diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:18:30 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:18:30 -0700 |
| commit | f75ed173f272989ebf290b9276cdd98cad222978 (patch) | |
| tree | 76410f345b40e63de04b1cd84db2940852765c3a | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 2164-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 35301 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 2164-h/2164-h.htm | 2138 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 2164.txt | 1658 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 2164.zip | bin | 0 -> 34251 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/lumly10.txt | 1571 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/lumly10.zip | bin | 0 -> 32376 bytes |
9 files changed, 5383 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2164-h.zip b/2164-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3ccca9 --- /dev/null +++ b/2164-h.zip diff --git a/2164-h/2164-h.htm b/2164-h/2164-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2dbc065 --- /dev/null +++ b/2164-h/2164-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2138 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Lumley Autograph, by Susan Fenimore Cooper +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.footnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.intro {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lumley Autograph, by Susan Fenimore Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lumley Autograph + +Author: Susan Fenimore Cooper + +Posting Date: October 24, 2008 [EBook #2164] +Release Date: May, 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH *** + + + + +Produced by Hugh C. MacDougall. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Susan Fenimore Cooper +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P> +{by Susan Fenimore Cooper (1813-1894), daughter of James Fenimore +Cooper. "The Lumley Autograph" was published in Graham's Magazine, +Volume 38 (January-June 1851), pp. 31-36, 97-101. The author is +identified only in the table of contents for Volume 38, p. iii, where +she is described as "the Author of 'Rural Hours'". +</P> + +<P> +{Transcribed by Hugh C. MacDougall, Secretary, James Fenimore Cooper +Society; jfcooper@wpe.com. Notes by the transcriber, including +identification of historical characters and translations of foreign +expressions, follow the paragraphs to which they refer, and are +enclosed in {curly brackets}. The spelling of the original has been +reproduced as printed, with unusual spellings identified by {sic}. +Because of the limitations of the the Gutenberg format, italics and +accents (used by the author for some foreign words, and in a few +quotations) have been ignored. A few missing periods and quotation +marks have been silently inserted. +</P> + +<P> +{A brief introduction to "The Lumley Autograph.": +</P> + +<P> +{"The Lumley Autograph" was inspired, as Susan's introductory note +states, by the constant stream of letters received by her father, +asking in often importunate terms for his autograph or for pages from +his manuscripts, and even requesting that he supply autographs of other +famous men who might have written to him. He generally complied with +these requests courteously and to the best of his ability; after his +death in 1851, Susan continued to do so, as well as selling fragments +of his manuscripts to raise money for charity during the Civil War. +</P> + +<P> +{"The Lumley Autograph" is of interest today primarily because it is a +good story. Its broad satire about the autograph collecting mania of +the mid-nineteenth century is deftly combined with the more serious +irony of a poet's frantic appeal for help becoming an expensive +plaything of the rich, while the poet himself has died of want. Susan +Fenimore Cooper's typically understated expression of this irony +renders it all the more poignant, and the unspoken message of "The +Lumley Autograph" is as relevant today as it was in 1851. +</P> + +<P> +{Though "The Lumley Autograph" was published in 1851, it was written as +early as 1845, when Susan's father first unsuccessfully offered it to +Graham's Magazine, asking "at least $25" for it. [See James Fenimore +Cooper to Mrs. Cooper, Nov. 30, 1845, in James F. Beard, ed., "The +Letters and Journals of James Fenimore Cooper" (Harvard University +Press, 1960-68), Vol. V, pp. 102-102]. Three years later he offered it +to his London publisher, also without success [James Fenimore Cooper to +Richard Bentley, Nov. 15, 1848, Vol. V, p. 390; and Richard Bentley to +James Fenimore Cooper, July 24, 1849, Vol. VI, p. 53.] What Graham's +Magazine finally paid, in 1851, is not known.} +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH. +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY THE AUTHOR OF "RURAL HOURS," ETC. +</H3> + +<BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +[Not long since an American author received an application from a +German correspondent for "a few Autographs"—the number of names +applied for amounting to more than a hundred, and covering several +sheets of foolscap. A few years since an Englishman of literary note +sent his Album to a distinguished poet in Paris for his contribution, +when the volume was actually stolen from a room where every other +article was left untouched; showing that Autographs were more valuable +in the eyes of the thief than any other property. Amused with the +recollection of these facts, and others of the same kind, some idle +hours were given by the writer to the following view of this mania of +the day.] +</P> + +<P> +The month of November of the year sixteen hundred and — was cheerless +and dark, as November has never failed to be within the foggy, smoky +bounds of the great city of London. It was one of the worst days of the +season; what light there was seemed an emanation from the dull earth, +the heavens would scarce have owned it, veiled as they were, by an +opaque canopy of fog which weighed heavily upon the breathing multitude +below. Gloom penetrated every where; no barriers so strong, no good +influences so potent, as wholly to ward off the spell thrown over that +mighty town by the spirits of chill and damp; they clung to the silken +draperies of luxury, they were felt within the busy circle of industry, +they crept about the family hearth, but abroad in the public ways, and +in the wretched haunts of misery, they held undisputed sway. +</P> + +<P> +Among the throng which choked the passage of Temple-Bar toward evening, +an individual, shabbily clad, was dragging his steps wearily along, his +pallid countenance bearing an expression of misery beyond the more +common cares of his fellow-passengers. Turning from the great +thoroughfare he passed into a narrow lane, and reaching the door of a +mean dwelling he entered, ascended a dirty stairway four stories high, +and stood in his garret lodging. If that garret was bare, cold, and +dark, it was only like others, in which many a man before and since has +pined away years of neglect and penury, at the very moment when his +genius was cheering, enriching, enlightening his country and his race. +That the individual whose steps we have followed was indeed a man of +genius, could not be doubted by one who had met the glance of that +deep, clear, piercing eye, clouded though it was at that moment by +misery of body and mind that amounted to the extreme of anguish. The +garret of the stranger contained no food, no fuel, no light; its +occupant was suffering from cold, hunger, and wretchedness. Throwing +himself on a broken chair, he clenched his fingers over the manuscript, +held within a pale and emaciated hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I die of hunger—or shall I make one more effort?" he exclaimed, +in a voice in which bitterness gave a momentary power to debility. +</P> + +<P> +"I will write once more to my patron—possibly—" without waiting to +finish the sentence, he groped about in the dull twilight for ink and +paper; resting the sheet on a book, he wrote in a hand barely legible: +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"Nov. 20th 16—, +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"MY LORD—I have no light, and cannot see to write—no fire and my +fingers are stiff with cold—I have not tasted food for eight and forty +hours, and I am faint. Three times, my lord, I have been at your door +to day, but could not obtain admittance. This note may yet reach you in +time to save a fellow-creature from starvation. I have not a farthing +left, nor credit for a ha'penny—small debts press upon me, and the +publishers refused my last poem. Unless relieved within a few hours I +must perish. +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"Your lordship's most humble,<BR> + "Most obedient, most grateful servant,<BR> + ———— ————"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +This letter, scarcely legible from the agitation and misery which +enfeebled the hand that wrote it, was folded, and directed, and again +the writer left his garret lodging on the errand of beggary; he +descended the narrow stairway, slowly dragged his steps through the +lane, and sought the dwelling of his patron. +</P> + +<P> +Whether he obtained admittance, or was again turned from the door; +whether his necessities were relieved, or the letter was idly thrown +aside unopened, we cannot say. Once more mingled with the crowd, we +lose sight of him. It is not the man, but the letter which engages our +attention to-day. There is still much doubt and uncertainty connected +with the subsequent fate of the poor poet, but the note written at that +painful moment has had a brilliant career, a history eventful +throughout. If the reader is partial to details of misery, and poverty, +any volume of general literary biography will furnish him with an +abundant supply, for such has too often proved the lot of those who +have built up the noble edifice of British Literature: like the band of +laborers on the Egyptian pyramid, theirs was too often a mess of leeks, +while milk, and honey, and oil, were the portion of those for whom they +toiled, those in whose honor, and for whose advantage the monument was +raised. Patrons, whether single individuals or nations, have too often +proved but indifferent friends, careless and forgetful of those whom +they proudly pretend to foster. But leaving the poor poet, with his +sorrows, to the regular biographer, we choose rather the lighter task +of relating the history of the letter itself; a man's works are often +preferred before himself, and it is believed that in this, the day of +autographs, no further apology will be needed for the course taken on +the present occasion. We hold ourselves, indeed, entitled to the +especial gratitude of collectors for the following sketch of a document +maintaining so high a rank in their estimation. +</P> + +<P> +And justly might the Lumley Letter claim a full share of literary +homage. Boasting a distinguished signature, it possessed the first +essential of a superior autograph; for, although a rose under any other +name may smell as sweet, yet it is clear that with regard to every +thing coming from the pen, whether folio or billet doux, imaginative +poem, or matter-of-fact note of hand, there is a vast deal in this +important item, which is often the very life and stamina of the whole +production. Then again, the subject of extreme want is one of general +interest, while the allusion to the unpublished poem must always prove +an especial attraction to the curious. Such were the intrinsic merits +of the document, in addition to which, sober Time lent his aid to +enhance its value, and capricious Fortune added a peculiar charm of +mystery, which few papers of the kind could claim to the same extent. +The appearance also of this interesting paper was always admitted to be +entirely worthy of its fame. The hand-writing fully carried out the +idea of extreme debility and agitation corresponding with its nature, +while a larger and a lesser blot bore painful testimony to that +recklessness of propriety which a starving man might be supposed to +feel; one corner had been ruthlessly abstracted at the time it was seen +by the writer of this notice, and with it the last figures of the date; +a considerable rent crossed the sheet from right to left, but happily +without injuring its contents; several punctures were also observed, +one of these encroaching very critically upon the signature. But I need +not add that these marks of age and harsh treatment, like the scars on +the face of a veteran, far from being blemishes, were acknowledged to +be so many additional embellishments. The coloring of the piece was of +that precious hue, verging here and there on the dingy, the very tint +most charming in the eyes of an antiquary, and which Time alone can +bestow. In fact, one rarely sees a relic of the kind, more perfect in +color, more expressive in its general aspect, or more becoming to an +album, from the fine contrast between its poverty-stricken air, torn, +worn, and soiled, and the rich, embossed, unsullied leaf on which it +reposed, like some dark Rembrandt within its gilded frame. In short, it +was the very Torso of autographs. Happily the position which it finally +attained was one worthy of its merits, and we could not have wished it +a more elegant shrine than the precious pages of the Holberton Album, a +volume encased in velvet, secured with jeweled clasps, reposing on a +tasteful etagere. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{etagere = small table or shelf for displaying curios (French)} +</P> + +<P> +But I proceed without further delay to relate some of the more +important steps in the progress of this interesting paper, from the +garret of the starving poet to the drawing-rooms of Holberton House, +merely observing by way of preface that the following notice may be +relied on so far as it goes, the writer—Colonel Jonathan Howard of +Trenton, New Jersey,—having had access to the very best authorities, +and having also had the honor of being enlisted in the service of the +Lumley Autograph upon an occasion of some importance, as will be shown +by the narrative. +</P> + +<P> +It was just one hundred years since, in 1745, that this celebrated +letter was first brought to light, from the obscurity in which it had +already lain some half a century, and which no subsequent research has +been able fully to clear away. In the month of August of that year, the +Rev. John Lumley, tutor to Lord G——, had the honor of discovering +this curious relic under the following circumstances. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lumley was one day perched on the topmost step of a library ladder, +looking over a black letter volume of Hollinshed, from the well filled +shelves of his pupil. Suddenly he paused, and his antiquarian instincts +were aroused by the sight of a sheet of paper, yellow and time worn. He +seized it with the eagerness of a book-worm, and in so doing dropped +the volume of Hollinshed alarmingly near the wig-covered head of his +youthful pupil, who with closed eyes, and open mouth, lay reclining on +a sofa below. The book, grazing the curls of the young lord's wig, he +sprang up from his nap, alive and sound, though somewhat startled. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Hollinshed = Raphael Holinshed (d. 1580), famous writer of British +historical chronicles, used by Shakespeare as source for some of his +plays} +</P> + +<P> +"Hang it Lumley, what a rumpus you keep up among the books! You well +nigh drove that old volume into my head by a process more summary than +usual." +</P> + +<P> +The learned tutor made a thousand apologies, as he descended the +ladder, but on touching the floor his delight burst forth. +</P> + +<P> +"It was this paper, my lord, which made me so awkward—I have lighted +on a document of the greatest interest!" +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the pupil looking askance at letter, and tutor. +</P> + +<P> +"An original letter which comes to hand, just in time for my lives of +the tragedians—the volume to be dedicated to your lordship—it is a +letter of poor Otway." +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Otway = Thomas Otway (1652-1685), English playwright who wrote a +number of important tragedies in verse, but who died destitute at the +age of 33. The Coopers were familiar with his work; James Fenimore +Cooper used quotations from Otway's "The Orphan" for three chapter +heading epigraphs in his 1850 novel, "The Ways of the Hour"} +</P> + +<P> +"Otway?—What, the fellow you were boring me about last night?" +</P> + +<P> +"The same my lord—the poet Otway—you may remember we saw his Venice +Preserved last week. It is a highly interesting letter, written in +great distress, and confirms the story of his starvation. You see the +signature." +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Venice Preserved = a well-known play by Otway, written in 1682} +</P> + +<P> +"That name, Otway?—Well, to my mind it is as much like Genghis Khan." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my lord!—Thomas Otway clearly—signatures are always more or less +confused. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, have it your own way.—It may be Tom, Dick, or Harry for all I +care," said the youth, stretching himself preparatory to a visit to his +kennels; and such was his indifference to this literary treasure that +he readily gave it to his tutor. In those days, few lords were literary. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lumley's delight at this discovery, was very much increased by the +fact that he was at that moment anxious to bring out an edition of the +English Tragedians of the seventeenth century. The lives of several of +these authors had been already written by him, and he was at that +moment engaged on that of Otway. A noted publisher had taken the matter +into consideration, and if the undertaking gave promise of being both +palatable to the public, and profitable to himself, a prospectus was to +be issued. Now here was a little tit-bit which the public would +doubtless relish; for it was beginning to feel some interest in Otway's +starvation, the poet having been dead half a century. It is true that +the signature of the poor starving author, whoever he may have been, +was so illegible that it required some imagination to see in it, the +name of Otway, but Mr. Lumley had enough of the true antiquarian +spirit, to settle the point to his own entire satisfaction. The note +was accordingly introduced into the life of Otway, with which the +learned tutor was then engaged. The work itself, however, was not +destined to see the light; its publication was delayed, while Mr. +Lumley accompanied his pupil on the usual continental tour, and from +this journey the learned gentleman never returned, dying at Rome, of a +cold caught in the library of the Vatican. By his will, the MS. life of +Otway with all his papers, passed into the hands of his brother, an +officer in the army. Unfortunately, however, Captain Lumley, who was by +no means a literary character, proved extremely indifferent to this +portion of his brother's inheritance, which he treated with +contemptuous neglect. +</P> + +<P> +After this first stage on the road to fame, twenty more years passed +away and the letter of the starving poet was again forgotten. At length +the papers of the Rev. Mr. Lumley, fell into the hands of a nephew, who +inherited his uncle's antiquarian tastes, and clerical profession. In +looking over the MSS., he came to the life of Otway, and was struck +with the letter given there, never having met with it in print; there +was also a note appended to it with an account of the manner in which +it had been discovered by the editor, in the library of Lord G——, and +affirming that it was still in his own possession. The younger Lumley +immediately set to work to discover the original letter, but his search +was fruitless; it was not to be found either among the papers of his +uncle, or those of his father. It was gone. He was himself a tutor at +Cambridge at the time, and returning to the university, he carried with +him his uncle's life of Otway, in MS. Some little curiosity was at +first excited among his immediate companions by these facts, but it +soon settled down into an opinion unfavorable to the veracity of the +late Mr. Lumley.—This nettled the nephew; and as Lord G——, was still +living, a gouty bloated roue, he at length wrote to inquire if his +lordship knew any thing of the matter. His lordship was too busy, or +too idle, to answer the inquiry. Some time later, however, the younger +Lumley, then a chaplain in the family of a relative of Lord G——'s, +accidentally met his uncle's former pupil, and being of a persevering +disposition, he ventured to make a personal application on the subject. +</P> + +<P> +"Now you recall the matter to me, Mr. Lumley, I do recollect something +of the kind. I remember one day, giving my tutor some musty old letter +he found in the library at G——; and by the bye he came near cracking +my skull on the same occasion!" