STAMPS
10 stamps and large list FREE!
L. Dover & Co., 1469 Hodiamont, St. Louis, Mo.
[LI HUNG-CHANG.]
Li Hung-Chang, the most famous Chinese statesman and soldier of this century, accompanied by forty secretaries, aides, interpreters, and servants, arrived in New York last week. Li comes from England, where he was received by Queen Victoria, and lionized by the British nation. He came to England from Russia, in which latter country, as representative of the Chinese Emperor, he attended the recent coronation of the Czar.
Li was entertained here for a period of about ten days, after which he sailed from Vancouver for China. General Ruger, representing this government, engaged the state suite of some sixty rooms at the Waldorf Hotel, which Li occupied. Our largest battle-ships formed in array, flew the Chinese dragon at the fore, manned their yards, and fired salutes as he came up the bay. President Cleveland came on from Washington to officially receive him at the Fifth Avenue home of ex-Secretary of the Navy Whitney. Then followed private entertainments galore, a visit to the military academy at West Point, and the placing of a wreath upon the tomb of General Grant at Riverside Drive and 123d Street, New York, in commemoration of the affectionate friendship which originated between General Grant and Li on the occasion of the former's trip around the world.
LI HUNG-CHANG.
Li is seventy-four, of pure Chinese blood, vigorous, of fine physique, full six feet high, of magnetic presence, with piercing eye, and a face indicative of mental strength and character. He speaks no language other than his own, dresses always in characteristic Chinese fashion in parti-colored silken robes, head shaved, and hair plaited in a cue, and he travels with his cooks and menial servants, preserving while on his journey, so far as possible, a Chinese dietary according to the customs of his country. This is the first occasion on which he has left Asia.
Our visitor's titles bespeak his eminence in his own country. First, he is Viceroy of the province of Chih-li, which includes Peking, the capital, and the whole of northern China. Next, he is the Senior Guardian of the Heir Apparent to the Chinese Throne, a title explaining itself. Lastly, the syllables "Hung-Chang" which are pronounced as part of his name, signify "Grand Secretary"—so that his name, translated into English, would be "Grand Secretary Li." His Three-eyed Peacock Feathers, Yellow Jacket, Third Degree, White Button, Black Feather, and other ornaments, which Europeans have been in the habit of ridiculing, each represents a decoration, or honor conferred for some act of brilliant generalship or successful diplomatic negotiation.
Li's career is strikingly interesting to young people. Not of distinguished parents, he first leaps into prominence by carrying off honors at an examination where there are twenty thousand competitors. The subjects are not, as with us, mathematics, geography, arts, and sciences, but the teachings of Confucius, theory of government, and Chinese poetry and history. Passing this examination promotes Li into official circles, and he becomes a compiler in the imperial printing-office. But the T'ai-p'ing rebellion breaks out, and the student is soon called upon to become a soldier. He raises a regiment of home militia, and enters upon the field of war. In less than five years he achieves honor and distinction, and then imperial Generalissimo Tseng Kwo-Fan appoints him on his staff.
Then Li is for the first time brought into closer relations with the Europeans. Shanghai, a port thrown open to European trade, is threatened by Chinese rebels. A number of wealthy merchants interested there subscribe for a foreign contingent to protect the city. Two Americans, Ward and Burgevine, and afterwards the English General Gordon, commonly known as Chinese Gordon, commanded this force. Li Hung-Chang acted conjointly with them, and the rebels were routed. Li promised Gordon that the lives of the rebel chiefs should be spared. As soon, however, as those unfortunates were turned over into Li's custody, they were promptly beheaded. For this, Gordon is said never to have forgiven Li.
Li is admired by western nations because he is the first influential Chinaman who has advocated the introduction of European civilization and reforms into the Chinese Empire. Since his advent to power, missionaries of every creed have been tolerated in every part of China, and, so far as possible, protected in their avocations. The number of seaports at which foreigners are permitted to trade has been increased. Some telegraph lines have been constructed, and even a short railway line is now in operation near Tien-tsin. The Chinese army has been properly drilled and equipped with modern rifles, accoutrements, artillery, and ammunition, their navy rehabilitated with modern battle-ships and gun-boats, their seaports protected by fortifications.
In China the displeasure of the Emperor is visited upon statesmen by depriving them of their titles and decorations. This misfortune has several times befallen Li. No later than last year, after the defeat of the Chinese in their war with the Japanese, this happened. His successful peace negotiations with Japan, however, during which he nearly lost his life at the hands of a Japanese fanatic assassin, brought about his restoration to royal favor, which he deserved.
