Evening star., 1944-10-22
CtanPs
BY James Waldo Fasocen.

Department of the Government of
the United States was opening post
al museum. The Star for Saturday,
October 20, 1894. contained 'front.'
page story on the new institution,
scheduled to be opened to the public
exactly so years ago today. John
Wanamaker of Philadelphia was re-
sponsible for the inception of the
idea, it was explained, but POST
master General Wilson Shannon
Bissell for the proposal into effect.
THE work of organizing the ex-
hibit," said The Star, was in
trusted to Chief Clerk Frank H.
Thomas, and the practical work of
arrangement was done by Stanley
1. Slack, who will continue in
charge. The new attraction oc-
cupies the room in the north of
the building formerly used as City
Post Office, later by the supplies
division of the department and,
until recently reclaimed for its
present purpose, as a rubbish room.
The exhibit illustrates the growth
and methods of the postal service
of this country and in a smaller
degree that of several other coun-
tires, notably Japan and Sweden.
"One of the central figures of the
museum is that of a pony post
mounted and equipped. The horse
is stuffed bay of fine model. The
animal did duty for several years
as nag for learners at the New
York Riding Academy, died, was
stuffed and bought by the Gov
ernment for service in connection
with its exhibit at the Worlds Fair
lin Chicago. Many of the children
of the four hundred have learned
to ride with their feet in their vest
pockets on the back of this same
stuffed horse. The carrier is a
tall wax man, with long blond hair
and Whiskers, leather SOM
brero, blue flannel shirt, corduroy
breeches, boots, mail sacks and
shooting irons.
"A large model of the mail steamer
City of Paris, which cost the Gov
ernment $1,000, stands close to a
model of the sidewheeler South
erner, the first steamer to carry mail
across the Atlantic. Nearby is a
model of the light draught, fiat bot
.om, top heavy packet used in carry
ing mail on the narrow, shallow
rivers of the South and West. A
fully equipped model of postal car,
which cost $4,000, also is shown. A
mail sledge, with Indian driver and
three Michigan dogs that saw actual
service, with their harness, is also
displayed in field of imitation
snow.
In the case containing illustra-
tions of the service in Sweden is
the figure of a carrier armed with
revolver and sword and carrying
bugle and pouches.
"a great case hangs on the east
wall, containing a complete exhibit
of the United States postage stamps
struck from the original dies and
covering the period from 1947 to
1893, Money orders, postal cards
and stamped envelopes are also
shown. Around the walls are frames
within which are the current series
Of the stamps of all nations. Por-
traits of PoStmaSterS General
Wanamaker, Hazen and Bissell are
also displayed. Among the attrac-
tions is case illustrating the serv-
ice of Japan. Efigies of railway
mail clerks, ordinary postmen and
special delivery messengers stand
here and there A great variety of
mail pouches, cancellation devices
and other equipment may be seen.
Hanging on the north wall is a
picture showing mail stage hold
up in the West. 1t is an interest
ing piece"
For the reader of 1914, the natural
question is: What became of the
postal museum of 1894?
Perhaps portion of the answer
might be found in the Smithsonian
The long-aWaited Red Cross
stamp has not yet been authorized.
Post Office officials are pressing
the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing for delivery of the motion pic
ture industry stamp in Hollywood
and New York by October 81, but
there is no guarantee that any con-
quantity can be manu-
featured by that date.
1t has been proposed that the
Stamp Dealers Associa-
ton act as a jury to determine what
wartime stamps shall be admitted
TO the Scott Catalogue.
John Murray Bartels, 73, stamp
dealer internationally known espe-
,ially as an authority on stamped
died in New York City
On october S. He was a native of
FarQuier County, Va, born in 1871