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lumley was not a little pleased by this confirmation of the story, +though he found that Lord G—— had not even read the letter, nor did +he know any thing of its subsequent fate; he only remembered looking at +the signature. Not long after the meeting at which this explanation had +taken place, Mr. Lumley received a visit from a stranger, requesting to +see the MS. Life of Otway in his possession. It was handed to him; he +examined it, and was very particular in his inquiries on the subject, +giving the chaplain to understand that he was the agent of a third +person who wished to purchase either the original letter if possible, +or if that could not be found, the MS. containing the copy. Mr. Lumley +always believed that the employer of this applicant was no other than +that arch-gatherer, Horace Walpole, who gave such an impulse to the +collecting mania; he declined selling the work, however, for he had +thoughts of printing it himself. The application was mentioned by him, +and, of course, the manuscript gained notoriety, while the original +letter became a greater desideratum than ever. The library at G—— was +searched most carefully by a couple of brother book-worms, who crept +over it from cornice to carpeting; but to no purpose. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Horace Walpole = Horace Walpole (1717-1797), a prolific writer, +connoisseur, and collector, best known for his extensive +correspondence; he established a taste for literary collecting by +would-be cultured gentlemen in England} +</P> + +<P> +Some ten years later still—about the time, by the bye, when +Chatterton's career came to such a miserable close in London, and when +Gilbert was dying in a hospital at Paris—it happened that a worthy +physician, well known in the town of Southampton for his benevolence +and eccentricity, was on a professional visit to the child of a poor +journeyman trunk-maker, in the same place. A supply of old paper had +just been brought in for the purpose of lining trunks, according to the +practice of the day. A workman was busy sorting these, rejecting some +as refuse, and preserving others, when the doctor stopped to answer an +inquiry about the sick child. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Chatterton = Thomas Chatterton (1752-1770), British poet, who created +an imaginary Thomas Rowley, a supposed medieval monk, to whom he +ascribed some of his poems. Chatterton committed suicide at the age of +18 when a poem of his, allegedly by Rowley, was rejected; he was buried +in a pauper's grave. Susan Fenimore Cooper no doubt has this in mind in +naming a character in this story Theodosia Rowley. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Gilbert = Nicolas Gilbert (1751-1780), French poet, who died in Paris +at the age of 29. The French writer Count Alfred de Vigny (1797-1863), +in his book of essays "Stello" (1832), popularized a legend that +Gilbert had died insane and in abject poverty at the charity hospital +of the Hotel Dieu in Paris, and compared his miserable end with that of +Chatteron; it seems likely that Vigny, whose book appeared while Susan +Fenimore Cooper was studying in Paris, was her source for this +reference to Gilbert. In fact, Gilbert was not impoverished, and died +of injuries after falling from his horse} +</P> + +<P> +"Better, Hopkins—doing well. But what have you here? I never see old +papers but I have an inclination to look them over. If a man has +leisure, he may often pick up something amusing among such rubbish. +Don't you ever read the papers that pass through your hands?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir—I 'as no time for that, sir. And then I was never taught to +read writing, and these 'ere papers is all written ones. We puts them +that's written for one trunk, and them that's printed for another, as +you see, sir; one must have a heye to the looks of the work." +</P> + +<P> +"Why yes—you seem to manage the job very well; and I have a trunk, by +the bye, that wants patching up before my boy carries it off with him; +I'll send it round to you; Hopkins. But stay—what's this?" and the +doctor took up a soiled, yellow sheet of paper, from the heap rejected +by the workman; it contained a scrawl which proved to be the identical +letter of the poor poet, the Lumley autograph, though in what manner it +became mingled with that heap of rubbish has never been satisfactorily +ascertained. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's a poor fellow who had a hard fate, Hopkins," said the +benevolent man, thoughtfully. "It is as good as a sermon on charity to +read that letter." +</P> + +<P> +The trunk-maker begged to hear it. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, poor journeyman as I be, I was never yet in so bad a way as +that, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"And never will be, I hope; but this was a poet, Hopkins—and that's +but an indifferent trade to live by. I'll tell you what, my good +friend," said the doctor, suddenly, "that letter is worth keeping, and +you may paste it in the trunk I'll send round this afternoon—put it in +the lid, where it can be read." +</P> + +<P> +The trunk was sent, and the letter actually pasted in it as part of the +new lining. Dr. H——, who, as we have observed, was rather eccentric +in his ways, had a son about to commence his career as a soldier; and +the worthy man thought the letter might teach the youth a useful lesson +of moderation and temperance, by showing him every time he opened his +trunk, the extreme of want to which his fellow beings were occasionally +reduced. What success followed the plan we cannot say. The trunk, +however, shared the young soldier's wandering life; it carried the +cornet's uniform to America; it was besieged in Boston; and it made +part of the besieging baggage at Charleston. It was not destined, +however, to remain in the new world, but followed its owner to the East +Indies, carrying on this second voyage, a lieutenant's commission. At +length, after passing five-and-twenty years in Bengal, the trunk +returned again to Southampton, as one among some dozen others which +made up the baggage of the gallant Colonel H——, now rich in laurels +and rupees. The old trunk had even the honorable duty assigned it of +carrying its master's trophies, doubtless the most precious portion of +the colonel's possessions, though at the same time the lightest; as for +the rupees, the old worn-out box would have proved quite unequal to +transporting a single bag of them, for it was now sadly unfit for +service, thanks to the ravages of time and the white ants; and, indeed, +owed its preservation and return to its native soil solely to the +letter pasted in the lid, which, in the eyes of Colonel H——, was a +memento of home, and the eccentric character of a deceased parent. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{cornet = the lowest officer rank in a British cavalry regiment, below +that of Lieutenant; now obsolete} +</P> + +<P> +The time had now come, however, when the Lumley autograph was about to +emerge forever from obscurity, and receive the full homage of +collectors; the hour of triumph was at hand, the neglect of a century +was to be fully repaid by the highest honors of fame. The eye of beauty +was about to kindle as it rested on the Lumley autograph; jeweled +fingers were to be raised, eager to snatch the treasure from each +other; busy literati stood ready armed for a war of controversy in its +behalf. +</P> + +<P> +It happened that Colonel H—— was invited to a fancy ball; and it also +happened that the lady whom he particularly admired, was to be present +on the occasion. Such being the case, the most becoming costume was to +be selected for the evening. What if the locks of the gallant colonel +were slightly sprinkled with gray? He was still a handsome man, and +knew very well that the dress of an eastern aymeer was particularly +well suited to his face and figure. This dress, preserved in a certain +old trunk in the garret, was accordingly produced. The trunk was +brought down to the dressing-room, the costume examined piece by piece, +pronounced in good condition by the valet, and declared very becoming +by the military friend called in as counsellor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{aymeer = Emir; a Muslim title signifying commander in Arabic} +</P> + +<P> +"But what a queer old box this is, H——," said Major D——, eyeing the +trunk through his glass. +</P> + +<P> +"It's one I've had these hundred years," replied the colonel. "So you +think this trumpery will do, D——?" +</P> + +<P> +"Do? To be sure it will, my dear fellow—it gives your Milesian skin +the true Nawaub dye. But I was just trying to make out an old letter +pasted in the lid of your trunk, under my nose here. Is this the way +you preserve your family archives?" +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Milesian = slang term for Irish, from Milesius, mythical Spanish +conqueror of Ireland; Nawaub = from Nabob, Anglo-Indian slang for one +who has returned home from India with a large fortune} +</P> + +<P> +"That letter is really a curiosity in its way," said the colonel, +turning from the glass and relating its history, so far at least as it +was known to himself. +</P> + +<P> +His friend spelt it through. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear fellow, why don't you give this letter to the father of your +fair Louisa; he's quite rabid on such points; you'll make him a friend +for life by it!" +</P> + +<P> +The advice was followed. The letter was cut from its old position in +the lid of the trunk, and presented to Sir John Blank, the father of +the lovely Louisa, who, in his turn, soon placed the hand of his +daughter in that of Colonel H——. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John, a noted follower in the steps of Horace Walpole, had no +sooner become the owner of this interesting letter, than he set to work +to find out its origin, and to fill up its history. Unfortunately, the +sheet had received some wounds in the wars, as well as the gallant +colonel. One corner had been carried away by an unlucky thrust from a +razor—not a sword; while the date and signature had also been half +eaten out by the white ants of Bengal. But such difficulties as these +were only pleasing obstacles in the way of antiquarian activity. Sir +John had soon formed an hypothesis perfectly satisfactory to himself. +His mother's name was Butler, and he claimed some sort of affinity with +the author of Hudibras; as the Christian name of the poor poet had been +almost entirely devoured by the ants, while the surname had also +suffered here and there, Sir John ingeniously persuaded himself that +what remained had clearly belonged to the signature of the great +satirist; as for the date, the abbreviation of "Nov. 20th." and the +figures 16— marking the century, were really tolerably distinct. +Accordingly, Sir John wrote a brief notice of Butler's Life, dwelling +much upon his well-known poverty, and quoting his epitaph, with the +allusion to his indigence underscored, "lest he who living wanted all +things, should, when dead, want a tomb," and placed these remarks +opposite the letter of our starving poet, which was registered in the +volume in conspicuous characters as an "Autograph of Samuel Butler, +author of Hudibras, showing to what distress he was at one time +reduced." +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Samuel Butler (1612-1680), another English author popularly believed +to have died in great poverty; he is best known for his long satiric +mock-epic poem, "Hudibras" (1663-1678)} +</P> + +<P> +Here the sheet remained several years, until at length it chanced that +Sir John's volume of autographs was placed in the hands of a gentleman +who had recently read Mr. Lumley's MS. Life of Otway. The identity of +this letter, with that copied by Mr. Lumley, immediately suggested +itself; and now the first sparks of controversy between the Otwaysians +and the Butlerites were struck in Sir John's library. +</P> + +<P> +From thence they soon spread to the four winds of heaven, falling on +combustible materials wherever they lighted on a literary head, or +collecting hands. +</P> + +<P> +By the bye, the rapidity with which this collecting class has increased +of late years is really alarming; who can foresee the state of things +likely to exist in the next century, should matters go on at the same +rate? Reflect for a moment on the probable condition of distinguished +authors, lions of the loudest roar, if the number of autograph-hunters +were to increase beyond what it is at present. Is it not to be feared +that they will yet exterminate the whole race, that the great lion +literary, like the mastodon, will become extinct? Or, perhaps, by +taming him down to a mere producer of autographs, his habits will +change so entirely that he will no longer be the same animal, no longer +bear a comparison with the lion of the past. On the other hand should +the great race become extinct, what will be the fate of the family of +autograph-feeders? What a fearful state of things would ensue, even in +our day, were the supply to be reduced but a quire! The heart sickens +at the picture which would then be presented—collectors turning on +each other, waging a fierce war over every autographic scrap, making a +battle-field of every social circle. Happily, nature seems always to +keep up the balance in such matters, and it is a consoling reflection +that if the million are now consumers, so have they become producers of +autographs; it is therefore probable that the evil will work its own +remedy; and we may hope that the great writers of the next century will +be shielded in some measure by the diversion made in their favor +through the lighter troops of the lion corps. +</P> + +<P> +As for the full merits of the controversy so hotly waged over the +Lumley autograph between the Otwaysians and the Butlerites, dividing +the collecting world into two rival parties, we shall not here enter +into it. In all such matters it is better to go at once to the fountain +head; if the reader is curious on the subject, as doubtless he must be, +he is referred to one octavo and five duodecimo volumes, with fifty +pamphlets which have left little to say on the point. Let it not be +supposed, however, for an instant, that the writer of this article is +himself undecided in his opinion on this question. By no means; and he +hastens to repel the unjust suspicion, by declaring himself one of the +warmest Otwaysians. It is true that he has some private grounds for +believing that a dispassionate inquiry might lead one to doubt whether +Otway or Butler ever saw the Lumley autograph; but what of that, who +has time or inclination for dispassionate investigation in these +stirring days! In the present age of universal enlightenment, we don't +trouble ourselves to make up our opinions—we take and give them, we +beg, borrow, and steal them. True, there are controversies involving +matters so important in their consequences, so serious in their nature, +that one might conceive either indifference or fanaticism equally +inexcusable with regard to them; but there are also a thousand other +subjects of discussion, at the present day, of that peculiar character +which can only thrive when supported by passion and prejudice, and +falling in with a dispute of this nature, it is absolutely necessary to +jump at once into fanaticism. Accordingly, I had no sooner obtained a +glimpse of the letter of the starving poet, embalmed within the +precious leaves of one of the most noted albums of Europe, than I +immediately enlisted under Lady Holberton's colors as a faithful +Otwaysian. With that excellent lady I take a tragical view of the +Lumley Letter, conceiving that a man must be blind as a bat, not to see +that it was written by the author of Venice Preserved, and this in +spite of other celebrated collectors, who find in the same sheet so +much that is comical and Hudibrastic. Strange that any man in his +senses should hold such an opinion—yet the Butlerites number strong, +some of them are respectable people, too; more's the pity that such +should be the case. +</P> + +<P> +As we have already observed, the controversy began in the library of +Sir John Blank, and it continued throughout the life-time of that +excellent and well-known collector. At his death, a few years since, it +passed into the hands of his daughter, the widow of Colonel H——; and +it will be readily imagined that although the main question is still as +much undecided as ever, yet the value of the document itself has been +immeasurably increased by a controversy of twenty years standing, on +its merits. I wish I could add that the fortune of Colonel H—— had +augmented in the same proportion; but, unhappily for his widow, the +reverse was the case; and it was owing to this combination of +circumstances that Lady Holberton at length obtained possession of the +Lumley Autograph. Mrs. H—— became very desirous of procuring for her +eldest son a cornetcy in the regiment once commanded by his father; as +she was now too poor to purchase, the matter required management and +negotiation. How it was brought about I cannot exactly say. Suffice it +to declare that the young man received his commission, through the +influence of Lady Holberton, in a high military quarter, while the +Lumley Autograph was placed on a distinguished leaf of that lady's +velvet-bound, jewel-clasped album. +</P> + +<P> +It so happened that I dined at Holberton-House on the eventful day upon +which the Lumley letter changed owners. I saw immediately, on entering +the drawing-room, that Lady Holberton was in excellent spirits; she +received me very graciously, and spoke of her son, with whom I had just +traveled between Paris and Algiers. +</P> + +<P> +"Wish me joy, Mr. Howard!" exclaimed the lady after a short +conversation. +</P> + +<P> +Of course I was very happy to do so, and replied by some remarks on the +recent success of her friends in a parliamentary measure, just then +decided—Lady Holberton being a distinguished politician. But I soon +found it was to some matter of still higher moment she then alluded. +</P> + +<P> +"I never had a doubt as to our success in the house, last night—no; +rather wish me joy that I have at last triumphed in a negotiation of +two years standing. The Lumley Autograph is mine, Mr. Howard! The +letter of poor Otway, actually written in the first stages of +starvation—only conceive its value!" +</P> + +<P> +Other guests arriving I was obliged to make way, not however, before +Lady Holberton had promised me a sight of her recent acquisition, in +the evening. In the mean time I fully entered into her satisfaction, +for I had already seen her album in Paris, and heard her sigh for this +very addition to its treasures. During dinner the important +intelligence that the Lumley letter was her own, was imparted to the +company generally. +</P> + +<P> +"I knew it! I was sure of it from her smile, the moment I entered the +room!" exclaimed Mr. T—— the distinguished collector, who sat next me. +</P> + +<P> +Another guest, Miss Rowley, also a collecting celebrity, was sitting +opposite, and turned so pale at the moment, that I was on the point of +officiously recommending a glass of water. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you albums in America, Mr. Howard?" inquired a charming young +lady on my right. +</P> + +<P> +"There is no lack of them, I assure you,"—I replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Really! Adela, Mr. Howard tells me they have albums in America!" +repeated the young lady to a charming sister, near her; while on my +left I had the satisfaction of hearing some gratifying remarks from Mr. +T——, as to the state of civilization in my native country, as shown +by such a fact. +</P> + +<P> +"And what are your albums like?" again inquired my lovely neighbor. +</P> + +<P> +"Not like Lady Holberton's, perhaps—but pretty well for a young +nation." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear—not like Lady Holberton's of course—hers is quite unique—so +full of nice odd things. But are your albums in America at all like +ours?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why yes! we get most of them from Paris and London." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear! how strange—but don't you long to see this new treasure of +Lady Holberton's—that dear nice letter of Otway's, written while he +was starving?" inquired the charming Emily, helping herself to a bit of +pate de Perigord. