Evening star., 1939-07-23
By James Waldo Fawcen.

lev has authorized the heroes Of
peace" stamps originally proposed
by the late Michael L. Eidsness, jr,
superintendent of the Division of
Stamps from 1922 until 1888.
Plans for the series have been
perfected by Deputy Third Assistant
Postmaster General Roy M. North.
Including seven groups of l, Ia, 2,
: and S cent denominations, it is
expected that details of design, size,
color and flrst-date sale arrange
ments will be decided shortly, but
there is little probability that re-
lease dates will come within the
present year.
Mr.. Eidsness began work on his
project in 1882. He discussed 1t at
considerable length in Stamps Maga-
zine for October 5 and II, 1885,
where he said THE question re-
mains as to whether the Govern
ment really has made sufficient use
of its opportunity to serve the pur-
poses of patriotism and culture
through it's stamp productions. Con-
sidering that 88 years have passed
and only 43 characters have been
accorded stamp homage, the record
Is not superlatively extravagant-
1t might be at least twice as COM
prehensive, all things considered.
ITO estimate the possibilities, re-
course might be had to the eminent
Americans commemorated in the
Hall OF Fame at New York Uni
yersity. There have been SO ad-
mitted, of which number only Is
have appeared on stamps
"The soldiers who have preserved
civilization are but little more
worthy of philatelic recognition
than the eminent scientists and in
ventors whose genius has been an
endowment of society, but for whom
neither the State nor the populace
ever have arranged adequate re-
ward. think of = j. j. Audubon,
Alexander Graham Bell, Luther
burbank, Elias Howe, Cyrus
H. Mccormick; Samuel F. B. Morse,
s.s Eli Whitney =, and I Won
der when philatelic laurels will be
granted them Meanwhile, it is in
comprehensive to me that such
Acknowledgement of mankind's debt
should be begrudged by any one who
enjoys the fruit of their labors and
sacrifices.
Among the builders of America,
also, the men of letters-poets, nov
elists. dramatists. historians. jour-
nalist-of course should be remme-
bered Napoleon Bonaparte was cor
rect in his judgment that writer's,
like military characters, devote
themselves to ideal service. No cltl-
zen who is familiar with the chroni-
ele of his country can forget the
obligation he owes to the literary
class. I have compiled this list OF
authors who might have philatelic
salutation: Samuel L. Clemens
mark Twain. ]. Fenimore Cooper,
Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Washington Irving. Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow. James
Russell Lowell. James Whit
comb Riley. Booker T. Wash
ington. Walt Whitman, John Green
leaf Whittier -.
"A series of stamps for American
artists would be monument for
Frederic Remington,
Gilbert Stuart, James Abbot
Mcneil Whistler =. And with
these men should be included
the sculptors, Augustus Saint-Gau-
dens -.
Meanwhile, who will presume to
say that a series for musicians like
Stephen Collins Foster, Ethelbert
Nevin, - ." Victor Herbert. Edward
Mcdowell and John Philip Sousa
would not be received enthusiastic
ally by the entire American public,
not exempting collectors?
Likewise, I believe there would
be ample response II the United
States emulated the example OF
Turkey and brought out a set Of
stamps in tribute to distinguished
women. Louisa May Alcott, Susan
B. Anthony, have earned the
right to remembrance, and so have
= Frances E. Willard and Jane
Adams The organized woman
hood of America should see to 1t
that their sisters are not neglected.
Perhaps the Government has
not realized how rich the Nation
Is in great personalities -
But any student can call up in
his mind the names of at least a
dozen heroes who ought not to be
ignored. At random, I suggest:
Mark Hopkins, Horace Mann =.
II make no claim to be a prophet,
but nevertheless anticipate time
when the postage stamps of the
United States will be used more
intelligently than in the past, when
they will be accepted as so many
opportunities to educate people in
the values people will be only
too glad to learn. Consider what
Austria is doing through stamp de-
signs: A little country and poor, she
has adopted policy which America
could follow with practical advan-
tage. Stamps of some sort are
necessary, and they might as well
be employed for cultural uses as
not. The collectors, in any event,
pay the bill. 1t therefore is not
unjust to assert for them their
right to be consulted"
Mr.. Farley's list of names to be
commemorated. prepared by Mr..
North and Endorsed by many phila-
telic, educational, business and pa
triotic groups, embraces IS names,
as follows
Ralph Waldo Emerson MAY rs,