Questions and Answers.
Sir Knight W. D. Olmsted, 19 Orange Street, Worcester, Mass., asks to insert the following: "Will all who have sent stamps to addresses in the 'Want Corner,' and who have never heard from them again, please send me their address and a stamp or postal card for reply. Also send name of person to whom you sent the stamps, together with their address, value of stamps, and date of sending." First sergeants of companies A, B, etc., at West Point and in military companies rank alike. David Blondheim, 306 North Howard Street, Baltimore, Md., wants some correspondents. The charge made by the publishers for the cover of Harper's Round Table is fifty cents, post-paid. Any bookbinder can put it on. His charge is usually $1.
John G. Saxe, 171 West 132d Street, New York, wants to buy a copy of Harper's Young People for November 27, 1894. Write him. John H. Campbell, Jun., 413 School Lane, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa., is, with two others, to begin in February the publication of The Keystone Monthly. Its price will be twenty-five cents a year, and for a limited time sample copies will be sent free. Original stories, poems, jingles, and letters to the editor are wanted. No pay for such contributions is offered, the paper being an amateur one. A. B. G., Jun.: Get Mort d'Arthur, through any bookseller or at the library, for references in the study of King Arthur, his Knights, and Round Table.
Amateur Soldier: At present enlistments in the regular army of the United States are suspended, the service having its complement of men. But this is only a temporary condition. Enlistments will begin again soon. Boys between sixteen and eighteen years of age may, with the consent of their parents, enlist as musicians; eighteen to twenty-one, with consent of parents, as regulars; over twenty-one, without consent of parents. The lad of sixteen who begins as a musician stands just as good chance of promotion as the older person who enlists a little later. Indeed, in many instances, if he be bright and faithful, he stands a better chance. The pay is $13 per month, and the enlistment for three years; but one may purchase his discharge at the end of one year by paying $120. Fannie E. May, Lee, Mass., is most desirous of obtaining the address of Edith A. Putnam. Will the latter write her?
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.
In the Round Table for December 10, 1895, the stamps issued by the general government of the Confederate States were illustrated in reduced form. This week I give the first instalment of the "Confederate Locals," all of which are either scarce or rare. Counterfeits abound, however, and the wise collector will take expert advice before parting with his money. As a rule, collectors prefer to buy these stamps on the original envelope, and the prices given below are those asked by dealers for copies in good condition:
Athens, Ga., $35 to $100.
Baton Rouge, La., large size, $50 to $70; small size, $100. (The 2c. and 10c. stamps are not generally accepted as genuine.)
Charleston, S.C., $10 to $15. Envelope stamps, four varieties, $10 to $15.
Columbia, S.C., $15 to $20. This is an envelope only.
Fredericksburg, Va., $7.50 to $20. (10c. stamp, $20 to $30.)
Knoxville, Tenn., $20 to $25. The embossed envelope is worth from $50 to $100.
Nashville, Tenn., 3c., $3.50 to $20; 5c., $15 to $30; 10c., $50 to $100.
Mobile, Ala., 2c., $25 to $35; 5c., $3 to $6.
New Orleans, La., 2c. blue on white, $2 to $5; 2c. red on white, $2 to $6; 5c. brown on white or blue, $1 to $5; 5c. brilliant red on blue or white paper, $250 to $400. The so-called reprints of the New Orleans stamps are simply counterfeits.
Philatus.
There is a "comfortable feeling" that comes after a bath with Ivory Soap.