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{pate de Perigord = an expensive French delicacy: goose liver pate with +truffles.} +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I am exceedingly curious to see it." +</P> + +<P> +"You don't believe it was written by that coarse, vulgar Butler, do +you?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed,—it is the pathetic Otway's, beyond a doubt!" +</P> + +<P> +My neighbor, the Butlerite, gave a contemptuous shrug, but I paid him +no attention, preferring to coincide with the soft eyes on my right, +rather than dispute with the learned spectacles to the left. +</P> + +<P> +After dinner when we had done full justice to the bill of fare, +concluding with pines, grapes, and Newtown pippins, we were all +gratified with a sight of the poor poet's letter, by way of bonne +bouche. A little volume written by Lady Holberton—printed but not +published—relating its past history from the date of its discovery in +the library of Lord G——, her grandfather, to the present day, passed +from hand to hand, and this review of its various adventures of course +only added force to the congratulations offered upon the acquisition of +this celebrated autograph. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{pine = pineapple. Newtown pippin = a green, tart, tangy American +apple, originally from Long Island, a favorite of George Washington and +Thomas Jefferson; bonne bouche = a tasty morsel (French)} +</P> + +<P> +While the company were succeeding each other in offering their homage +to the great album, my attention was called off by a tap on the +shoulder from a friend, who informed me that Miss Rowley, a very +clever, handsome woman of a certain age, had expressed a wish to make +my acquaintance. I was only too happy to be presented. After a very +gracious reception, and an invitation to a party for the following +evening, Miss Rowley observed: +</P> + +<P> +"You have Autographs, in America, I understand, Mr. Howard." +</P> + +<P> +"Both autographs and collectors," I replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Really! Perhaps you are a collector yourself?" continued the lady, +with an indescribable expression, half interest, half disappointment. +</P> + +<P> +"No—merely a humble admirer of the labors of others." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," added the lady, more blandly, "perhaps you will be good-natured +enough to assist me." +</P> + +<P> +And, after a suspicious glance toward the spot where Lady Holberton and +Mr. T—— were conversing together, she adroitly placed herself in a +position to give to our conversation the privacy of a diplomatic +tete-a-tete. +</P> + +<P> +"Could you possibly procure me some American autographs for my +collection? I find a few wanting under the American head—perhaps a +hundred or two." +</P> + +<P> +I professed myself ready to do any thing in my power in so good a cause. +</P> + +<P> +"Here is my list; I generally carry it about me. You will see those +that are wanting, and very possibly may suggest others." +</P> + +<P> +And as the lady spoke she drew from her pocket a roll of paper as long, +and as well covered with names as any minority petition to Congress. +However, I had lived too much among collectors of late to be easily +dismayed. The list was headed by Black Hawk. I expressed my fears that +the gallant warrior's ignorance of letters might prove an obstacle to +obtaining any thing from his pen. I volunteered however to procure +instead, something from a Cherokee friend of mine, the editor of a +newspaper. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Black Hawk = Black Hawk (1767-1838), an American Indian (Sac) +chieftain, defeated by the U.S. Army in 1832, whose "Autobiography" +(1833) became an American classic.} +</P> + +<P> +"How charming!" exclaimed Miss Rowley, clasping her hands. "How very +obliging of you, Mr. Howard. Are you fond of shooting? My brother's +preserves are in fine order—or perhaps you are partial to yachting—" +</P> + +<P> +Bowing my thanks for these amiable hints, I carelessly observed that +the letter of the Cherokee editor was no sacrifice at all, for the +chief and myself were regular correspondents; I had a dozen of his +letters, and had just given one to Mr. T——. This intelligence +evidently lessened Miss Rowley's excessive gratitude. She continued her +applications, however, casting an eye on her list. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you correspond also with some rowdies, Mr. Howard? Could you +oblige me with a rowdy letter?" +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{rowdies = in the mid-nineteenth century, an American slang term for +backwoodsmen or other rough and disorderly types} +</P> + +<P> +I drew up a little at this request; my correspondents, I assured the +lady, were generally men of respectability, though one of them was of a +savage race. +</P> + +<P> +"No doubt; but in the way of autographs, you know, one would correspond +with—" +</P> + +<P> +The sentence remained unfinished, for the lady added, +</P> + +<P> +"I wrote myself to Madame Laffarge, not long since. I am sorry to say +Lady Holberton has two of hers; but although an excellent person in +most respects, yet it cannot be denied that as regards autographs, Lady +Holberton is very illiberal. I offered her Grizzel Baillie, two +Cardinals, William Pitt, and Grace Darling, for one of her Laffarges; +but she would not part with it. Yet the exchange was very fair, +especially as Madame Laffarge is still living." +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Madame Laffarge = Marie Lafarge (1816-1853), French woman convicted in +1840 for poisoning her husband; later pardoned. Grizzel Baillie = Lady +Grizel Baillie (1665-1746), Scottish poet. William Pitt = either +William Pitt "the Elder" (1708-1778) or William Pitt "the Younger" +(1759-1806), both British Prime Ministers. Grace Darling = Grace +Darling (1815-1842), English heroine and lighthouse keeper's daughter, +famous for her rescue of castaways in 1838.} +</P> + +<P> +I bowed an assent to the remark. +</P> + +<P> +"And then she herself actually once made proposals for Schinderhannes, +to a friend of mine, offering Howard, the philanthropist, Talma, +William Penn, and Fenelon for him—all commonplace enough, you +know—and Schinderhannes quite unique. My friend was indignant!" +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Schinderhannes = German bandit chief, executed in 1803. Howard = John +Howard (1726-1790), English philanthropist and prison reformer. Talma = +Francois Talma (1763-1826), popular French playwright. William Penn +(1644-1718), Quaker founder of Pennsylvania. Fenelon = Francois Fenelon +(1651-1715), French Archbishop and writer} +</P> + +<P> +I ventured to excuse Lady Holberton by suggesting that probably at the +time her stock of notabilities was low. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Rowley shook her head, and curled her lip, as if she fancied the +lady had only been seeking to drive a hard bargain. +</P> + +<P> +"On one point, however, I have carried the day, Mr. Howard. Lady +Holberton is not a little proud of her Vidocq; but I have obtained one +far superior to hers, one addressed to myself so piquant and gallant +too. I called on the dear old burglar on purpose to coax him into +writing me a note." +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Vidocq = Francois Vidocq (1775-1857), French police detective who +turned robber, and was exposed in 1832.} +</P> + +<P> +I wondered, in petto, whether I should meet any illustrious convicts at +Miss Rowley's party the next evening; but remembering to have heard her +called an exclusive, it did not seem very probable. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{in petto = silently, to oneself (Latin)} +</P> + +<P> +After running her eye over the list again, Miss Rowley made another +inquiry. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Howard, could you get me something from an American Colonel?" +</P> + +<P> +I assured the lady we had colonels of all sorts, and begged to know +what particular variety she had placed on her catalogue—was it an +officer of the regular service, or one of no service at all? +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, the last, certainly—officers who have seen service are so +commonplace!" +</P> + +<P> +My own pen was immediately placed at Miss Rowley's disposal, as my +sword would have been, had I owned one. As I had been called colonel a +hundred times without having commanded a regiment once, my own name was +as good as any other on the present occasion. +</P> + +<P> +"You are very obliging. Since you are so good, may I also trouble you +to procure me a line from a very remarkable personage of your +country—a very distinguished man—he has been President, or Speaker of +the Senate, or something of that sort." +</P> + +<P> +To which of our head men did Miss Rowley allude? +</P> + +<P> +"He is called Uncle Sam, I believe." +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Uncle Sam = "Uncle Sam" became a popular personification of the United +States during the War of 1812, replacing Brother Jonathan, and was +often used in contradistinction to the British "John Bull"} +</P> + +<P> +This was not so easy a task, for though we have thousands of colonels, +there is but one Uncle Sam in the world. On hearing that such was the +case, Miss Rowley's anxiety on the subject increased immeasurably; but +I assured her the old gentleman only put his name to treaties, and +tariffs; and although his sons were wonderfully gallant, yet he himself +had never condescended to notice any woman but a queen regnant: and I +further endeavored to give some idea of his identity. Miss Rowley +stopped me short, however. +</P> + +<P> +"Only procure me one line from him, Mr. Howard, and I shall be indebted +to you for life. It will be time enough to find out all about him when +I once have his name—that is the essential thing." +</P> + +<P> +I shrunk from committing myself, however; declaring that I would as +soon engage to procure a billet-doux from Prester John. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Prester John = Mythical ruler believed in the Middle Ages to head a +powerful Christian Kingdom somewhere in Asia; later identified with the +Christian Kings of Ethiopia in Africa} +</P> + +<P> +"Prester John! That would, indeed, be quite invaluable!" +</P> + +<P> +This Asiatic diversion was a happy one, and came very apropos, for it +carried Miss Rowley into China; she inquired if I had any Chinese +connections. +</P> + +<P> +"Though altogether, I am pretty well satisfied with my Chinese +negotiations; as soon as the Celestial Empire was opened to the +civilized world, I engaged an agent there to collect for me. But, could +you put me on the track of a Confucius?" +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{opened to the civilized world = following the so-called Opium War, +Britain had in 1842 forced China to open trade with her} +</P> + +<P> +I was obliged to admit my inability to do so; and at the same moment +the collecting instincts of Lady Holberton and Mr. T——, drew their +attention to the corner where Miss Rowley and myself were conversing; +as they moved toward us, Miss Rowley pocketed her list, throwing +herself upon my honor not to betray the deficiencies in her role +d'equipage, or the collecting negociations just opened between us. Lady +Holberton, as she advanced, invited Miss Rowley, with an ill-concealed +air of triumph, to feast her eyes once more on the Lumley autograph, +and not long after the party broke up. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{role d'equipage = muster roll (French); here, Miss Rowley's list of +her autographs} +</P> + +<P> +The next day, in passing Holberton-House, I observed the chariot of a +fashionable physician before the door; and at Miss Rowley's party in +the evening learned from Mr. T—— that Lady Holberton was quite +unwell. The following morning I called to inquire, and received for +answer that "her ladyship was very much indisposed." It was not until a +week later that I saw Lady Holberton herself, taking the air in Hyde +Park. She looked wretchedly—thin and pale. I inquired from the English +friend with whom I was riding, if there was any probability of a change +of ministry? He looked surprised; and then catching the direction of my +eye, he observed, +</P> + +<P> +"You ask on Lady Holberton's account; but Sir A—— B—— tells me her +illness was caused by the loss of the Lumley Autograph." +</P> + +<P> +This unexpected intelligence proved only too true. On returning to my +lodgings, I found a note from Lady Holberton, requesting to see me, +and, of course, immediately obeyed the summons. +</P> + +<P> +"Lost!—lost!—lost! Mr. Howard!" said the lady, endeavoring to conceal +her emotion, as she gave me the details of her affliction. +</P> + +<P> +"It must have been stolen—basely stolen—on the evening of my party. +Oh! why did I so foolishly exhibit it among so many people, and +collectors among them, too! Never again will I admit more than one +collector at a time into the room with my album!" she exclaimed with +energy. +</P> + +<P> +I was shocked; surely Lady Holberton did not conceive it possible that +any of her guests could be guilty of such base conduct? +</P> + +<P> +"How little you know them! But it is that, Mr. Howard, which has +interested me in your favor—you have so much naivete, and ignorance of +the moral turpitude of the old world, that I feel convinced you never +could be guilty of such an action yourself." +</P> + +<P> +I assured Lady Holberton that in this respect she only did me justice; +and, in fact, a theft of the kind she alluded to appeared to me all but +incredible. +</P> + +<P> +"Remember that it was only the other day that —— lost his invaluable +album; remember that last winter Madame de —— had all her notes on +botanical subjects stolen from her own portfolio—and I could mention a +dozen instances of the same wickedness." +</P> + +<P> +These facts were already known to me, but I had forgotten them. I +remarked with a glow of national pride, that we certainly were much +more virtuous in these matters across the ocean; in America we are much +above pilfering autographs; when we do steal, it is by the volume—we +seize all an author's stock in trade at one swoop, and without +condescending to say even, thank ye, for it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{author's stock in trade = though ostensibly referring to the stealing +of autographs, Susan Fenimore Cooper is also clearly referring to the +widespread pirating of British and other foreign literary works by +American publishers, in the absence of international copyright +laws—which not only cheated the authors, but made life difficult for +American authors expecting to be paid for their creations} +</P> + +<P> +"So I have always understood, Mr. Howard—and I felt that my album was +safe with you," observed Lady Holberton, with tears in her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Wishing to relieve this distress, I proposed advertising for the lost +treasure—applying to the police. +</P> + +<P> +Lady Holberton smiled through her tears, as she assured me that the +police, old and new, had been enlisted in her service an hour after the +discovery of her loss, while communications had been opened with the +municipal governments of Brussels, Paris, and Vienna, on the same +subject. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{police, old and new = the first modern English police force had been +established in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel — from which the British +nickname of "bobby" for policeman.} +</P> + +<P> +"And have you no clue, no suspicions?—your servants—your maid?" +</P> + +<P> +The aspersion on her household was indignantly repelled. +</P> + +<P> +"You will readily believe, Mr. Howard, that a collector, the owner of +such an album as I have the honor of possessing, is particularly +careful as to whom she admits into her family. I will vouch for all +about me; still I have suspicions—but—" +</P> + +<P> +I begged her to speak, if she thought I could be of the least +assistance. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I will trust my son's friend. Mr. Howard, I here solemnly accuse +Theodosia Rowley of having stolen the Lumley Autograph!" +</P> + +<P> +The dignity of manner, the concentrated passion of expression, the +strength of emphasis with which Lady Holberton spoke, would have done +honor to a Siddons. The natural start of horror and amazement on my +part, was also, no doubt, very expressive—for I was speechless with +surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"I see you do not credit this," continued the lady. +</P> + +<P> +But thought, like a flash of lightning, had already recalled some +circumstances of the last evening at Holberton-House. I did credit the +accusation, and immediately informed Lady Holberton of what I had +observed, but forgotten, until reminded of the facts by her own +remarks. I had seen Miss Rowley, bending low over the album at a moment +when some one was telling an exceedingly humorous story which engrossed +the attention of the rest of the company. +</P> + +<P> +"Could she have had an accomplice?" cried the lady, with dashing eyes. +</P> + +<P> +I knew nothing on that point. But, I added, that soon after Miss Rowley +had left the room very quietly; and as I followed her to fulfill +another engagement, she had started, turned pale, and betrayed much +nervousness, scarcely allowing me to assist her to her carriage, +although we left the house at the same instant. +</P> + +<P> +Lady Holberton's suspicions were now confirmed beyond a doubt. +</P> + +<P> +"And yet it seems incredible that any lady should be guilty of such +conduct!" I exclaimed, almost repenting having allowed the previous +remarks to pass my lips. "Miss Rowley is undoubtedly a woman of +principle—or good moral standing." +</P> + +<P> +"Moral standing!—principle!" exclaimed Lady Holberton, bitterly. "Yes, +where an autograph is concerned, Theodosia Rowley has all the principle +of a Magpie." +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Magpie = European bird known for stealing and hiding small bright +objects.} +</P> + +<P> +Whatever might have been the fact, it was clear at least that Lady +Holberton's opinion was now unalterably made up. +</P> + +<P> +"Remember, she is a Butlerite!" added the lady, thus putting the last +touch to the circumstantial evidence against Miss Rowley. +</P> + +<P> +Weeks passed by. The advertisements remained unanswered. The police +could give no information. Lady Holberton was in despair; the +physicians declared that her health must eventually give way under the +anxiety and disappointment consequent upon this melancholy affair. Much +sympathy was felt for the afflicted lady; even Miss Rowley called often +to condole, but she was never admitted. +</P> + +<P> +"I could not see the crocodile!" exclaimed Lady Holberton, quite thrown +off her guard one day, by the sight of Miss Rowley's card which she +threw into the fire. +</P> + +<P> +Some consolation, however, appeared to be derived from the assiduous +attentions of Mr. T——, who personally admired Lady Holberton; at +least he professed to do so, though some persons accused him of +interested views, and aiming at her album rather than herself. But +although his attentions were received, yet nothing could afford full +consolation. At length, all other means failing, at the end of a month, +it was proposed that two persons, mutual friends of Lady Holberton and +Miss Rowley, should call on the latter lady, and appeal privately to +her sense of honor, to restore the autograph if it were actually in her +possession. This plan was finally agreed on; but the very day it was to +have been carried into execution, Miss Rowley left town for an +excursion in Finland. +</P> + +<P> +As for myself, I was also on the wing, and left London about the same +time. The parting with Lady Holberton was melancholy; she was much +depressed, and the physicians had recommended the waters of Wiesbaden. +Mr. T—— was also preparing for an excursion to Germany; and he was +suspected of vacillating in his Butlerite views, brought over by Lady +Holberton's tears and logic. +</P> + +<P> +Returning to London, some three months later, I found many of my former +acquaintances were absent; but Lady Holberton, Miss Rowley, and Mr. +T—— were all in town again. The day after I arrived—it was Tuesday +the 20th of August—as I was walking along Piccadilly, about five +o'clock in the afternoon, my eye fell on the windows of Mr. Thorpe's +great establishment. I was thinking over his last catalogue of +autographs, when I happened to observe a plain, modest-looking young +girl casting a timid glance at the door. There was something anxious +and hesitating in her manner, which attracted my attention. Accustomed, +like most Americans, to assist a woman in any little difficulty, and +with notions better suited perhaps to the meridian of Yankee-land than +that of London, I asked if she were in any trouble. How richly was I +rewarded for the act of good-nature! She blushed and courtesied. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Tuesday, 20th of August = does this date the final composition of "The +Lumley Autograph" or of its setting? August 20 fell on a Tuesday in +1844 and 1850} +</P> + +<P> +"Please, sir, is it true that they pay money for old letters at this +place?" +</P> + +<P> +"They do—have you any thing of the kind to dispose of?" +</P> + +<P> +Judge of my gratification, my amazement, when she produced the Lumley +Autograph! +</P> + +<P> +Of course I instantly took it, at her own price—only half a +guinea—and I further gave her Lady Holberton's address, that she might +claim the liberal reward promised far the precious letter. Tears came +into the poor child's eyes when she found what awaited her, and I may +as well observe at once that this young girl proved to be the daughter +of a poor bed-ridden artisan of Clapham, who had seen better days, but +was then in great want. It is an ill-wind that blows no good luck, and +the contest for the Lumley Autograph was a great advantage to the poor +artisan and his family. The girl had picked up the paper early one +morning, in a road near Clapham, as she was going to her work; Lady +Holberton gave her a handful of guineas as the promised reward—a sum +by the bye just double in amount what the poor poet had received for +his best poem—and she also continued to look after the family in their +troubles. +</P> + +<P> +But to return to the important document itself. Never can I forget the +expressive gratitude that beamed on the fine countenance of Lady +Holberton when I restored it once more to her possession. She rapidly +recovered her health and spirits, and it was generally reported that +seizing this favorable moment, Mr. T—— had offered himself and his +collection, and that both had been graciously accepted. Miss Rowley +called and a sort of paix platree was made up between the ladies. A +cargo of American autographs arrived containing the letter of the +Cherokee editor, the sign-manual of governors and colonels without +number, and I even succeeded in obtaining epistles from several noted +rowdies, especially to gratify the ladies. Lady Holberton made her +selection, and the rest were divided between Miss Rowley and Mr. T——. +Joy at the recovery of the Lumley Autograph seemed to diffuse an +unusual spirit of harmony among collectors; many desirable exchanges +were brought about and things looked charmingly. Alas, how little were +we prepared for what ensued! +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{paix platree = patched-up peace (French)} +</P> + +<P> +On the occasion of the presence in London of two illustrious royal +travelers, Lady Holberton gave a large party. So said the papers at +least; but I knew better. It was chiefly to celebrate the recovery of +the Lumley Autograph, and its restoration to her celebrated Album that +the fete was given. The Album was produced, in spite of a half-formed +vow of Lady Holberton to the contrary, but then His Royal Highness +Prince —— —— had particularly requested to see the letter of the +poor poet, having heard it mentioned at dinner. The evening passed off +brilliantly, their royal highnesses, came, saw, and departed. The crowd +followed them to another house, while a favored few, chiefly +collectors, remained lingering about the table on which lay the Album. +I should have said earlier, that Lady Holberton had appointed a new +office in her household the very day after the loss of the Lumley +Autograph; this was no other than a pretty little page, dressed in the +old costume of a student of Padua, whose sole duty it was to watch over +the Album whenever it was removed from the rich and heavy case in which +it usually lay enshrined. He was the guard of the Album, and was +strictly enjoined never, for one instant, to remove his eyes from the +precious volume from the moment he was placed on duty, until relieved. +</P> + +<P> +Well, there we were, some dozen of us, collected about the table; Lady +Holberton looking triumphant, Mr. T—— very proud; and there stood the +page of the Album, dressed in his Paduasoy gown, with eyes fastened on +the book, according to orders, while he supported its gorgeous case in +his arms. Some remark was made as to the extraordinary manner in which +the precious Autograph had been lost, and then found again. My blood +actually boiled, as one of the company turned to me and asked in a +suspicious tone, if I did not know more of its history than I chose to +confess? My indignation was boundless; fortunately I could produce the +friend walking with me in Piccadilly, and the artisan's family at +Clapham, as witnesses in my favor. Miss Rowley was standing near me at +the moment. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{Paduasoy = a strong corded or gros-grain silk fabric, traditionally +associated with Padua, Italy} +</P> + +<P> +"Still, Mr. Howard," observed that lady; "I really cannot see why you +should resent the insinuation so warmly. Now, do you know, I am not at +all sorry to have it in my power to declare that I have some knowledge +of the fate of that paper during its eclipse." +</P> + +<P> +All eyes were instantly fixed on the speaker. The lady smiled and +continued: +</P> + +<P> +"Lady Holberton thinks the Lumley Autograph was stolen—I understand +she even thought it was stolen by myself—" +</P> + +<P> +She here turned deliberately toward our hostess, who looked uneasy. +</P> + +<P> +"If such were your suspicions, Lady Holberton," continued Miss Rowley, +speaking with great deliberation—"I am happy to say they were quite +correct—you only did me justice—I am proud to declare the deed was +mine—" +</P> + +<P> +We were all speechless at hearing this sudden and bold avowal. +</P> + +<P> +"It was I, Theodosia Rowley, who carried off—the word is of little +consequence—who stole, I repeat, that precious paper. So long as the +treasure was mine, the consciousness of possessing it was sufficient in +itself—but having afterward lost it from my pocket by unpardonable +carelessness, I shall at least now glory in the daring deed which made +it once my own." +</P> + +<P> +Conceive the amazement which these remarks—delivered with calm +enthusiasm—produced among the listening circle. We all know that high +crimes and misdemeanors enough are committed by men, and women too; but +somehow or other the delinquents are not often given to talking of +them; they would just as lief in general that the act should not be +known. The effect of Miss Rowley's words was different on different +individuals. As for myself, I involuntarily felt for the handkerchief +in my pocket. The page of the album drew nearer. Lady Holberton looked +aghast, as though she had seen a cannibal. Some bit their lips; others +opened their eyes. Mr. T——, however, who held the album at the +moment, and was bending over it when Miss Rowley began her +extraordinary disclosure, raised his eyes, fixed his glasses on the +fair speaker, and sent through them such a glance as no words can fully +describe. It was a glance of intense admiration. +</P> + +<P> +"What exalted views! What sublime sentiments!" he exclaimed in an +ecstasy. +</P> + +<P> +But Mr. T——'s blaze of admiration was not the only flame at work, +while he was gazing at the heroine of the moment. In the sudden burst +of enthusiasm roused by the fair purloiner, he forgot all else; the +precious volume in his hand drooped, touched the flame of a wax-light +on the table, and in another instant the great Holberton Album, that +Album of European reputation—was burning before our eyes—its +invaluable leaves were curling, and blackening, and smoking under the +devouring flame! +</P> + +<P> +A shriek from Lady Holberton—an unearthly cry from the page of the +Album—both echoed by the spectators, came too late. The volume was +half consumed. Of the Lumley Autograph not a line remained! +</P> + +<P> +Such was the ill-fated end of the letter of the poor starving poet. It +was written amid gloom and distress; its career closed in a stormy +hour. The loss of the Album of course broke off the engagement between +Lady Holberton and Mr. T——. This however could scarcely have been +regretted under the circumstances, for their union, after the +catastrophe must have been one long series of miserable reproaches. The +sudden change in Mr. T——'s feelings toward Miss Rowley was not a +momentary one; the admiration first kindled by that lady's bold +declaration, grew to be the strongest sentiment of his heart, and only +a few weeks later he was made the happiest of men by receiving as his +own the fair hand which accomplished the deed. Miss Rowley and Mr. +T—— were united in the bands of matrimony and collectorship. Lady +Holberton was still inconsolable when I left London; she was thinking +of traveling among the Hottentots, or in any other clime where albums +are unknown and her loss could be forgotten. The journey to Kaffirland +was however postponed until the next change of ministry, and I have +learned recently that the lady has so far recovered her spirits as to +be thinking of an 'Omnibus.' The very last packet, indeed, brought a +flattering application to myself; Lady Holberton graciously declaring +that the name of Jonathan Howard is not only valued by herself, as that +of a friend, but interesting to collectors generally, as having been +once connected with that much lamented document, now lost to the world, +the letter of the poor starving poet, known as the Lumley Autograph. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +{"Omnibus" = in this context, an "omnibus bill" (i.e., one dealing with +a variety of subject) in Parliament} +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Lumley Autograph, by Susan Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH *** + +***** This file should be named 2164-h.htm or 2164-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/6/2164/ + +Produced by Hugh C. MacDougall. HTML version by Al Haines. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</BODY> + +</HTML> + + diff --git a/2164.txt b/2164.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2709da4 --- /dev/null +++ b/2164.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1658 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lumley Autograph, by Susan Fenimore Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lumley Autograph + +Author: Susan Fenimore Cooper + +Posting Date: October 24, 2008 [EBook #2164] +Release Date: May, 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH *** + + + + +Produced by Hugh C. MacDougall. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + +THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH + + +by + +Susan Fenimore Cooper + + + + +{by Susan Fenimore Cooper (1813-1894), daughter of James Fenimore +Cooper. "The Lumley Autograph" was published in Graham's Magazine, +Volume 38 (January-June 1851), pp. 31-36, 97-101. The author is +identified only in the table of contents for Volume 38, p. iii, where +she is described as "the Author of 'Rural Hours'". + +{Transcribed by Hugh C. MacDougall, Secretary, James Fenimore Cooper +Society; jfcooper@wpe.com. Notes by the transcriber, including +identification of historical characters and translations of foreign +expressions, follow the paragraphs to which they refer, and are +enclosed in {curly brackets}. The spelling of the original has been +reproduced as printed, with unusual spellings identified by {sic}. +Because of the limitations of the the Gutenberg format, italics and +accents (used by the author for some foreign words, and in a few +quotations) have been ignored. A few missing periods and quotation +marks have been silently inserted. + +{A brief introduction to "The Lumley Autograph.": + +{"The Lumley Autograph" was inspired, as Susan's introductory note +states, by the constant stream of letters received by her father, +asking in often importunate terms for his autograph or for pages from +his manuscripts, and even requesting that he supply autographs of other +famous men who might have written to him. He generally complied with +these requests courteously and to the best of his ability; after his +death in 1851, Susan continued to do so, as well as selling fragments +of his manuscripts to raise money for charity during the Civil War. + +{"The Lumley Autograph" is of interest today primarily because it is a +good story. Its broad satire about the autograph collecting mania of +the mid-nineteenth century is deftly combined with the more serious +irony of a poet's frantic appeal for help becoming an expensive +plaything of the rich, while the poet himself has died of want. Susan +Fenimore Cooper's typically understated expression of this irony +renders it all the more poignant, and the unspoken message of "The +Lumley Autograph" is as relevant today as it was in 1851. + +{Though "The Lumley Autograph" was published in 1851, it was written as +early as 1845, when Susan's father first unsuccessfully offered it to +Graham's Magazine, asking "at least $25" for it. [See James Fenimore +Cooper to Mrs. Cooper, Nov. 30, 1845, in James F. Beard, ed., "The +Letters and Journals of James Fenimore Cooper" (Harvard University +Press, 1960-68), Vol. V, pp. 102-102]. Three years later he offered it +to his London publisher, also without success [James Fenimore Cooper to +Richard Bentley, Nov. 15, 1848, Vol. V, p. 390; and Richard Bentley to +James Fenimore Cooper, July 24, 1849, Vol. VI, p. 53.] What Graham's +Magazine finally paid, in 1851, is not known.} + + + + +THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH. + +BY THE AUTHOR OF "RURAL HOURS," ETC. + + + +[Not long since an American author received an application from a +German correspondent for "a few Autographs"--the number of names +applied for amounting to more than a hundred, and covering several +sheets of foolscap. A few years since an Englishman of literary note +sent his Album to a distinguished poet in Paris for his contribution, +when the volume was actually stolen from a room where every other +article was left untouched; showing that Autographs were more valuable +in the eyes of the thief than any other property. Amused with the +recollection of these facts, and others of the same kind, some idle +hours were given by the writer to the following view of this mania of +the day.] + +The month of November of the year sixteen hundred and -- was cheerless +and dark, as November has never failed to be within the foggy, smoky +bounds of the great city of London. It was one of the worst days of the +season; what light there was seemed an emanation from the dull earth, +the heavens would scarce have owned it, veiled as they were, by an +opaque canopy of fog which weighed heavily upon the breathing multitude +below. Gloom penetrated every where; no barriers so strong, no good +influences so potent, as wholly to ward off the spell thrown over that +mighty town by the spirits of chill and damp; they clung to the silken +draperies of luxury, they were felt within the busy circle of industry, +they crept about the family hearth, but abroad in the public ways, and +in the wretched haunts of misery, they held undisputed sway. + +Among the throng which choked the passage of Temple-Bar toward evening, +an individual, shabbily clad, was dragging his steps wearily along, his +pallid countenance bearing an expression of misery beyond the more +common cares of his fellow-passengers. Turning from the great +thoroughfare he passed into a narrow lane, and reaching the door of a +mean dwelling he entered, ascended a dirty stairway four stories high, +and stood in his garret lodging. If that garret was bare, cold, and +dark, it was only like others, in which many a man before and since has +pined away years of neglect and penury, at the very moment when his +genius was cheering, enriching, enlightening his country and his race. +That the individual whose steps we have followed was indeed a man of +genius, could not be doubted by one who had met the glance of that +deep, clear, piercing eye, clouded though it was at that moment by +misery of body and mind that amounted to the extreme of anguish. The +garret of the stranger contained no food, no fuel, no light; its +occupant was suffering from cold, hunger, and wretchedness. Throwing +himself on a broken chair, he clenched his fingers over the manuscript, +held within a pale and emaciated hand. + +"Shall I die of hunger--or shall I make one more effort?" he exclaimed, +in a voice in which bitterness gave a momentary power to debility. + +"I will write once more to my patron--possibly--" without waiting to +finish the sentence, he groped about in the dull twilight for ink and +paper; resting the sheet on a book, he wrote in a hand barely legible: + +"Nov. 20th 16--, + +"MY LORD--I have no light, and cannot see to write--no fire and my +fingers are stiff with cold--I have not tasted food for eight and forty +hours, and I am faint. Three times, my lord, I have been at your door +to day, but could not obtain admittance. This note may yet reach you in +time to save a fellow-creature from starvation. I have not a farthing +left, nor credit for a ha'penny--small debts press upon me, and the +publishers refused my last poem. Unless relieved within a few hours I +must perish. + +"Your lordship's most humble, + "Most obedient, most grateful servant, + -------- --------" + + +This letter, scarcely legible from the agitation and misery which +enfeebled the hand that wrote it, was folded, and directed, and again +the writer left his garret lodging on the errand of beggary; he +descended the narrow stairway, slowly dragged his steps through the +lane, and sought the dwelling of his patron. + +Whether he obtained admittance, or was again turned from the door; +whether his necessities were relieved, or the letter was idly thrown +aside unopened, we cannot say. Once more mingled with the crowd, we +lose sight of him. It is not the man, but the letter which engages our +attention to-day. There is still much doubt and uncertainty connected +with the subsequent fate of the poor poet, but the note written at that +painful moment has had a brilliant career, a history eventful +throughout. If the reader is partial to details of misery, and poverty, +any volume of general literary biography will furnish him with an +abundant supply, for such has too often proved the lot of those who +have built up the noble edifice of British Literature: like the band of +laborers on the Egyptian pyramid, theirs was too often a mess of leeks, +while milk, and honey, and oil, were the portion of those for whom they +toiled, those in whose honor, and for whose advantage the monument was +raised. Patrons, whether single individuals or nations, have too often +proved but indifferent friends, careless and forgetful of those whom +they proudly pretend to foster. But leaving the poor poet, with his +sorrows, to the regular biographer, we choose rather the lighter task +of relating the history of the letter itself; a man's works are often +preferred before himself, and it is believed that in this, the day of +autographs, no further apology will be needed for the course taken on +the present occasion. We hold ourselves, indeed, entitled to the +especial gratitude of collectors for the following sketch of a document +maintaining so high a rank in their estimation. + +And justly might the Lumley Letter claim a full share of literary +homage. Boasting a distinguished signature, it possessed the first +essential of a superior autograph; for, although a rose under any other +name may smell as sweet, yet it is clear that with regard to every +thing coming from the pen, whether folio or billet doux, imaginative +poem, or matter-of-fact note of hand, there is a vast deal in this +important item, which is often the very life and stamina of the whole +production. Then again, the subject of extreme want is one of general +interest, while the allusion to the unpublished poem must always prove +an especial attraction to the curious. Such were the intrinsic merits +of the document, in addition to which, sober Time lent his aid to +enhance its value, and capricious Fortune added a peculiar charm of +mystery, which few papers of the kind could claim to the same extent. +The appearance also of this interesting paper was always admitted to be +entirely worthy of its fame. The hand-writing fully carried out the +idea of extreme debility and agitation corresponding with its nature, +while a larger and a lesser blot bore painful testimony to that +recklessness of propriety which a