Devotion to his parents and love of country are strong traits in Li's character. Some years ago he resigned office to attend the bedside of his dying mother. His every word and act are indicative of the latter trait.
Li's present journey is looked upon as an important step towards the throwing open of China to European progress, arts, trade, and civilization.
Early in the sixties a party of young men were hunting near Yellowstone Park. They had a number of guides with them, and one was a character. He was full of witty remarks, and amused the company generally. One day they were out shooting, and had not proceeded very far from the camp when they started a flock of birds. The shot-guns came into active play, and accidentally one of the party received a load of small shot in the back of his neck. As it had spread considerably, the injury was of but a slight nature. The "character," as they had nicknamed their witty guide, seeing the blood, cried out,
"Run, man! run for all you're worth to the camp yonder, for if ye drop we'll have that much less to carry ye."
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.
The London Philatelic Society has definitely fixed upon the rooms of the Water-Color Society in Piccadilly, London, in which to hold the great exhibition of postage-stamps next year. There are three very large connected rooms, lighted from above. It is expected that stamps valued at nearly $2,000,000 will be on exhibition.
During July and August stamp-collecting is abandoned in favor of out-of-door sports; but the indications of a revived interest are already to be noted. A new fad has developed during the summer—the collection of badges and buttons with portraits and mottoes. One large collector in New York has a very interesting series of badges, portraits, etc., used for election purposes, running back over eighty years.
G. R. Moffitt.—Your copy of the 1 fl. Hungary is simply one that has been poorly printed.
E. H. Traphagen.—In the case of stamps still in use, always buy unused if offered at the same price as used. In the case of the Columbian stamps, the reason used stamps are still as high as unused is that the bulk of the cost is for the $1, $2, $3, $4, and $5 stamps. If you put them on a package or on a bundle of letters the chance is that they will be damaged, and hence worth much less than if in good condition. This risk must be paid for. Confederate bills are worth 2c. or 3c. apiece.
A. Oakley.—The 24c. U.S. 1872 is worth $5 unused, $2 used. The 1861 1c. is worth 5c. unused, 1c. used.
Tom W. B. Welch, Millburn, N. J.; H. G. Hall, Ridley Park, Pa.; W. A. Macon, Ridley Park, Pa., wish to exchange stamps.
A. Saxe.—There are two types of the French stamps 1876 issue. If you have very sharp eyes you will see the name of the engraver, J. A. SAGE, INV., immediately under the word REPUBLIQUE. In Type I. the letter N of INV. will be found directly under the letter B of Republique. In Type II. the same N is under the U of Republique. INV. is the abbreviation of the Latin word meaning to design.
G. Klinteich.—The New South Wales stamps issued in 1849 are usually called "Sydney Views," from the fact that the stamps bear a view of a city on the seashore, with a ship in the offing, and several figures in the foreground. There are about 50 varieties in the 1d., 120 varieties in the 2d., 25 varieties in the 3d., as each stamp was separately engraved, and some plates retouched or re-engraved. They are worth from $8 to $25 each used, and from $50 to $100 each unused. If you have any of your grandfather's letters from Sydney in 1850 they should bear these stamps.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
J. Abeler.—Your drawing is very good, but I cannot make out the date. I am inclined to think that your stamps are the 1 sh. black of the 1870 issue (Fig. 1), and the 1 sh. black of the 1872 issue (Fig. 2). The first, on the letter, is worth $15, the second, if on the letter, about $2, provided the stamps are in fairly good condition. All Afghanistan stamps were cancelled by tearing or gouging a piece out of the stamp. The centre ornament in these stamps represents a tiger's head.
J. A.—If you have a strip of four 5c. Express U.S. Revenue stamps unsevered it is worth about $2. Single stamps showing two sides unperforated are not worth any more than those perforated all around. Too many such stamps are in the market which are simply "fakes"—that is, they are made from ordinary perforated stamps.
S. L. Coe.—Your Prussian gold coin is worth its weight in gold. It is not scarce.
C. Williston.—A complete set of Columbian stamps from 1c. to $5 can be bought for $25 either unused or used.
Philatus.
Those who think that imported soaps must be the finest, do not know that the materials for Ivory Soap are the best to be found anywhere. The vegetable oil of which Ivory Soap is made, is imported, almost in ship loads, from the other side of the world.
The Procter & Gamble Co., Cin'ti.