Evening star., 1939-07-16
AMONG THE STAMP COLLECTORS
News of the Philaelc World Its Interests and People
the Stamp Press-List of Local Meetings
By James Waldo Fa,cceff.

commemorate the pruning OF the
first stamp ever issued-the famous
Penny Black of Great Britain, re-
leased on May g. 1840-are invited to
write to Deputy Third Assistant
Postmaster General Roy M. North,
Post Office Department, Washington.
Teachers are campaigning for the
inclusion of Horace Mann in the
heroes of peace" series. He was a
native of Massachusetts, born at
Franklin, Norfolk County, in that
State, May 4, 1896, and earned his
first school books braiding straw.
Self-prepared, he entered Brown
University, Providence, R. l., at
20. and was graduated with highest
honors in 1919. After studying law
at Litchfield, he was admitted to
the bar in 1923 and commenced
practice at Dedham. But education
already was the major interest of
his life, and following his election
to the State Legislature in 1927 he
devoted his principal energies to the
improvement of school conditions.
Naturally endowed with great ora
torical ability, he won large fol-
lowing for the reforms and innova-
tions he proposed Removing to
Boston in 1888, he promptly was
elected to the State Senate, of
which he was chosen president in
1886 and again in 1887. From the
latter date onward to 1848, he served
as secretary of the Massachusetts,
Board of Education, and it is said
of him that "by his lectures and
writings he awakened an enthusiasm
for education that had never been
felt before" In effect, he rewrote
the school laws of the State, fur
nishing thereby a model for other
commemorative. National fame was
inevitable in the circumstances and
"the teachers friend" was elected to
Congress in 1848 as successor to for
mer President John Quincy Adams.
Returned to his seat as an inde-
pendent in 1850, he remained in the
National Legislature until 1852, when
he became president Of Antioch
College, Yellow Springs. Ohio. There
he almost literally killed himself
with work. His health broke down
under the strain of most intense
and unremitting activity" and he
died August 2, 1859.
The Dictionary of American Bio
graphy appraises Horace Mann in
these words: His lasting place in
American history rests upon his
services to public education. His in
f1uence in this field extended far
beyond the boundaries of Massa-
chusetts. Copies of his annual re-
ports and other educational writings
were widely disseminated through
out the United States with the re-
suit that one State after another
sought and followed his advice.
Owing to his efforts, combined with
those of other educational pioneers,
there ensued period so marked by
educational progress and reform
that it has ever since come to be
known as the period of the common
school revival in the United States"
Final figures on the first flight
covers carried on the first trans
Atlantic airmail flight over the
southern route between New York
and Marseille and the various in
termediate points en- route are an
nounced as: New York to Horta, TO-
9lO, May 20; New York to Lisbon,
1880, May 20; New York to Mar
seille, 1884 May 20; Horta to Lis
bon, 1907, May 81; Horta to Mar
seille, 7,403, May 81, Lisbon to Mar
seille, 6,507, May %; Marseille to
Lisbon, 6,439, May 25; Marseille to
Horta, 6,328, May 25; Marseille to
New York, 1871, May 25: Lisbon
to Horta, 6,421, May 26; Lisbon to
New York, 9,028. May 26; and Horta
to New York, 9,795, May 26.
Two motion pictures concerning
stamp collecting will be released
shortly One bears the title Pub
lie Hobby Number One," the other
alphabetically Yours" The direc-
tor and producer, F. H. Herrick,
made shots" of the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing. the Philatelic
Agency and other Washington
scenes,
Bolivia announces series of 10
stamps for the Eucharistic Congress
to be held this autumn.
The Netherlands is preparing a
railway centenary series OF five
values.
DR.. Otto c. Hudson is the author
OF monograph on Medical Ro-
nance in Philately," now being pub
ished serially in Stamps Magazine,
New York.
The prospectus for the Sepad Ma
tional Stamp Exhibition of 1899,
sponsored by the Associated Stamp
Clubs of Southeastern Pennsylvania
and Delware, has been issued. Stag
ing the annual show, Gustave A.
Won Gross is managing director, with
Charles H. Heine president, John
Gelbach vice president, Thomas
Harrison secretary and Moritz
Bernstein treasurer. The place this
year will be the Hotel Philadelphian,
Philadelphia, and the dates Sep
tember q to october l, inclusive.
Classif1cations for exhibit material
are 10 in number: United States,
British Empire, Europe, remainder
Of the world, precancels, meter mail,
airmails, specially collections, club
STAMPS