starving man might be supposed to +feel; one corner had been ruthlessly abstracted at the time it was seen +by the writer of this notice, and with it the last figures of the date; +a considerable rent crossed the sheet from right to left, but happily +without injuring its contents; several punctures were also observed, +one of these encroaching very critically upon the signature. But I need +not add that these marks of age and harsh treatment, like the scars on +the face of a veteran, far from being blemishes, were acknowledged to +be so many additional embellishments. The coloring of the piece was of +that precious hue, verging here and there on the dingy, the very tint +most charming in the eyes of an antiquary, and which Time alone can +bestow. In fact, one rarely sees a relic of the kind, more perfect in +color, more expressive in its general aspect, or more becoming to an +album, from the fine contrast between its poverty-stricken air, torn, +worn, and soiled, and the rich, embossed, unsullied leaf on which it +reposed, like some dark Rembrandt within its gilded frame. In short, it +was the very Torso of autographs. Happily the position which it finally +attained was one worthy of its merits, and we could not have wished it +a more elegant shrine than the precious pages of the Holberton Album, a +volume encased in velvet, secured with jeweled clasps, reposing on a +tasteful etagere. + +{etagere = small table or shelf for displaying curios (French)} + +But I proceed without further delay to relate some of the more +important steps in the progress of this interesting paper, from the +garret of the starving poet to the drawing-rooms of Holberton House, +merely observing by way of preface that the following notice may be +relied on so far as it goes, the writer--Colonel Jonathan Howard of +Trenton, New Jersey,--having had access to the very best authorities, +and having also had the honor of being enlisted in the service of the +Lumley Autograph upon an occasion of some importance, as will be shown +by the narrative. + +It was just one hundred years since, in 1745, that this celebrated +letter was first brought to light, from the obscurity in which it had +already lain some half a century, and which no subsequent research has +been able fully to clear away. In the month of August of that year, the +Rev. John Lumley, tutor to Lord G----, had the honor of discovering +this curious relic under the following circumstances. + +Mr. Lumley was one day perched on the topmost step of a library ladder, +looking over a black letter volume of Hollinshed, from the well filled +shelves of his pupil. Suddenly he paused, and his antiquarian instincts +were aroused by the sight of a sheet of paper, yellow and time worn. He +seized it with the eagerness of a book-worm, and in so doing dropped +the volume of Hollinshed alarmingly near the wig-covered head of his +youthful pupil, who with closed eyes, and open mouth, lay reclining on +a sofa below. The book, grazing the curls of the young lord's wig, he +sprang up from his nap, alive and sound, though somewhat startled. + +{Hollinshed = Raphael Holinshed (d. 1580), famous writer of British +historical chronicles, used by Shakespeare as source for some of his +plays} + +"Hang it Lumley, what a rumpus you keep up among the books! You well +nigh drove that old volume into my head by a process more summary than +usual." + +The learned tutor made a thousand apologies, as he descended the +ladder, but on touching the floor his delight burst forth. + +"It was this paper, my lord, which made me so awkward--I have lighted +on a document of the greatest interest!" + +"What is it?" asked the pupil looking askance at letter, and tutor. + +"An original letter which comes to hand, just in time for my lives of +the tragedians--the volume to be dedicated to your lordship--it is a +letter of poor Otway." + +{Otway = Thomas Otway (1652-1685), English playwright who wrote a +number of important tragedies in verse, but who died destitute at the +age of 33. The Coopers were familiar with his work; James Fenimore +Cooper used quotations from Otway's "The Orphan" for three chapter +heading epigraphs in his 1850 novel, "The Ways of the Hour"} + +"Otway?--What, the fellow you were boring me about last night?" + +"The same my lord--the poet Otway--you may remember we saw his Venice +Preserved last week. It is a highly interesting letter, written in +great distress, and confirms the story of his starvation. You see the +signature." + +{Venice Preserved = a well-known play by Otway, written in 1682} + +"That name, Otway?--Well, to my mind it is as much like Genghis Khan." + +"Oh, my lord!--Thomas Otway clearly--signatures are always more or less +confused. + +"Well, have it your own way.--It may be Tom, Dick, or Harry for all I +care," said the youth, stretching himself preparatory to a visit to his +kennels; and such was his indifference to this literary treasure that +he readily gave it to his tutor. In those days, few lords were literary. + +Mr. Lumley's delight at this discovery, was very much increased by the +fact that he was at that moment anxious to bring out an edition of the +English Tragedians of the seventeenth century. The lives of several of +these authors had been already written by him, and he was at that +moment engaged on that of Otway. A noted publisher had taken the matter +into consideration, and if the undertaking gave promise of being both +palatable to the public, and profitable to himself, a prospectus was to +be issued. Now here was a little tit-bit which the public would +doubtless relish; for it was beginning to feel some interest in Otway's +starvation, the poet having been dead half a century. It is true that +the signature of the poor starving author, whoever he may have been, +was so illegible that it required some imagination to see in it, the +name of Otway, but Mr. Lumley had enough of the true antiquarian +spirit, to settle the point to his own entire satisfaction. The note +was accordingly introduced into the life of Otway, with which the +learned tutor was then engaged. The work itself, however, was not +destined to see the light; its publication was delayed, while Mr. +Lumley accompanied his pupil on the usual continental tour, and from +this journey the learned gentleman never returned, dying at Rome, of a +cold caught in the library of the Vatican. By his will, the MS. life of +Otway with all his papers, passed into the hands of his brother, an +officer in the army. Unfortunately, however, Captain Lumley, who was by +no means a literary character, proved extremely indifferent to this +portion of his brother's inheritance, which he treated with +contemptuous neglect. + +After this first stage on the road to fame, twenty more years passed +away and the letter of the starving poet was again forgotten. At length +the papers of the Rev. Mr. Lumley, fell into the hands of a nephew, who +inherited his uncle's antiquarian tastes, and clerical profession. In +looking over the MSS., he came to the life of Otway, and was struck +with the letter given there, never having met with it in print; there +was also a note appended to it with an account of the manner in which +it had been discovered by the editor, in the library of Lord G----, and +affirming that it was still in his own possession. The younger Lumley +immediately set to work to discover the original letter, but his search +was fruitless; it was not to be found either among the papers of his +uncle, or those of his father. It was gone. He was himself a tutor at +Cambridge at the time, and returning to the university, he carried with +him his uncle's life of Otway, in MS. Some little curiosity was at +first excited among his immediate companions by these facts, but it +soon settled down into an opinion unfavorable to the veracity of the +late Mr. Lumley.--This nettled the nephew; and as Lord G----, was still +living, a gouty bloated roue, he at length wrote to inquire if his +lordship knew any thing of the matter. His lordship was too busy, or +too idle, to answer the inquiry. Some time later, however, the younger +Lumley, then a chaplain in the family of a relative of Lord G----'s, +accidentally met his uncle's former pupil, and being of a persevering +disposition, he ventured to make a personal application on the subject. + +"Now you recall the matter to me, Mr. Lumley, I do recollect something +of the kind. I remember one day, giving my tutor some musty old letter +he found in the library at G----; and by the bye he came near cracking +my skull on the same occasion!" + +Mr. Lumley was not a little pleased by this confirmation of the story, +though he found that Lord G---- had not even read the letter, nor did +he know any thing of its subsequent fate; he only remembered looking at +the signature. Not long after the meeting at which this explanation had +taken place, Mr. Lumley received a visit from a stranger, requesting to +see the MS. Life of Otway in his possession. It was handed to him; he +examined it, and was very particular in his inquiries on the subject, +giving the chaplain to understand that he was the agent of a third +person who wished to purchase either the original letter if possible, +or if that could not be found, the MS. containing the copy. Mr. Lumley +always believed that the employer of this applicant was no other than +that arch-gatherer, Horace Walpole, who gave such an impulse to the +collecting mania; he declined selling the work, however, for he had +thoughts of printing it himself. The application was mentioned by him, +and, of course, the manuscript gained notoriety, while the original +letter became a greater desideratum than ever. The library at G---- was +searched most carefully by a couple of brother book-worms, who crept +over it from cornice to carpeting; but to no purpose. + +{Horace Walpole = Horace Walpole (1717-1797), a prolific writer, +connoisseur, and collector, best known for his extensive +correspondence; he established a taste for literary collecting by +would-be cultured gentlemen in England} + +Some ten years later still--about the time, by the bye, when +Chatterton's career came to such a miserable close in London, and when +Gilbert was dying in a hospital at Paris--it happened that a worthy +physician, well known in the town of Southampton for his benevolence +and eccentricity, was on a professional visit to the child of a poor +journeyman trunk-maker, in the same place. A supply of old paper had +just been brought in for the purpose of lining trunks, according to the +practice of the day. A workman was busy sorting these, rejecting some +as refuse, and preserving others, when the doctor stopped to answer an +inquiry about the sick child. + +{Chatterton = Thomas Chatterton (1752-1770), British poet, who created +an imaginary Thomas Rowley, a supposed medieval monk, to whom he +ascribed some of his poems. Chatterton committed suicide at the age of +18 when a poem of his, allegedly by Rowley, was rejected; he was buried +in a pauper's grave. Susan Fenimore Cooper no doubt has this in mind in +naming a character in this story Theodosia Rowley. + +{Gilbert = Nicolas Gilbert (1751-1780), French poet, who died in Paris +at the age of 29. The French writer Count Alfred de Vigny (1797-1863), +in his book of essays "Stello" (1832), popularized a legend that +Gilbert had died insane and in abject poverty at the charity hospital +of the Hotel Dieu in Paris, and compared his miserable end with that of +Chatteron; it seems likely that Vigny, whose book appeared while Susan +Fenimore Cooper was studying in Paris, was her source for this +reference to Gilbert. In fact, Gilbert was not impoverished, and died +of injuries after falling from his horse} + +"Better, Hopkins--doing well. But what have you here? I never see old +papers but I have an inclination to look them over. If a man has +leisure, he may often pick up something amusing among such rubbish. +Don't you ever read the papers that pass through your hands?" + +"No, sir--I 'as no time for that, sir. And then I was never taught to +read writing, and these 'ere papers is all written ones. We puts them +that's written for one trunk, and them that's printed for another, as +you see, sir; one must have a heye to the looks of the work." + +"Why yes--you seem to manage the job very well; and I have a trunk, by +the bye, that wants patching up before my boy carries it off with him; +I'll send it round to you; Hopkins. But stay--what's this?" and the +doctor took up a soiled, yellow sheet of paper, from the heap rejected +by the workman; it contained a scrawl which proved to be the identical +letter of the poor poet, the Lumley autograph, though in what manner it +became mingled with that heap of rubbish has never been satisfactorily +ascertained. + +"Here's a poor fellow who had a hard fate, Hopkins," said the +benevolent man, thoughtfully. "It is as good as a sermon on charity to +read that letter." + +The trunk-maker begged to hear it. + +"Well, poor journeyman as I be, I was never yet in so bad a way as +that, sir." + +"And never will be, I hope; but this was a poet, Hopkins--and that's +but an indifferent trade to live by. I'll tell you what, my good +friend," said the doctor, suddenly, "that letter is worth keeping, and +you may paste it in the trunk I'll send round this afternoon--put it in +the lid, where it can be read." + +The trunk was sent, and the letter actually pasted in it as part of the +new lining. Dr. H----, who, as we have observed, was rather eccentric +in his ways, had a son about to commence his career as a soldier; and +the worthy man thought the letter might teach the youth a useful lesson +of moderation and temperance, by showing him every time he opened his +trunk, the extreme of want to which his fellow beings were occasionally +reduced. What success followed the plan we cannot say. The trunk, +however, shared the young soldier's wandering life; it carried the +cornet's uniform to America; it was besieged in Boston; and it made +part of the besieging baggage at Charleston. It was not destined, +however, to remain in the new world, but followed its owner to the East +Indies, carrying on this second voyage, a lieutenant's commission. At +length, after passing five-and-twenty years in Bengal, the trunk +returned again to Southampton, as one among some dozen others which +made up the baggage of the gallant Colonel H----, now rich in laurels +and rupees. The old trunk had even the honorable duty assigned it of +carrying its master's trophies, doubtless the most precious portion of +the colonel's possessions, though at the same time the lightest; as for +the rupees, the old worn-out box would have proved quite unequal to +transporting a single bag of them, for it was now sadly unfit for +service, thanks to the ravages of time and the white ants; and, indeed, +owed its preservation and return to its native soil solely to the +letter pasted in the lid, which, in the eyes of Colonel H----, was a +memento of home, and the eccentric character of a deceased parent. + +{cornet = the lowest officer rank in a British cavalry regiment, below +that of Lieutenant; now obsolete} + +The time had now come, however, when the Lumley autograph was about to +emerge forever from obscurity, and receive the full homage of +collectors; the hour of triumph was at hand, the neglect of a century +was to be fully repaid by the highest honors of fame. The eye of beauty +was about to kindle as it rested on the Lumley autograph; jeweled +fingers were to be raised, eager to snatch the treasure from each +other; busy literati stood ready armed for a war of controversy in its +behalf. + +It happened that Colonel H---- was invited to a fancy ball; and it also +happened that the lady whom he particularly admired, was to be present +on the occasion. Such being the case, the most becoming costume was to +be selected for the evening. What if the locks of the gallant colonel +were slightly sprinkled with gray? He was still a handsome man, and +knew very well that the dress of an eastern aymeer was particularly +well suited to his face and figure. This dress, preserved in a certain +old trunk in the garret, was accordingly produced. The trunk was +brought down to the dressing-room, the costume examined piece by piece, +pronounced in good condition by the valet, and declared very becoming +by the military friend called in as counsellor. + +{aymeer = Emir; a Muslim title signifying commander in Arabic} + +"But what a queer old box this is, H----," said Major D----, eyeing the +trunk through his glass. + +"It's one I've had these hundred years," replied the colonel. "So you +think this trumpery will do, D----?" + +"Do? To be sure it will, my dear fellow--it gives your Milesian skin +the true Nawaub dye. But I was just trying to make out an old letter +pasted in the lid of your trunk, under my nose here. Is this the way +you preserve your family archives?" + +{Milesian = slang term for Irish, from Milesius, mythical Spanish +conqueror of Ireland; Nawaub = from Nabob, Anglo-Indian slang for one +who has returned home from India with a large fortune} + +"That letter is really a curiosity in its way," said the colonel, +turning from the glass and relating its history, so far at least as it +was known to himself. + +His friend spelt it through. + +"My dear fellow, why don't you give this letter to the father of your +fair Louisa; he's quite rabid on such points; you'll make him a friend +for life by it!" + +The advice was followed. The letter was cut from its old position in +the lid of the trunk, and presented to Sir John Blank, the father of +the lovely Louisa, who, in his turn, soon placed the hand of his +daughter in that of Colonel H----. + +Sir John, a noted follower in the steps of Horace Walpole, had no +sooner become the owner of this interesting letter, than he set to work +to find out its origin, and to fill up its history. Unfortunately, the +sheet had received some wounds in the wars, as well as the gallant +colonel. One corner had been carried away by an unlucky thrust from a +razor--not a sword; while the date and signature had also been half +eaten out by the white ants of Bengal. But such difficulties as these +were only pleasing obstacles in the way of antiquarian activity. Sir +John had soon formed an hypothesis perfectly satisfactory to himself. +His mother's name was Butler, and he claimed some sort of affinity with +the author of Hudibras; as the Christian name of the poor poet had been +almost entirely devoured by the ants, while the surname had also +suffered here and there, Sir John ingeniously persuaded himself that +what remained had clearly belonged to the signature of the great +satirist; as for the date, the abbreviation of "Nov. 20th." and the +figures 16-- marking the century, were really tolerably distinct. +Accordingly, Sir John wrote a brief notice of Butler's Life, dwelling +much upon his well-known poverty, and quoting his epitaph, with the +allusion to his indigence underscored, "lest he who living wanted all +things, should, when dead, want a tomb," and placed these remarks +opposite the letter of our starving poet, which was registered in the +volume in conspicuous characters as an "Autograph of Samuel Butler, +author of Hudibras, showing to what distress he was at one time +reduced." + +{Samuel Butler (1612-1680), another English author popularly believed +to have died in great poverty; he is best known for his long satiric +mock-epic poem, "Hudibras" (1663-1678)} + +Here the sheet remained several years, until at length it chanced that +Sir John's volume of autographs was placed in the hands of a gentleman +who had recently read Mr. Lumley's MS. Life of Otway. The identity of +this letter, with that copied by Mr. Lumley, immediately suggested +itself; and now the first sparks of controversy between the Otwaysians +and the Butlerites were struck in Sir John's library. + +From thence they soon spread to the four winds of heaven, falling on +combustible materials wherever they lighted on a literary head, or +collecting hands. + +By the bye, the rapidity with which this collecting class has increased +of late years is really alarming; who can foresee the state of things +likely to exist in the next century, should matters go on at the same +rate? Reflect for a moment on the probable condition of distinguished +authors, lions of the loudest roar, if the number of autograph-hunters +were to increase beyond what it is at present. Is it not to be feared +that they will yet exterminate the whole race, that the great lion +literary, like the mastodon, will become extinct? Or, perhaps, by +taming him down to a mere producer of autographs, his habits will +change so entirely that he will no longer be the same animal, no longer +bear a comparison with the lion of the past. On the other hand should +the great race become extinct, what will be the fate of the family of +autograph-feeders? What a fearful state of things would ensue, even in +our day, were the supply to be reduced but a quire! The heart sickens +at the picture which would then be presented--collectors turning on +each other, waging a fierce war over every autographic scrap, making a +battle-field of every social circle. Happily, nature seems always to +keep up the balance in such matters, and it is a consoling reflection +that if the million are now consumers, so have they become producers of +autographs; it is therefore probable that the evil will work its own +remedy; and we may hope that the great writers of the next century will +be shielded in some measure by the diversion made in their favor +through the lighter troops of the lion corps. + +As for the full merits of the controversy so hotly waged over the +Lumley autograph between the Otwaysians and the Butlerites, dividing +the collecting world into two rival parties, we shall not here enter +into it. In all such matters it is better to go at once to the fountain +head; if the reader is curious on the subject, as doubtless he must be, +he is referred to one octavo and five duodecimo volumes, with fifty +pamphlets which have left little to say on the point. Let it not be +supposed, however, for an instant, that the writer of this article is +himself undecided in his opinion on this question. By no means; and he +hastens to repel the unjust suspicion, by declaring himself one of the +warmest Otwaysians. It is true that he has some private grounds for +believing that a dispassionate inquiry might lead one to doubt whether +Otway or Butler ever saw the Lumley autograph; but what of that, who +has time or inclination for dispassionate investigation in these +stirring days! In the present age of universal enlightenment, we don't +trouble ourselves to make up our opinions--we take and give them, we +beg, borrow, and steal them. True, there are controversies involving +matters so important in their consequences, so serious in their nature, +that one might conceive either indifference or fanaticism equally +inexcusable with regard to them; but there are also a thousand other +subjects of discussion, at the present day, of that peculiar character +which can only thrive when supported by passion and prejudice, and +falling in with a dispute of this nature, it is absolutely necessary to +jump at once into fanaticism. Accordingly, I had no sooner obtained a +glimpse of the letter of the starving poet, embalmed within the +precious leaves of one of the most noted albums of Europe, than I +immediately enlisted under Lady Holberton's colors as a faithful +Otwaysian. With that excellent lady I take a tragical view of the +Lumley Letter, conceiving that a man must be blind as a bat, not to see +that it was written by the author of Venice Preserved, and this in +spite of other celebrated collectors, who find in the same sheet so +much that is comical and Hudibrastic. Strange that any man in his +senses should hold such an opinion--yet the Butlerites number strong, +some of them are respectable people, too; more's the pity that such +should be the case. + +As we have already observed, the controversy began in the library of +Sir John Blank, and it continued throughout the life-time of that +excellent and well-known collector. At his death, a few years since, it +passed into the hands of his daughter, the widow of Colonel H----; and +it will be readily imagined that although the main question is still as +much undecided as ever, yet the value of the document itself has been +immeasurably increased by a controversy of twenty years standing, on +its merits. I wish I could add that the fortune of Colonel H---- had +augmented in the same proportion; but, unhappily for his widow, the +reverse was the case; and it was owing to this combination of +circumstances that Lady Holberton at length obtained possession of the +Lumley Autograph. Mrs. H---- became very desirous of procuring for her +eldest son a cornetcy in the regiment once commanded by his father; as +she was now too poor to purchase, the matter required management and +negotiation. How it was brought about I cannot exactly say. Suffice it +to declare that the young man received his commission, through the +influence of Lady Holberton, in a high military quarter, while the +Lumley Autograph was placed on a distinguished leaf of that lady's +velvet-bound, jewel-clasped album. + +It so happened that I dined at Holberton-House on the eventful day upon +which the Lumley letter changed owners. I saw immediately, on entering +the drawing-room, that Lady Holberton was in excellent spirits; she +received me very graciously, and spoke of her son, with whom I had just +traveled between Paris and Algiers. + +"Wish me joy, Mr. Howard!" exclaimed the lady after a short +conversation. + +Of course I was very happy to do so, and replied by some remarks on the +recent success of her friends in a parliamentary measure, just then +decided--Lady Holberton being a distinguished politician. But I soon +found it was to some matter of still higher moment she then alluded. + +"I never had a doubt as to our success in the house, last night--no; +rather wish me joy that I have at last triumphed in a negotiation of +two years standing. The Lumley Autograph is mine, Mr. Howard! The +letter of poor Otway, actually written in the first stages of +starvation--only conceive its value!" + +Other guests arriving I was obliged to make way, not however, before +Lady Holberton had promised me a sight of her recent acquisition, in +the evening. In the mean time I fully entered into her satisfaction, +for I had already seen her album in Paris, and heard her sigh for this +very addition to its treasures. During dinner the important +intelligence that the Lumley letter was her own, was imparted to the +company generally. + +"I knew it! I was sure of it from her smile, the moment I entered the +room!" exclaimed Mr. T---- the distinguished collector, who sat next me. + +Another guest, Miss Rowley, also a collecting celebrity, was sitting +opposite, and turned so pale at the moment, that I was on the point of +officiously recommending a glass of water. + +"Have you albums in America, Mr. Howard?" inquired a charming young +lady on my right. + +"There is no lack of them, I assure you,"--I replied. + +"Really! Adela, Mr. Howard tells me they have albums in America!" +repeated the young lady to a charming sister, near her; while on my +left I had the satisfaction of hearing some gratifying remarks from Mr. +T----, as to the state of civilization in my native country, as shown +by such a fact. + +"And what are your albums like?" again inquired my lovely neighbor. + +"Not like Lady Holberton's, perhaps--but pretty well for a young +nation." + +"Oh dear--not like Lady Holberton's of course--hers is quite unique--so +full of nice odd things. But are your albums in America at all like +ours?" + +"Why yes! we get most of them from Paris and London." + +"Oh dear! how strange--but don't you long to see this new treasure of +Lady Holberton's--that dear nice letter of Otway's, written while he +was starving?" inquired the charming Emily, helping herself to a bit of +pate de Perigord. + +{pate de Perigord = an expensive French delicacy: goose liver pate with +truffles.} + +"Yes, I am exceedingly curious to see it." + +"You don't believe it was written by that coarse, vulgar Butler, do +you?" + +"No, indeed,--it is the pathetic Otway's, beyond a doubt!" + +My neighbor, the Butlerite, gave a contemptuous shrug, but I paid him +no attention, preferring to coincide with the soft eyes on my right, +rather than dispute with the learned spectacles to the left. + +After dinner when we had done full justice to the bill of fare, +concluding with pines, grapes, and Newtown pippins, we were all +gratified with a sight of the poor poet's letter, by way of bonne +bouche. A little volume written by Lady Holberton--printed but not +published--relating its past history from the date of its discovery in +the library of Lord G----, her grandfather, to the present day, passed +from hand to hand, and this review of its various adventures of course +only added force to the congratulations offered upon the acquisition of +this celebrated autograph. + +{pine = pineapple. Newtown pippin = a green, tart, tangy American +apple, originally from Long Island, a favorite of George Washington and +Thomas Jefferson; bonne bouche = a tasty morsel (French)} + +While the company were succeeding each other in offering their homage +to the great album, my attention was called off by a tap on the +shoulder from a friend, who informed me that Miss Rowley, a very +clever, handsome woman of a certain age, had expressed a wish to make +my acquaintance. I was only too happy to be presented. After a very +gracious reception, and an invitation to a party for the following +evening, Miss Rowley observed: + +"You have Autographs, in America, I understand, Mr. Howard." + +"Both autographs and collectors," I replied. + +"Really! Perhaps you are a collector yourself?" continued the lady, +with an indescribable expression, half interest, half disappointment. + +"No--merely a humble admirer of the labors of others." + +"Then," added the lady, more blandly, "perhaps you will be good-natured +enough to assist me." + +And, after a suspicious glance toward the spot where Lady Holberton and +Mr. T---- were conversing together, she adroitly placed herself in a +position to give to our conversation the privacy of a diplomatic +tete-a-tete. + +"Could you possibly procure me some American autographs for my +collection? I find a few wanting under the American head--perhaps a +hundred or two." + +I professed myself ready to do any thing in my power in so good a cause. + +"Here is my list; I generally carry it about me. You will see those +that are wanting, and very possibly may suggest others." + +And as the lady spoke she drew from her pocket a roll of paper as long, +and as well covered with names as any minority petition to Congress. +However, I had lived too much among collectors of late to be easily +dismayed. The list was headed by Black Hawk. I expressed my fears that +the gallant warrior's ignorance of letters might prove an obstacle to +obtaining any thing from his pen. I volunteered however to procure +instead, something from a Cherokee friend of mine, the editor of a +newspaper. + +{Black Hawk = Black Hawk (1767-1838), an American Indian (Sac) +chieftain, defeated by the U.S. Army in 1832, whose "Autobiography" +(1833) became an American classic.} + +"How charming!" exclaimed Miss Rowley, clasping her hands. "How very +obliging of you, Mr. Howard. Are you fond of shooting? My brother's +preserves are in fine order--or perhaps you are partial to yachting--" + +Bowing my thanks for these amiable hints, I carelessly observed that +the letter of the Cherokee editor was no sacrifice at all, for the +chief and myself were regular correspondents; I had a dozen of his +letters, and had just given one to Mr. T----. This intelligence +evidently lessened Miss Rowley's excessive gratitude. She continued her +applications, however, casting an eye on her list. + +"Perhaps you correspond also with some rowdies, Mr. Howard? Could you +oblige me with a rowdy letter?" + +{rowdies = in the mid-nineteenth century, an American slang term for +backwoodsmen or other rough and disorderly types} + +I drew up a little at this request; my correspondents, I assured the +lady, were generally men of respectability, though one of them was of a +savage race. + +"No doubt; but in the way of autographs, you know, one would correspond +with--" + +The sentence remained unfinished, for the lady added, + +"I wrote myself to Madame Laffarge, not long since. I am sorry to say +Lady Holberton has two of hers; but although an excellent person in +most respects, yet it cannot be denied that as regards autographs, Lady +Holberton is very illiberal. I offered her Grizzel Baillie, two +Cardinals, William Pitt, and Grace Darling, for one of her Laffarges; +but she would not part with it. Yet the exchange was very fair, +especially as Madame Laffarge is still living." + +{Madame Laffarge = Marie Lafarge (1816-1853), French woman convicted in +1840 for poisoning her husband; later pardoned. Grizzel Baillie = Lady +Grizel Baillie (1665-1746), Scottish poet. William Pitt = either +William Pitt "the Elder" (1708-1778) or William Pitt "the Younger" +(1759-1806), both British Prime Ministers. Grace Darling = Grace +Darling (1815-1842), English heroine and lighthouse keeper's daughter, +famous for her rescue of castaways in 1838.} + +I bowed an assent to the remark. + +"And then she herself actually once made proposals for Schinderhannes, +to a friend of mine, offering Howard, the philanthropist, Talma, +William Penn, and Fenelon for him--all commonplace enough, you +know--and Schinderhannes quite unique. My friend was indignant!" + +{Schinderhannes = German bandit chief, executed in 1803. Howard = John +Howard (1726-1790), English philanthropist and prison reformer. Talma = +Francois Talma (1763-1826), popular French playwright. William Penn +(1644-1718), Quaker founder of Pennsylvania. Fenelon = Francois Fenelon +(1651-1715), French Archbishop and writer} + +I ventured to excuse Lady Holberton by suggesting that probably at the +time her stock of notabilities was low. + +Miss Rowley shook her head, and curled her lip, as if she fancied the +lady had only been seeking to drive a hard bargain. + +"On one point, however, I have carried the day, Mr. Howard. Lady +Holberton is not a little proud of her Vidocq; but I have obtained one +far superior to hers, one addressed to myself so piquant and gallant +too. I called on the dear old burglar on purpose to coax him into +writing me a note." + +{Vidocq = Francois Vidocq (1775-1857), French police detective who +turned robber, and was exposed in 1832.} + +I wondered, in petto, whether I should meet any illustrious convicts at +Miss Rowley's party the next evening; but remembering to have heard her +called an exclusive, it did not seem very probable. + +{in petto = silently, to oneself (Latin)} + +After running her eye over the list again, Miss Rowley made another +inquiry. + +"Mr. Howard, could you get me something from an American Colonel?" + +I assured the lady we had colonels of all sorts, and begged to know +what particular variety she had placed on her catalogue--was it an +officer of the regular service, or one of no service at all? + +"Oh, the last, certainly--officers who have seen service are so +commonplace!" + +My own pen was immediately placed at Miss Rowley's disposal, as my +sword would have been, had I owned one. As I had been called colonel a +hundred times without having commanded a regiment once, my own name was +as good as any other on the present occasion. + +"You are very obliging. Since you are so good, may I also trouble you +to procure me a line from a very remarkable personage of your +country--a very distinguished man--he has been President, or Speaker of +the Senate, or something of that sort." + +To which of our head men did Miss Rowley allude? + +"He is called Uncle Sam, I believe." + +{Uncle Sam = "Uncle Sam" became a popular personification of the United +States during the War of 1812, replacing Brother Jonathan, and was +often used in contradistinction to the British "John Bull"} + +This was not so easy a task, for though we have thousands of colonels, +there is but one Uncle Sam in the world. On hearing that such was the +case, Miss Rowley's anxiety on the subject increased immeasurably; but +I assured her the old gentleman only put his name to treaties, and +tariffs; and although his sons were wonderfully gallant, yet he himself +had never condescended to notice any woman but a queen regnant: and I +further endeavored to give some idea of his identity. Miss Rowley +stopped me short, however. + +"Only procure me one line from him, Mr. Howard, and I shall be indebted +to you for life. It will be time enough to find out all about him when +I once have his name--that is the essential thing." + +I shrunk from committing myself, however; declaring that I would as +soon engage to procure a billet-doux from Prester John. + +{Prester John = Mythical ruler believed in the Middle Ages to head a +powerful Christian Kingdom somewhere in Asia; later identified with the +Christian Kings of Ethiopia in Africa} + +"Prester John! That would, indeed, be quite invaluable!" + +This Asiatic diversion was a happy one, and came very apropos, for it +carried Miss Rowley into China; she inquired if I had any Chinese +connections. + +"Though altogether, I am pretty well satisfied with my Chinese +negotiations; as soon as the Celestial Empire was opened to the +civilized world, I engaged an agent there to collect for me. But, could +you put me on the track of a Confucius?" + +{opened to the civilized world = following the so-called Opium War, +Britain had in 1842 forced China to open trade with her} + +I was obliged to admit my inability to do so; and at the same moment +the collecting instincts of Lady Holberton and Mr. T----, drew their +attention to the corner where Miss Rowley and myself were conversing; +as they moved toward us, Miss Rowley pocketed her list, throwing +herself upon my honor not to betray the deficiencies in her role +d'equipage, or the collecting negociations just opened between us. Lady +Holberton, as she advanced, invited Miss Rowley, with an ill-concealed +air of triumph, to feast her eyes once more on the Lumley autograph, +and not long after the party broke up. + +{role d'equipage = muster roll (French); here, Miss Rowley's list of +her autographs} + +The next day, in passing Holberton-House, I observed the chariot of a +fashionable physician before the door; and at Miss Rowley's party in +the evening learned from Mr. T---- that Lady Holberton was quite +unwell. The following morning I called to inquire, and received for +answer that "her ladyship was very much indisposed." It was not until a +week later that I saw Lady Holberton herself, taking the air in Hyde +Park. She looked wretchedly--thin and pale. I inquired from the English +friend with whom I was riding, if there was any probability of a change +of ministry? He looked surprised; and then catching the direction of my +eye, he observed, + +"You ask on Lady Holberton's account; but Sir A---- B---- tells me her +illness was caused by the loss of the Lumley Autograph." + +This unexpected intelligence proved only too true. On returning to my +lodgings, I found a note from Lady Holberton, requesting to see me, +and, of course, immediately obeyed the summons. + +"Lost!--lost!--lost! Mr. Howard!" said the lady, endeavoring to conceal +her emotion, as she gave me the details of her affliction. + +"It must have been stolen--basely stolen--on the evening of my party. +Oh! why did I so foolishly exhibit it among so many people, and +collectors among them, too! Never again will I admit more than one +collector at a time into the room with my album!" she exclaimed with +energy. + +I was shocked; surely Lady Holberton did not conceive it possible that +any of her guests could be guilty of such base conduct? + +"How little you know them! But it is that, Mr. Howard, which has +interested me in your favor--you have so much naivete, and ignorance of +the moral turpitude of the old world, that I feel convinced you never +could be guilty of such an action yourself." + +I assured Lady Holberton that in this respect she only did me justice; +and, in fact, a theft of the kind she alluded to appeared to me all but +incredible. + +"Remember that it was only the other day that ---- lost his invaluable +album; remember that last winter Madame de ---- had all her notes on +botanical subjects stolen from her own portfolio--and I could mention a +dozen instances of the same wickedness." + +These facts were already known to me, but I had forgotten them. I +remarked with a glow of national pride, that we certainly were much +more virtuous in these matters across the ocean; in America we are much +above pilfering autographs; when we do steal, it is by the volume--we +seize all an author's stock in trade at one swoop, and without +condescending to say even, thank ye, for it. + +{author's stock in trade = though ostensibly referring to the stealing +of autographs, Susan Fenimore Cooper is also clearly referring to the +widespread pirating of British and other foreign literary works by +American publishers, in the absence of international copyright +laws--which not only cheated the authors, but made life difficult for +American authors expecting to be paid for their creations} + +"So I have always understood, Mr. Howard--and I felt that my album was +safe with you," observed Lady Holberton, with tears in her eyes. + +Wishing to relieve this distress, I proposed advertising for the lost +treasure--applying to the police. + +Lady Holberton smiled through her tears, as she assured me that the +police, old and new, had been enlisted in her service an hour after the +discovery of her loss, while communications had been opened with the +municipal governments of Brussels, Paris, and Vienna, on the same +subject. + +{police, old and new = the first modern English police force had been +established in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel -- from which the British +nickname of "bobby" for policeman.