Evening star., 1945-07-01

Rp James Waldo Fawcett.

=
By James W0ldo FaUcsH.
On the authority Of q letter re-
Gently found In the correspondence
files Of a washington family, the
name Of Benjamin Harrison may be
added to the list OF Presidents
known to have been interested IN
philately.
In his own handwriting the 23d
Chief Executive testified to his con-
cern with the worlds most popular
hobby. From 1914 North Delaware
street, indianapolis, IND, on June
is. 1900, he penned the following
words:
MY Dear, Dear Boy: It has been
a long time since ] had letter from
you. Perhaps you win say have
not written TO you--and that you
only write answers. Well, II that is
the rule / must give you something
to answer. I find in my pocket
book few more stamps that
have gathered from time to time for
you and send them with this. Per-
haps you may ind a new one or
two among them. We are going to =
start for the Yellowstone Park in
a day or two, to be gone about two
weeks, and very soon after our re-
turn will 60 to the Adirondacks for
the summer-where ! am going to
try to have whole summers rest
doing nothing but trimming trees
and perhaps building day camp.
If a deer should get very curious
and come into the clearing I might
shoot him, but I do not expect to
pursue them very far. We do not
do any night hunting on the Fulton
claim.
II hope you finished the year in
school in good bodily condition.
am sure you had high grade, and
am only anxious that you should
have chest and shoulders enough to
carry your head. This Is almost as
important as having good head.
Thus far we have had cool weather
but great deal of rain.
This letter is only to tell you
that Grandpa still loves you in the
old way and to give you reason for
telling me how you are.
Your affectionate Grandpa,
BENZ. HARRISON
The letter was addressed to Mas
ter BENZ. Harrison Mckee, Saratoga,
N. r, but the envelop reads: "Sar-
atoga Springs"
Born August 20. 1883, the former
President was So when he collected
stamps for his grandson. He died
March 10, i90l--about nine months
after the date of the hitherto un-
known communication here repro
duced.
China, it Is indicated, viii bring
out stamp In memory Of President
Roosevelt.
Harry L. Lindquist, president OF
the National Federation of Stamp
Clubs, announces: "A recent decision
by the Once of Censorship will per-
NIT the release at an early date Of
the greater part of the philatelic
material which has been held in its
custody during the period Of Eu-
ropean hostilities."
The V-Bell canceling dies for use
on letters and cards passing through
the mails In England are UNDER
stood to have gone into use on May
Is. 1t follows that they were author
lied and prepared well in advance
Of the collapse of Germany.
Collectors again are warned
against buying so-called Victory
stamps Of the Philippines. Vast
quantities of them allegedly have
been manufactured for the exploita-
ton of the philateiic public. Legiti-
mate use was limited to a very few
letters mailed in very few post
Ioffices. Charles d. Smith Of Munns-
vile, N. Y, reports that pretended
"first-day covers" are being sold
where the stamps had been affixed
after mailing that is, not on the
first day. at all.
Stories to the effect that the Nazis
counterfeited quantities of Allied
postage stamps should be regarded
with suspicion. Similar tales were
circulated after the First World
War. but the alleged counterfeit"
never actually appeared in circula-
ton.
The scent denomination Roose-
yelt stamp may not be released Until
his birthday anniversary, Janu-
ary 80.
Freda G. Bond, writing In the
Manchester Guardian, says: "A used
postage stamp: How worthless it
would appear to the noble savage.
who, incidentally, would not think
very highly of an unused onel But
sophisticated man has invented
philately or, if you prefer, tim
brophily. Honor and erudition sur
round the philatelist, and uncounted
thousands of mothers bless the IN
vention, which keeps the young male
quiet on wet afternoons. The young
female is in general less apt than
her brother to develop the COLI
lector's instinct Nonutility appeals
| less to women than it does to men.
I don't need used stamps, so why
collect them?' asks the girl. Her
mother, reluctantly attending her
f1y-fishing husband on the rivers
rheumatic bank, thinks: Why spend
these hours trying to acquire trout.
which tastes but little better than
herring? A fishsfop queue is pref
cradle.
Col. Henry w. Isbell, Army head
quarters commandant of the Mill
ltary District of washington, has
been stamp collector since his boy
hood and has at least q portion Of
his collection In his Office in the
Pentagon.
William M Stuart, pfilatelic edi-
tor of the Washington Post, was
chosen president of the Collectors
Club Of washington on Tuesday
night. Serving with him win be the
following officers: Ellery Denison.
vice president; l.. A. Herman, execu-
tive secretary; r. @. Clinite. record
ling secretary: Henry Beers, treas-