NEW USE FOR A WATER-CART.
Two countrymen were paying a visit to the city of Edinburgh recently, when for the first time in their experience they saw a water-cart employed in laying the dust after the orthodox fashion. They had been warned by their friends before leaving home not to be surprised if they saw many wonderful things, and, above all, not to give expression to their astonishment, as they would probably only be laughed at for their ignorance. Hitherto the clodhoppers had attended fairly well to these instructions, and so far at least had not made fools of themselves. But, alas! a water-cart was too much for them. No sooner did their eyes alight on it than Jock, the more enthusiastic of the two, rushed off towards it, shouting to the driver:
"Hey, mon! hey, mon! stop, for guidness' sake; yer scaling a' yer watter!"
Jim, his companion, was not so easily deceived, however, and, vexed to see Jock make such an exhibition of his ignorance, ran after him, and seizing him by the coat tails, reprimanded him as follows:
"What for are you makin' such a fule o' yersel' for, Jock? The man ken's brawly that the watter's scaling. Lo'd, man, if ye had ony sense you could easily ken that it was only a dodge tae keep the laddies aff the back o' the cart."
A neat little correspondence took place between David Roberts, the artist, and a friendly art critic with whom he was in the habit of hobnobbing. Roberts had painted a number of pictures into which he put all his genius, and upon placing them on exhibition, much to his surprise and mortification his friend the critic severely attacked them. In due time, however, a note arrived, addressed:
"My dear Roberts,—You have doubtless read my remarks upon your pictures. I hope they will make no difference in our friendship. Yours, etc., ——."
This had a tendency to slightly increase the painter's wrath, and he couched the following:
"My dear —-,—The next time I meet you I shall pull your nose. I hope it will make no difference in our friendship. Yours, etc., D. Roberts."
It is not recorded whether they met afterwards, but it is safe to say those erstwhile friends hobnobbed no more.
This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department.
Three important measures have just been agreed upon by the House of Representatives, and probably will be accepted by the Senate. The first bill introduces the principle of responsibility on the part of the government for the delivery of registered letters and parcels.
The proposed law provides that senders or owners of registered matter lost in the mails may be indemnified to an extent not exceeding $10 for any one letter or package. This will do as a beginning, but the American public is entitled to at least as much as is given to the citizens of European nations by their respective post-office departments. For instance, we pay 10c. for a registered letter, and by the proposed law may collect up to $10 if the letter or parcel is lost. In England a registered letter costs 6c., and if lost the owner can collect up to $25; if 10c. is paid, the indemnity is raised to $75.
The second measure is one permitting the use of private postal cards to which a 1c. stamp is affixed, provided the same be approximately of the same size and weight as the officially made card. If passed, there will be some very handsome and many very humorous cards sent through the mail, and interesting collections could be made at a very little cost.
The third measure is one providing for the appointment of letter-carriers in small places, who shall collect 1c. for each letter or parcel delivered. This is practically applying to small villages the system which fifty years ago was common in New York, Philadelphia, and other large cities. If the charges are collected by stamps, it will revive the collecting of U. S. Locals.
B. J. Jones.—The old Anti-Surcharge Society was organized about six years ago through the efforts of Mr. C. B. Corwin, but it soon went to pieces, as the great body of collectors refused to discontinue the collection of the innumerable and uncalled-for varieties. The evil has abated of late years, from the fact that the burden grew too heavy for all philatelists excepting a small body of very rich men. The "Seebecks" are declining in price rapidly.
J. Learned.—The collecting of entire U. S. envelopes should be followed where possible. Discard all varieties of water-mark paper, shapes, sizes, gums, etc., collecting simply by dies and papers.
A. A. Weilman.—It is claimed that the first envelope in modern times used for prepayment of postage was the New South Wales for 1838. A genuine copy would probably bring $250.
W. H. Carr, Jun.—You can buy the Philatelic button of C. W. Kissinger, Reading, Pa.
H. F. King.—The Japanese wedding stamps were issued in 1894. The red is sold at 4c., the blue at 5c.
O. Lewis.—You do not state the paper, or whether used or unused. On white paper it is worth 20c.; on amber paper, 25c.; on blue paper, $5; on fawn paper, $15.
% %.—The half-dime, 1856, can be bought for 15c.
J. P. Wilton.—The stamp-dealers are offering $2 Columbian stamps at $1.75. They are used for postage by the large banking houses, chiefly for prepayment of postage on packages of bonds, stocks, etc., sent to Europe.
G. R. D.—I do not know what dealers pay for stamps. Their selling prices are quoted in the stamp catalogues. Your Agricultural Department envelope bears the seal of the department. No commercial value.
C. C. Ransom.—It is impossible to give values for long lists of stamps. Any catalogue will price the stamps both used and unused, give the date of issue, and much other information. The standard 1897 catalogue costs 58c., but good catalogues can be bought at 5c., 10c., or 25c. each.
Philatus.
The price of good things oft is high,
But wise housekeepers tell
That Ivory Soap is cheap to buy
And best to use, as well.