The centre of population of the earth is asked for. It would be impossible, we think, to determine such a point. Carrie Brush, Chelsea, Iowa, is interested in natural history, and wants specimens and correspondents. Harry J. Blunt asks again that question about entering the Naval Academy at Annapolis. Apply to your member of Congress. Only one cadet is allowed from each Congressional district at one time. There is no expense attached. Each cadet receives a salary equal to his board, tuition, and uniforms. Edith F. Morris is secretary of the New York Stamp Exchange, which issues comprehensive rules. If you want these rules, enclose a stamp to her at 95 Third Avenue, New York. [Illustration: STAMPS] 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. One of the leading English philatelic journals says, "Some day we may be able to publish a list of postmaster dealers" (those who make or cause to be made new surcharges, etc.). Such a list would be most instructive. It would explain much, and open the eyes of many collectors to what is going on in certain quarters. Of the rare wood-block Cape of Good Hope errors it has been definitely ascertained that only 201 of the 1d. error and 386 of the 4d. error were printed. Each sheet contained 64 stamps, and only one stamp on each of the 587 sheets was an error. It is wonderful that any copies should have survived. One of the Boston papers claims that the P.O. clerk who sold the first U. S. stamp in 1847 and the first U. S. envelope in 1853 is alive, and in the Boston Post-office to-day. His name is James Lafitte Smith, seventy-nine years of age, and he has been in the service of the U. S. Post-office Department for more than fifty years. The movement to encourage collecting "straight" issues of stamps and to disregard minute varieties is gaining ground. One dealer in New York printed a catalogue omitting different perforations, etc., etc., and his album corresponds with the catalogue. Now another of the large dealers has sent out circulars notifying customers of a catalogue and an album on the same lines. It is a step in the right direction. Let the millionaires--and there are many of them--who are stamp-collectors, make up albums showing different perforations, inverted water-marks, double impressions, etc. They have the time and the money necessary. But ordinary collectors of moderate means are not wise in trying to follow them. The whole tendency hitherto has been to force the money values of stamps into prominence, and naturally this has attracted the attention of speculators. The pleasure in collecting stamps has been lost sight of. I hope the corner has been turned. HARRY T. LEES.--Send your address to the stamp editor.