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.