Evening star., 1944-09-24
clamps
By James Waido Fssccstf.

1
Every delivery Of mail to the
editorial ofiices Of The Star brings
hundreds Of additional v-day COW
ers to be cacheted and mailed on
the day when Germany surrenders.
They are coming from all parts Of
the Western Hemisphere. Readers
interested are advised to send SELF
addressed, stuffed and stamped
envelopes (size 6% by 3N), ready to
60. Mark packages: "Philatelic
Editor"
Raymond Moley, writing for the
Associated Newspapers, Inc, dis
cusses Americas No. ! philatelist
as follows: when Senator Harry
8. Truman told rather inatten-
tive country that Mr.. Roosevelt's ex-
perience and knowledge were in
dispensable for peace making, he
might have specified one Of his can
didate's unique qualifications. The
Commander In Chief is, among other
things, an experienced postage
stamp collector. And only q stamp
collector can know what independ-
ence means to . small nation. In
fact, only q stamp collector can
have that familiarity with the ex-
istence Of small nations which will
prevent some of them from being
lost in the shuttle at the peace con-
ference.
Take, for instance, the case Of
San Marino, perhaps the next coun-
try to be liberated. San Marino lives
on two things-the sale of the
stamps that its sovereignty per-
mits it to make and the stone that
1t digs out Of its rocky terrain.
This little country, which has
proclaimed to everyone except Mus
solini that 1t is the oldest republic
in the world, is high in the Apen-
mines near Rimini. The Italian
war Is very close to 1t now. 1t Is
not clear yet whether the Germans
will use 1t as 4 defensive bastion.
But things are getting hot around
San Marino. 1t has already sent
diplomatic representations protest.
ing the dropping of Allied bombs In
its SO square miles Of territory. And
its $4,000 inhabitants are frightened.
1T is very venerable. Its birth as
a nation goes back to the fourth
century when Rome fell apart all
around it. 1t has been no haven
for travellers because its brigands
have been a keen property interest
in strangers.
up to the time Of Mussolini, its
democracy was vested in a gov
ernment consisting of grand
council Of so members. When Fas-
cism swept through Italy, it got in
step not by changing its constitu-
ton. but by creating a tiny Fascist
militia. Its armed forces number
less than one thousand, and 1t has
been sufnciently thrifty to avoid in
creasing them during the war. Its
budget Is less than $500 900, and its
debt is nothing.
"Its capital, looking over the war
ridden plains near Rimini, Is San
Marino, a town OF 1000.
The population is probab bly,
spending much Of its time In caves
these days. waiting for the storm
to end. When it does and the
armies Of the democratic nations
come to the old republic, we can
be sure that it will burn its Fascist
momentoes and ardently join the
peace-loving nations. Our soldiers
will get kisses and Chianti wine.
The merchants will sell them plenty
OF postage stamps for their collec-
tions. And they will remind them
that when Columbus discovered
America, San Marino had been Z
kind Of republic for eleven GEN.
turies. If We let 1t sell stamps, San
Marino will need no world w. p. A.
Perhaps we can all draw 4 les
son from San Marino. 1t is the
Oldest and smallest republic In Eu-
rope. Can 1t be true that 1t has
lasted so long because 1t Is 70
smau?"
Mrs. Edward B. Martin, 1t was an
nounced yesterday. is returning to
Washington. She will reside at 1908
Glen Ross road, Silver Spring, and
plans to resume her stamp activi-
ties in the Washington Philatelic
Society and the Collectors Club of
Washington as well as to continue
her volunteer Red Cross work.
Because Of q change in rate COM
mercing November !, q new 13-cent
special delivery stamp will be issued
Collectors believe that it ought not to
repeat the familiar design of years
past, but rather should be 4 new
composition, deliberately beautiful,
dignified and noble.
The Associated Stamp Clubs of
the Chesapeake area may stage a
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