on the plates will start in the
engraving section of the bureau at
once.
The original picture, as it came from
Whistler'S easel, already has been
copied in thousands Of art prints for
the adornment of American homes
and has been viewed by literally mil
lions of visitors to the Century Of
Progress Worlds Fair. Chicago. and
to galleries throughout the country
in which during the past year it has
been exhibited by courtesy of its
owners, the French Government. Pro-
fessional art critics have spoken of it
as creation ranking with the mas
terpieces of Velazquez and Rembrandt,
amongst the finest interpretations of
noble personalities in existence"
Mrs. Whistler was a typical Ameri-
can mother in every true meaning Of
the phrase. OF Scottish and South
ern stock. she was born Anna Ma
thllda MacNeil. daughter of DR.. C. D.
MacNeill of Wilmington. N. C. At
the time of her marriage to Mai.
George Washington Whistler she was
woman of remarkable beauty, grace