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The Golden State Scientist. 



THE CABINET AS AN EDUCATOR. 



BY FRANK E. FOSTER. 



Comparatively few young people of today 

 take an interest in a collection of relics and 

 specimens of a geological and botanical nature, 

 and yet I do not hesitate to say that as an edu- 

 cator in the scientific studies a bettey one can- 

 not be found. A number of terms of close ajD 

 plication to some goo<l text book may give the 

 student a medium understanding of the subject; 

 but a cabinet containing a goodly number of 

 specimens, and a full knowledge of the nature 

 and fomiation, mayhap, is far j^referable, I 

 think, than a mere outline of ihe entire subject 

 under consideration. 



Though I have been a collector Init a few 

 years, yet the benefit I have obtained from my j 

 wo]-k in this line has helped me far more than 

 the perusal and study of various works on the 

 different sciences. My hobby, for I suppose 

 each collector has one, is historical relics, and 

 consequently my cabinet is, for a greater part, 

 made up of specimens of that nature. This 

 study of all studies. History, however, has 

 been made more interesting, and my knovvl- | 

 edge and understantling of it has !)een made I 

 clearer and more fascinating by my asscx^iation 

 with objects that had been utilized in the past 

 — mayhap .in war — perhaps in peace — with 

 whose history I must necessarily be acquainted, 

 to attach any interest thereto. This naturally 

 starts one to thinking, and a desire to know 

 more (jf the tunes that cluster around some jtar- 

 ticular object, is sure to spring ujj; and thus 

 one goes on, step by step,, until a good fountla- 

 tion of this study is formed, and all (bat is 

 needed is the perusal of some standard history 

 that deals more minutely with the subject, to 

 give one a full knowledge of history. So it is 

 with geology, botany, and even numismatics 

 brings up events, j>laces., persons^ etc., as one 

 studies the coins and medals of by-gone rges. 



I have found my cabinet a most amiable 

 teacher and would dislike very much to part 

 with the knowledge I st) easil}' and pleasantly j 

 act] uired l)y daily association with it. — [\'uath's \ 

 Eedoer. j 



Picotite, a chrome spinel,, has been toand in I 

 iVie basall. of Mt. Shasta, CaL j 



APPROVAL SHEETS— THEIR USE AND 

 ABUSE. 



BY GENIE. 



The system of sending out stamps on ap- 

 proval is practiced by nearly all dealers 'and 

 has grown within a few years to enormous pro- 

 portions. The majority of collectors prefer buy- 

 ing their stamps from sheets instead of from 

 j:>rice lists, as in the sheet system they have the 

 stamps before them and Icrow what condition 

 they are in before buying. This system also 

 affords a large numl)er of collectors a chance to 

 get their stamps for nothing, by acting as agent 

 in their locality for some dealer. Tlie commis- 

 sion allowed on sales can be taken in either 

 cash or stamps, many collectors preferring the 

 latter, I'here are many a]>uses connected with 

 ihe sheet system, and of these I desire to speak 

 particularly. * 



One of the commonest methods ]:)ractised by- 

 dishonest collectoi-s is "■substituting."' After 

 receiving a sheet he takes off some of the 

 stamps, substituting other.-, of less vahte in their 

 place. To any who practice this I wouJd say 

 do not do it, as the dealer in ninety-nine cases 

 out of a hundred will detect it, and you thus- 

 forfeit your self-esteem^ in addition to the good 

 opinion of the dealer, who, of all pet-sons, de- 

 tests the 'S;ubstitute llend" the most. 



When you receive a sheet with unused 

 stamps 031 don't send it back with the stamps 

 "hammered down" and stuck all over. If you 

 do, the dealer will have to waste much time in 

 getting them off (often destroying a stamp), anci 

 then their value as unused stamps gone, the 

 gum being oft"" the back. In many cases I have 

 had to put a sheet in a vessel of water to soak, 

 in order to get the stamjis off, something thai 

 would noi happen if collectors would only ex- 

 ercise care and judgment. Stamps should 

 never be "hammered down," and nothing so 

 pains a true jihilatelist as to see a beautiful 

 stamp glued to a ])age. 



Collectors should never mark or write on 

 sfieets, as dealers cxpjec.t to use them again, 

 which they cannot do if they are covered with 

 pencil marks. Always fold the sheets as they 

 were originally folded., and in returning use the 

 ])rintetl enveloj^e sent by nearly all dealers. 



These few hints,, I trust will ])rove of benefiii 

 to the i-eaders, and if they will only lie guided 

 by the instructions gi\ en, mucli of the evil that 

 now falls to the lot of a dealei- w ill be abated. 