} + +"And have you no clue, no suspicions?--your servants--your maid?" + +The aspersion on her household was indignantly repelled. + +"You will readily believe, Mr. Howard, that a collector, the owner of +such an album as I have the honor of possessing, is particularly +careful as to whom she admits into her family. I will vouch for all +about me; still I have suspicions--but--" + +I begged her to speak, if she thought I could be of the least +assistance. + +"Yes, I will trust my son's friend. Mr. Howard, I here solemnly accuse +Theodosia Rowley of having stolen the Lumley Autograph!" + +The dignity of manner, the concentrated passion of expression, the +strength of emphasis with which Lady Holberton spoke, would have done +honor to a Siddons. The natural start of horror and amazement on my +part, was also, no doubt, very expressive--for I was speechless with +surprise. + +"I see you do not credit this," continued the lady. + +But thought, like a flash of lightning, had already recalled some +circumstances of the last evening at Holberton-House. I did credit the +accusation, and immediately informed Lady Holberton of what I had +observed, but forgotten, until reminded of the facts by her own +remarks. I had seen Miss Rowley, bending low over the album at a moment +when some one was telling an exceedingly humorous story which engrossed +the attention of the rest of the company. + +"Could she have had an accomplice?" cried the lady, with dashing eyes. + +I knew nothing on that point. But, I added, that soon after Miss Rowley +had left the room very quietly; and as I followed her to fulfill +another engagement, she had started, turned pale, and betrayed much +nervousness, scarcely allowing me to assist her to her carriage, +although we left the house at the same instant. + +Lady Holberton's suspicions were now confirmed beyond a doubt. + +"And yet it seems incredible that any lady should be guilty of such +conduct!" I exclaimed, almost repenting having allowed the previous +remarks to pass my lips. "Miss Rowley is undoubtedly a woman of +principle--or good moral standing." + +"Moral standing!--principle!" exclaimed Lady Holberton, bitterly. "Yes, +where an autograph is concerned, Theodosia Rowley has all the principle +of a Magpie." + +{Magpie = European bird known for stealing and hiding small bright +objects.} + +Whatever might have been the fact, it was clear at least that Lady +Holberton's opinion was now unalterably made up. + +"Remember, she is a Butlerite!" added the lady, thus putting the last +touch to the circumstantial evidence against Miss Rowley. + +Weeks passed by. The advertisements remained unanswered. The police +could give no information. Lady Holberton was in despair; the +physicians declared that her health must eventually give way under the +anxiety and disappointment consequent upon this melancholy affair. Much +sympathy was felt for the afflicted lady; even Miss Rowley called often +to condole, but she was never admitted. + +"I could not see the crocodile!" exclaimed Lady Holberton, quite thrown +off her guard one day, by the sight of Miss Rowley's card which she +threw into the fire. + +Some consolation, however, appeared to be derived from the assiduous +attentions of Mr. T----, who personally admired Lady Holberton; at +least he professed to do so, though some persons accused him of +interested views, and aiming at her album rather than herself. But +although his attentions were received, yet nothing could afford full +consolation. At length, all other means failing, at the end of a month, +it was proposed that two persons, mutual friends of Lady Holberton and +Miss Rowley, should call on the latter lady, and appeal privately to +her sense of honor, to restore the autograph if it were actually in her +possession. This plan was finally agreed on; but the very day it was to +have been carried into execution, Miss Rowley left town for an +excursion in Finland. + +As for myself, I was also on the wing, and left London about the same +time. The parting with Lady Holberton was melancholy; she was much +depressed, and the physicians had recommended the waters of Wiesbaden. +Mr. T---- was also preparing for an excursion to Germany; and he was +suspected of vacillating in his Butlerite views, brought over by Lady +Holberton's tears and logic. + +Returning to London, some three months later, I found many of my former +acquaintances were absent; but Lady Holberton, Miss Rowley, and Mr. +T---- were all in town again. The day after I arrived--it was Tuesday +the 20th of August--as I was walking along Piccadilly, about five +o'clock in the afternoon, my eye fell on the windows of Mr. Thorpe's +great establishment. I was thinking over his last catalogue of +autographs, when I happened to observe a plain, modest-looking young +girl casting a timid glance at the door. There was something anxious +and hesitating in her manner, which attracted my attention. Accustomed, +like most Americans, to assist a woman in any little difficulty, and +with notions better suited perhaps to the meridian of Yankee-land than +that of London, I asked if she were in any trouble. How richly was I +rewarded for the act of good-nature! She blushed and courtesied. + +{Tuesday, 20th of August = does this date the final composition of "The +Lumley Autograph" or of its setting? August 20 fell on a Tuesday in +1844 and 1850} + +"Please, sir, is it true that they pay money for old letters at this +place?" + +"They do--have you any thing of the kind to dispose of?" + +Judge of my gratification, my amazement, when she produced the Lumley +Autograph! + +Of course I instantly took it, at her own price--only half a +guinea--and I further gave her Lady Holberton's address, that she might +claim the liberal reward promised far the precious letter. Tears came +into the poor child's eyes when she found what awaited her, and I may +as well observe at once that this young girl proved to be the daughter +of a poor bed-ridden artisan of Clapham, who had seen better days, but +was then in great want. It is an ill-wind that blows no good luck, and +the contest for the Lumley Autograph was a great advantage to the poor +artisan and his family. The girl had picked up the paper early one +morning, in a road near Clapham, as she was going to her work; Lady +Holberton gave her a handful of guineas as the promised reward--a sum +by the bye just double in amount what the poor poet had received for +his best poem--and she also continued to look after the family in their +troubles. + +But to return to the important document itself. Never can I forget the +expressive gratitude that beamed on the fine countenance of Lady +Holberton when I restored it once more to her possession. She rapidly +recovered her health and spirits, and it was generally reported that +seizing this favorable moment, Mr. T---- had offered himself and his +collection, and that both had been graciously accepted. Miss Rowley +called and a sort of paix platree was made up between the ladies. A +cargo of American autographs arrived containing the letter of the +Cherokee editor, the sign-manual of governors and colonels without +number, and I even succeeded in obtaining epistles from several noted +rowdies, especially to gratify the ladies. Lady Holberton made her +selection, and the rest were divided between Miss Rowley and Mr. T----. +Joy at the recovery of the Lumley Autograph seemed to diffuse an +unusual spirit of harmony among collectors; many desirable exchanges +were brought about and things looked charmingly. Alas, how little were +we prepared for what ensued! + +{paix platree = patched-up peace (French)} + +On the occasion of the presence in London of two illustrious royal +travelers, Lady Holberton gave a large party. So said the papers at +least; but I knew better. It was chiefly to celebrate the recovery of +the Lumley Autograph, and its restoration to her celebrated Album that +the fete was given. The Album was produced, in spite of a half-formed +vow of Lady Holberton to the contrary, but then His Royal Highness +Prince ---- ---- had particularly requested to see the letter of the +poor poet, having heard it mentioned at dinner. The evening passed off +brilliantly, their royal highnesses, came, saw, and departed. The crowd +followed them to another house, while a favored few, chiefly +collectors, remained lingering about the table on which lay the Album. +I should have said earlier, that Lady Holberton had appointed a new +office in her household the very day after the loss of the Lumley +Autograph; this was no other than a pretty little page, dressed in the +old costume of a student of Padua, whose sole duty it was to watch over +the Album whenever it was removed from the rich and heavy case in which +it usually lay enshrined. He was the guard of the Album, and was +strictly enjoined never, for one instant, to remove his eyes from the +precious volume from the moment he was placed on duty, until relieved. + +Well, there we were, some dozen of us, collected about the table; Lady +Holberton looking triumphant, Mr. T---- very proud; and there stood the +page of the Album, dressed in his Paduasoy gown, with eyes fastened on +the book, according to orders, while he supported its gorgeous case in +his arms. Some remark was made as to the extraordinary manner in which +the precious Autograph had been lost, and then found again. My blood +actually boiled, as one of the company turned to me and asked in a +suspicious tone, if I did not know more of its history than I chose to +confess? My indignation was boundless; fortunately I could produce the +friend walking with me in Piccadilly, and the artisan's family at +Clapham, as witnesses in my favor. Miss Rowley was standing near me at +the moment. + +{Paduasoy = a strong corded or gros-grain silk fabric, traditionally +associated with Padua, Italy} + +"Still, Mr. Howard," observed that lady; "I really cannot see why you +should resent the insinuation so warmly. Now, do you know, I am not at +all sorry to have it in my power to declare that I have some knowledge +of the fate of that paper during its eclipse." + +All eyes were instantly fixed on the speaker. The lady smiled and +continued: + +"Lady Holberton thinks the Lumley Autograph was stolen--I understand +she even thought it was stolen by myself--" + +She here turned deliberately toward our hostess, who looked uneasy. + +"If such were your suspicions, Lady Holberton," continued Miss Rowley, +speaking with great deliberation--"I am happy to say they were quite +correct--you only did me justice--I am proud to declare the deed was +mine--" + +We were all speechless at hearing this sudden and bold avowal. + +"It was I, Theodosia Rowley, who carried off--the word is of little +consequence--who stole, I repeat, that precious paper. So long as the +treasure was mine, the consciousness of possessing it was sufficient in +itself--but having afterward lost it from my pocket by unpardonable +carelessness, I shall at least now glory in the daring deed which made +it once my own." + +Conceive the amazement which these remarks--delivered with calm +enthusiasm--produced among the listening circle. We all know that high +crimes and misdemeanors enough are committed by men, and women too; but +somehow or other the delinquents are not often given to talking of +them; they would just as lief in general that the act should not be +known. The effect of Miss Rowley's words was different on different +individuals. As for myself, I involuntarily felt for the handkerchief +in my pocket. The page of the album drew nearer. Lady Holberton looked +aghast, as though she had seen a cannibal. Some bit their lips; others +opened their eyes. Mr. T----, however, who held the album at the +moment, and was bending over it when Miss Rowley began her +extraordinary disclosure, raised his eyes, fixed his glasses on the +fair speaker, and sent through them such a glance as no words can fully +describe. It was a glance of intense admiration. + +"What exalted views! What sublime sentiments!" he exclaimed in an +ecstasy. + +But Mr. T----'s blaze of admiration was not the only flame at work, +while he was gazing at the heroine of the moment. In the sudden burst +of enthusiasm roused by the fair purloiner, he forgot all else; the +precious volume in his hand drooped, touched the flame of a wax-light +on the table, and in another instant the great Holberton Album, that +Album of European reputation--was burning before our eyes--its +invaluable leaves were curling, and blackening, and smoking under the +devouring flame! + +A shriek from Lady Holberton--an unearthly cry from the page of the +Album--both echoed by the spectators, came too late. The volume was +half consumed. Of the Lumley Autograph not a line remained! + +Such was the ill-fated end of the letter of the poor starving poet. It +was written amid gloom and distress; its career closed in a stormy +hour. The loss of the Album of course broke off the engagement between +Lady Holberton and Mr. T----. This however could scarcely have been +regretted under the circumstances, for their union, after the +catastrophe must have been one long series of miserable reproaches. The +sudden change in Mr. T----'s feelings toward Miss Rowley was not a +momentary one; the admiration first kindled by that lady's bold +declaration, grew to be the strongest sentiment of his heart, and only +a few weeks later he was made the happiest of men by receiving as his +own the fair hand which accomplished the deed. Miss Rowley and Mr. +T---- were united in the bands of matrimony and collectorship. Lady +Holberton was still inconsolable when I left London; she was thinking +of traveling among the Hottentots, or in any other clime where albums +are unknown and her loss could be forgotten. The journey to Kaffirland +was however postponed until the next change of ministry, and I have +learned recently that the lady has so far recovered her spirits as to +be thinking of an 'Omnibus.' The very last packet, indeed, brought a +flattering application to myself; Lady Holberton graciously declaring +that the name of Jonathan Howard is not only valued by herself, as that +of a friend, but interesting to collectors generally, as having been +once connected with that much lamented document, now lost to the world, +the letter of the poor starving poet, known as the Lumley Autograph. + +{"Omnibus" = in this context, an "omnibus bill" (i.e., one dealing with +a variety of subject) in Parliament} + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Lumley Autograph, by Susan Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH *** + +***** This file should be named 2164.txt or 2164.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/6/2164/ + +Produced by Hugh C. MacDougall. HTML version by Al Haines. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/2164.zip b/2164.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e733d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/2164.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e43bf1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #2164 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2164) diff --git a/old/lumly10.txt b/old/lumly10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..932be8c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lumly10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1571 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext The Lumley Autograph, by Susan F. Cooper +#4 in our series by Susan Fenimore Cooper + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +The Lumley Autograph + +by Susan Fenimore Cooper + +May, 2000 [Etext #2164] + + +Project Gutenberg Etext The Lumley Autograph, by Susan F. Cooper +******This file should be named lumly10.txt or lumly10.zip****** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, lumly11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, lumly10a.txt + + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. Therefore, we usually do NOT keep any +of these books in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +We are now trying to release all our books one month in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. + +Please note: neither this list nor its contents are final till +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. To be sure you have an +up to date first edition [xxxxx10x.xxx] please check file sizes +in the first week of the next month. Since our ftp program has +a bug in it that scrambles the date [tried to fix and failed] a +look at the file size will have to do, but we will try to see a +new copy has at least one byte more or less. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour this year as we release thirty-six text +files per month, or 432 more Etexts in 1999 for a total of 2000+ +If these reach just 10% of the computerized population, then the +total should reach over 200 billion Etexts given away this year. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only ~5% of the present number of computer users. + +At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third +of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 3,333 Etexts unless we +manage to get some real funding; currently our funding is mostly +from Michael Hart's salary at Carnegie-Mellon University, and an +assortment of sporadic gifts; this salary is only good for a few +more years, so we are looking for something to replace it, as we +don't want Project Gutenberg to be so dependent on one person. + +We need your donations more than ever! + + +All donations should be made to "Project Gutenberg/CMU": and are +tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. (CMU = Carnegie- +Mellon University). + +For these and other matters, please mail to: + +Project Gutenberg +P. O. Box 2782 +Champaign, IL 61825 + +When all other email fails. . .try our Executive Director: +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> +hart@pobox.com forwards to hart@prairienet.org and archive.org +if your mail bounces from archive.org, I will still see it, if +it bounces from prairienet.org, better resend later on. . . . + +We would prefer to send you this information by email. + +****** + +To access Project Gutenberg etexts, use any Web browser +to view http://promo.net/pg. This site lists Etexts by +author and by title, and includes information about how +to get involved with Project Gutenberg. You could also +download our past Newsletters, or subscribe here. This +is one of our major sites, please email hart@pobox.com, +for a more complete list of our various sites. + +To go directly to the etext collections, use FTP or any +Web browser to visit a Project Gutenberg mirror (mirror +sites are available on 7 continents; mirrors are listed +at http://promo.net/pg). + +Mac users, do NOT point and click, typing works better. + +Example FTP session: + +ftp sunsite.unc.edu +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd pub/docs/books/gutenberg +cd etext90 through etext99 +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +GET GUTINDEX.?? [to get a year's listing of books, e.g., GUTINDEX.99] +GET GUTINDEX.ALL [to get a listing of ALL books] + +*** + +**Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor** + +(Three Pages) + + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you can distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG- +tm etexts, is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor +Michael S. Hart through the Project Gutenberg Association at +Carnegie-Mellon University (the "Project"). Among other +things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the Project's "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] the Project (and any other party you may receive this +etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors, +officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost +and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or +indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause: +[1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification, +or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word pro- + cessing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Project of 20% of the + net profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH + +by Susan Fenimore Cooper + + + + +{by Susan Fenimore Cooper (1813-1894), daughter of James +Fenimore Cooper. "The Lumley Autograph" was published in Graham's +Magazine, Volume 38 (January-June 1851), pp. 31-36, 97-101. The +author is identified only in the table of contents for Volume 38, p. iii, +where she is described as "the Author of 'Rural Hours'". + +{Transcribed by Hugh C. MacDougall, Secretary, James Fenimore +Cooper Society; jfcooper@wpe.com. Notes by the transcriber, +including identification of historical characters and translations of +foreign expressions, follow the paragraphs to which they refer, and +are enclosed in {curly brackets}. The spelling of the original has +been reproduced as printed, with unusual spellings identified by +{sic}. Because of the limitations of the the Gutenberg format, italics +and accents (used by the author for some foreign words, and in a few +quotations) have been ignored. A few missing periods and quotation +marks have been silently inserted. + +{A brief introduction to "The Lumley Autograph.": + +{"The Lumley Autograph" was inspired, as Susan's introductory note +states, by the constant stream of letters received by her father, +asking in often importunate terms for his autograph or for pages +from his manuscripts, and even requesting that he supply autographs +of other famous men who might have written to him. He generally +complied with these requests courteously and to the best of his +ability; after his death in 1851, Susan continued to do so, as well as +selling fragments of his manuscripts to raise money for charity during +the Civil War. + +{"The Lumley Autograph" is of interest today primarily because it is a +good story. Its broad satire about the autograph collecting mania of +the mid-nineteenth century is deftly combined with the more serious +irony of a poet's frantic appeal for help becoming an expensive +plaything of the rich, while the poet himself has died of want. Susan +Fenimore Cooper's typically understated expression of this irony +renders it all the more poignant, and the unspoken message of "The +Lumley Autograph" is as relevant today as it was in 1851. + +{Though "The Lumley Autograph" was published in 1851, it was +written as early as 1845, when Susan's father first unsuccessfully +offered it to Graham's Magazine, asking "at least $25" for it. [See +James Fenimore Cooper to Mrs. Cooper, Nov. 30, 1845, in James F. +Beard, ed., "The Letters and Journals of James Fenimore Cooper" +(Harvard University Press, 1960-68), Vol. V, pp. 102-102]. Three +years later he offered it to his London publisher, also without +success [James Fenimore Cooper to Richard Bentley, Nov. 15, 1848, +Vol. V, p. 390; and Richard Bentley to James Fenimore Cooper, July +24, 1849, Vol. VI, p. 53.] What Graham's Magazine finally paid, in +1851, is not known.