Evening star., 1934-10-14


memorative. but salute him with
gratitude. He invented form Of ma
tional monument which never can be
surpassed for immediate democratic
significance or lasting durability. 1t /!
the most comprehensive of all tributes
Democracy Manifest.
II remember with especial pleasur,
the first sale Of the George Washing
ton Bicentennial series, January !
1882. The Father of His Countr.
already had had the homage of mil
lions. Orators had extolled his virtues
appraised his distinction, lauded hi
character and his achievements. Mu
sicians had sung Of him, painters ha(
made his countenance familiar to thl
human race. He had been celebrated
as no other man ever was. But tn,
200th anniversary Of his birth coult
have been observed in no more NOTABLE
way than in fact it was when the Sc
Of stamps in his honor appeared. NJ
wonder thousands OF people StormeC
the Washington Post Once doors tina
dayl 1t was a spectacle never to b.
forgotten. The Nations greatest ant
the Nations humblest stood in line to-
gether to buy the series at the 20 sale
windows we opened for the occasion
The essential democracy of Americs
was manifest in every face. No othel
days labor in my career ever has giver
me greater satisfaction. I felt that il
my small way had been granted &
privilege for which was grateful.
In the same manner, rejoice II
my memories of many other important
dates in the annals of American
philately. The first-day sale of tht
Mothers day stamp is one of the mile.
stones which I recall with pride.
favored that issue and welcomed it.
authorization for personal reasons. L
happened that once had exercised
my pen in thanksgiving for the love
and guidance of my own dear mother
and wanted to send her a copy D!
that composition in an envelope bear.
ing the Mothers stamp. No letter
ever have mailed meant more to mt
than that one. And I like to think
that there are thousands of people
who shared a similar pleasure, with
the cooperation Of the Post once.
Not Mere Sentimentalists.
"But the cynics may say that such
things are sentimental and have nc
proper place in a practical business like
the postal system. How mistaken they
are. believe. is proven by the inscrip-
ton which is carved over my Office
window on the facade of the Washing
ton Post Office: Carrier of news and
knowledge, instrument of trade and in.
dustry, promoter Of mutual acquaint-
ance, peace and good will among mer
and nations; messenger of sympathy
and love, servant Of parted friends
consoler of the lonely, bond of the
scattered family, enlarger of the com
mon life
"All the values so summarized are
sentimental values and the purpose
and function of the Post ONCE De-
partment is properly described in the
text, Man does not live by bread
alone On the contrary, he lives by
spiritual things, things that cannot be
bought or sold.
Take patriotism, for example. 1t is
an intangible factor in our lives, but
it is very real. And again and again
it has been impressed upon me that
the patriotic aspect Of stamp collect
ing is one of its most important phases.
Not only in such special cases as the
Washington Bicentennial stamps is 1t
true that philately promotes love of
country. The rule holds for prac-
ticaly all stamp issues, and personally
] should be glad if the Post Office
made more of its opportunity to serve
the Nation through stamps which both
directly and indirectly teach history
Discusses Current Problems.
Mr.. Mooney then discussed several
current problems of philately. Con-
tinuing. he said: please do not imag
inc that have been affected in any
way by the speculative side of collect
ing, worthy and wise as it may be.
On the contrary, I wish to make it
plain that I believe the principal, if
not the only valid, reason for collect
ing stamps is the cultural reason. II
a man is not a wiser man, more lib
eral man, a more Just and merciful
man because of his collecting interests,
he might as well give up his hobby
To illustrate my meaning, let me tell
you of a collector who lost his albums
in a fire which destroyed his home
His friends conmiSerated with him
but he answered: Don't worry.
shall start again, and this time I will
know what to collect, how to collect
and why to collect. My experience
has taught me those things. I will
specialize in stamps that are beaut1-
full, stamps that can study with sat-
isfaction, and l will collect for the
sheer joy Of that study
Particularly in the case of children
I believe that adult collectors should
guide them to understand the educa-
tional significance of philately as op-
posed to any financial aspect of the
matter. The schools and the play
grounds, am glad to observe, are be-
ginning to use stamps constructively
in their teaching of history and geo.
graphy, and with that basis it ought
to be possible to bring into being a
generation of men and women who
will collect stamps with enthusiasm,
intelligence and skill"
The Washington Stamp Club of the
Air will have a broadcast meeting
from Station VOL Tuesday evening
at GAS.
Albert F. Kunze, leader, will con-
tinue his discussion Of Philippine
stamps.
The Collectors Club will meet at
the Thomson School, Twelfth street,
Tuesday evening at 8.
The Washington Philatelic Society
will meet at the Hotel Carlton We'd
nesday evening at 8. The feature Of
the meeting will be the monthly
bourse, to which visitors will be vel
come.
MRS. REVERDY J.. LEWIS
IS DEAD AT BERRYVILLE
Member Of Prominent Clarke