} + + + + +THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH. + +BY THE AUTHOR OF "RURAL HOURS," ETC. + + + + +[Not long since an American author received an application from a +German correspondent for "a few Autographs"--the number of names +applied for amounting to more than a hundred, and covering several +sheets of foolscap. A few years since an Englishman of literary note +sent his Album to a distinguished poet in Paris for his contribution, +when the volume was actually stolen from a room where every other +article was left untouched; showing that Autographs were more +valuable in the eyes of the thief than any other property. Amused +with the recollection of these facts, and others of the same kind, +some idle hours were given by the writer to the following view of this +mania of the day.] + +The month of November of the year sixteen hundred and -- was +cheerless and dark, as November has never failed to be within the +foggy, smoky bounds of the great city of London. It was one of the +worst days of the season; what light there was seemed an +emanation from the dull earth, the heavens would scarce have owned +it, veiled as they were, by an opaque canopy of fog which weighed +heavily upon the breathing multitude below. Gloom penetrated every +where; no barriers so strong, no good influences so potent, as wholly +to ward off the spell thrown over that mighty town by the spirits of +chill and damp; they clung to the silken draperies of luxury, they +were felt within the busy circle of industry, they crept about the +family hearth, but abroad in the public ways, and in the wretched +haunts of misery, they held undisputed sway. + +Among the throng which choked the passage of Temple-Bar toward +evening, an individual, shabbily clad, was dragging his steps wearily +along, his pallid countenance bearing an expression of misery beyond +the more common cares of his fellow-passengers. Turning from the +great thoroughfare he passed into a narrow lane, and reaching the +door of a mean dwelling he entered, ascended a dirty stairway four +stories high, and stood in his garret lodging. If that garret was bare, +cold, and dark, it was only like others, in which many a man before +and since has pined away years of neglect and penury, at the very +moment when his genius was cheering, enriching, enlightening his +country and his race. That the individual whose steps we have +followed was indeed a man of genius, could not be doubted by one +who had met the glance of that deep, clear, piercing eye, clouded +though it was at that moment by misery of body and mind that +amounted to the extreme of anguish. The garret of the stranger +contained no food, no fuel, no light; its occupant was suffering from +cold, hunger, and wretchedness. Throwing himself on a broken chair, +he clenched his fingers over the manuscript, held within a pale and +emaciated hand. + +"Shall I die of hunger--or shall I make one more effort?" he +exclaimed, in a voice in which bitterness gave a momentary power to +debility. + +"I will write once more to my patron--possibly--" without waiting to +finish the sentence, he groped about in the dull twilight for ink and +paper; resting the sheet on a book, he wrote in a hand barely +legible: + +"Nov. 20th 16--, +"MY LORD--I have no light, and cannot see to write--no fire and my +fingers are stiff with cold--I have not tasted food for eight and forty +hours, and I am faint. Three times, my lord, I have been at your door +to day, but could not obtain admittance. This note may yet reach you +in time to save a fellow-creature from starvation. I have not a +farthing left, nor credit for a ha'penny--small debts press upon me, +and the publishers refused my last poem. Unless relieved within a +few hours I must perish. +"Your lordship's most humble, +"Most obedient, most grateful servant, +-------- ---------" + +This letter, scarcely legible from the agitation and misery which +enfeebled the hand that wrote it, was folded, and directed, and +again the writer left his garret lodging on the errand of beggary; he +descended the narrow stairway, slowly dragged his steps through the +lane, and sought the dwelling of his patron. + +Whether he obtained admittance, or was again turned from the door; +whether his necessities were relieved, or the letter was idly thrown +aside unopened, we cannot say. Once more mingled with the crowd, +we lose sight of him. It is not the man, but the letter which engages +our attention to-day. There is still much doubt and uncertainty +connected with the subsequent fate of the poor poet, but the note +written at that painful moment has had a brilliant career, a history +eventful throughout. If the reader is partial to details of misery, and +poverty, any volume of general literary biography will furnish him +with an abundant supply, for such has too often proved the lot of +those who have built up the noble edifice of British Literature: like +the band of laborers on the Egyptian pyramid, theirs was too often a +mess of leeks, while milk, and honey, and oil, were the portion of +those for whom they toiled, those in whose honor, and for whose +advantage the monument was raised. Patrons, whether single +individuals or nations, have too often proved but indifferent friends, +careless and forgetful of those whom they proudly pretend to foster. +But leaving the poor poet, with his sorrows, to the regular +biographer, we choose rather the lighter task of relating the history +of the letter itself; a man's works are often preferred before himself, +and it is believed that in this, the day of autographs, no further +apology will be needed for the course taken on the present occasion. +We hold ourselves, indeed, entitled to the especial gratitude of +collectors for the following sketch of a document maintaining so high +a rank in their estimation. + +And justly might the Lumley Letter claim a full share of literary +homage. Boasting a distinguished signature, it possessed the first +essential of a superior autograph; for, although a rose under any +other name may smell as sweet, yet it is clear that with regard to +every thing coming from the pen, whether folio or billet doux, +imaginative poem, or matter-of-fact note of hand, there is a vast +deal in this important item, which is often the very life and stamina +of the whole production. Then again, the subject of extreme want is +one of general interest, while the allusion to the unpublished poem +must always prove an especial attraction to the curious. Such were +the intrinsic merits of the document, in addition to which, sober Time +lent his aid to enhance its value, and capricious Fortune added a +peculiar charm of mystery, which few papers of the kind could claim +to the same extent. The appearance also of this interesting paper +was always admitted to be entirely worthy of its fame. The hand- +writing fully carried out the idea of extreme debility and agitation +corresponding with its nature, while a larger and a lesser blot bore +painful testimony to that recklessness of propriety which a starving +man might be supposed to feel; one corner had been ruthlessly +abstracted at the time it was seen by the writer of this notice, and +with it the last figures of the date; a considerable rent crossed the +sheet from right to left, but happily without injuring its contents; +several punctures were also observed, one of these encroaching very +critically upon the signature. But I need not add that these marks of +age and harsh treatment, like the scars on the face of a veteran, far +from being blemishes, were acknowledged to be so many additional +embellishments. The coloring of the piece was of that precious hue, +verging here and there on the dingy, the very tint most charming in +the eyes of an antiquary, and which Time alone can bestow. In fact, +one rarely sees a relic of the kind, more perfect in color, more +expressive in its general aspect, or more becoming to an album, from +the fine contrast between its poverty-stricken air, torn, worn, and +soiled, and the rich, embossed, unsullied leaf on which it reposed, +like some dark Rembrandt within its gilded frame. In short, it was +the very Torso of autographs. Happily the position which it finally +attained was one worthy of its merits, and we could not have wished +it a more elegant shrine than the precious pages of the Holberton +Album, a volume encased in velvet, secured with jeweled clasps, +reposing on a tasteful etagere. + +{etagere = small table or shelf for displaying curios (French)} + +But I proceed without further delay to relate some of the more +important steps in the progress of this interesting paper, from the +garret of the starving poet to the drawing-rooms of Holberton House, +merely observing by way of preface that the following notice may be +relied on so far as it goes, the writer--Colonel Jonathan Howard of +Trenton, New Jersey,--having had access to the very best authorities, +and having also had the honor of being enlisted in the service of the +Lumley Autograph upon an occasion of some importance, as will be +shown by the narrative. + +It was just one hundred years since, in 1745, that this celebrated +letter was first brought to light, from the obscurity in which it had +already lain some half a century, and which no subsequent research +has been able fully to clear away. In the month of August of that +year, the Rev. John Lumley, tutor to Lord G-----, had the honor of +discovering this curious relic under the following circumstances. + +Mr. Lumley was one day perched on the topmost step of a library +ladder, looking over a black letter volume of Hollinshed, from the +well filled shelves of his pupil. Suddenly he paused, and his +antiquarian instincts were aroused by the sight of a sheet of paper, +yellow and time worn. He seized it with the eagerness of a book- +worm, and in so doing dropped the volume of Hollinshed alarmingly +near the wig-covered head of his youthful pupil, who with closed +eyes, and open mouth, lay reclining on a sofa below. The book, +grazing the curls of the young lord's wig, he sprang up from his nap, +alive and sound, though somewhat startled. + +{Hollinshed = Raphael Holinshed (d. 1580), famous writer of British +historical chronicles, used by Shakespeare as source for some of his +plays} + +"Hang it Lumley, what a rumpus you keep up among the books! You +well nigh drove that old volume into my head by a process more +summary than usual." + +The learned tutor made a thousand apologies, as he descended the +ladder, but on touching the floor his delight burst forth. + +"It was this paper, my lord, which made me so awkward--I have +lighted on a document of the greatest interest!" + +"What is it?" asked the pupil looking askance at letter, and tutor. + +"An original letter which comes to hand, just in time for my lives of +the tragedians--the volume to be dedicated to your lordship--it is a +letter of poor Otway." + +{Otway = Thomas Otway (1652-1685), English playwright who wrote +a number of important tragedies in verse, but who died destitute at +the age of 33. The Coopers were familiar with his work; James +Fenimore Cooper used quotations from Otway's "The Orphan" for +three chapter heading epigraphs in his 1850 novel, "The Ways of the +Hour"} + +"Otway?--What, the fellow you were boring me about last night?" + +"The same my lord--the poet Otway--you may remember we saw his +Venice Preserved last week. It is a highly interesting letter, written +in great distress, and confirms the story of his starvation. You see +the signature." + +{Venice Preserved = a well-known play by Otway, written in 1682} + +"That name, Otway?--Well, to my mind it is as much like Genghis +Khan." + +"Oh, my lord!--Thomas Otway clearly--signatures are always more or +less confused. + +"Well, have it your own way.--It may be Tom, Dick, or Harry for all I +care," said the youth, stretching himself preparatory to a visit to his +kennels; and such was his indifference to this literary treasure that +he readily gave it to his tutor. In those days, few lords were literary. + +Mr. Lumley's delight at this discovery, was very much increased by +the fact that he was at that moment anxious to bring out an edition +of the English Tragedians of the seventeenth century. The lives of +several of these authors had been already written by him, and he +was at that moment engaged on that of Otway. A noted publisher +had taken the matter into consideration, and if the undertaking gave +promise of being both palatable to the public, and profitable to +himself, a prospectus was to be issued. Now here was a little tit-bit +which the public would doubtless relish; for it was beginning to feel +some interest in Otway's starvation, the poet having been dead half +a century. It is true that the signature of the poor starving author, +whoever he may have been, was so illegible that it required some +imagination to see in it, the name of Otway, but Mr. Lumley had +enough of the true antiquarian spirit, to settle the point to his own +entire satisfaction. The note was accordingly introduced into the life +of Otway, with which the learned tutor was then engaged. The work +itself, however, was not destined to see the light; its publication +was delayed, while Mr. Lumley accompanied his pupil on the usual +continental tour, and from this journey the learned gentleman never +returned, dying at Rome, of a cold caught in the library of the +Vatican. By his will, the MS. life of Otway with all his papers, passed +into the hands of his brother, an officer in the army. Unfortunately, +however, Captain Lumley, who was by no means a literary character, +proved extremely indifferent to this portion of his brother's +inheritance, which he treated with contemptuous neglect. + +After this first stage on the road to fame, twenty more years passed +away and the letter of the starving poet was again forgotten. At +length the papers of the Rev. Mr. Lumley, fell into the hands of a +nephew, who inherited his uncle's antiquarian tastes, and clerical +profession. In looking over the MSS., he came to the life of Otway, +and was struck with the letter given there, never having met with it +in print; there was also a note appended to it with an account of the +manner in which it had been discovered by the editor, in the library +of Lord G-----, and affirming that it was still in his own possession. +The younger Lumley immediately set to work to discover the original +letter, but his search was fruitless; it was not to be found either +among the papers of his uncle, or those of his father. It was gone. +He was himself a tutor at Cambridge at the time, and returning to +the university, he carried with him his uncle's life of Otway, in MS. +Some little curiosity was at first excited among his immediate +companions by these facts, but it soon settled down into an opinion +unfavorable to the veracity of the late Mr. Lumley.--This nettled the +nephew; and as Lord G-----, was still living, a gouty bloated roue, he +at length wrote to inquire if his lordship knew any thing of the +matter. His lordship was too busy, or too idle, to answer the inquiry. +Some time later, however, the younger Lumley, then a chaplain in +the family of a relative of Lord G-----'s, accidentally met his uncle's +former pupil, and being of a persevering disposition, he ventured to +make a personal application on the subject. + +"Now you recall the matter to me, Mr. Lumley, I do recollect +something of the kind. I remember one day, giving my tutor some +musty old letter he found in the library at G-----; and by the bye he +came near cracking my skull on the same occasion!" + +Mr. Lumley was not a little pleased by this confirmation of the story, +though he found that Lord G----- had not even read the letter, nor +did he know any thing of its subsequent fate; he only remembered +looking at the signature. Not long after the meeting at which this +explanation had taken place, Mr. Lumley received a visit from a +stranger, requesting to see the MS. Life of Otway in his possession. +It was handed to him; he examined it, and was very particular in his +inquiries on the subject, giving the chaplain to understand that he +was the agent of a third person who wished to purchase either the +original letter if possible, or if that could not be found, the MS. +containing the copy. Mr. Lumley always believed that the employer of +this applicant was no other than that arch-gatherer, Horace Walpole, +who gave such an impulse to the collecting mania; he declined +selling the work, however, for he had thoughts of printing it himself. +The application was mentioned by him, and, of course, the +manuscript gained notoriety, while the original letter became a +greater desideratum than ever. The library at G----- was searched +most carefully by a couple of brother book-worms, who crept over it +from cornice to carpeting; but to no purpose. + +{Horace Walpole = Horace Walpole (1717-1797), a prolific writer, +connoisseur, and collector, best known for his extensive +correspondence; he established a taste for literary collecting by +would-be cultured gentlemen in England} + +Some ten years later still--about the time, by the bye, when +Chatterton's career came to such a miserable close in London, and +when Gilbert was dying in a hospital at Paris--it happened that a +worthy physician, well known in the town of Southampton for his +benevolence and eccentricity, was on a professional visit to the child +of a poor journeyman trunk-maker, in the same place. A supply of old +paper had just been brought in for the purpose of lining trunks, +according to the practice of the day. A workman was busy sorting +these, rejecting some as refuse, and preserving others, when the +doctor stopped to answer an inquiry about the sick child. + +{Chatterton = Thomas Chatterton (1752-1770), British poet, who +created an imaginary Thomas Rowley, a supposed medieval monk, to +whom he ascribed some of his poems. Chatterton committed suicide +at the age of 18 when a poem of his, allegedly by Rowley, was +rejected; he was buried in a pauper's grave. Susan Fenimore Cooper +no doubt has this in mind in naming a character in this story +Theodosia Rowley. + +{Gilbert = Nicolas Gilbert (1751-1780), French poet, who died in +Paris at the age of 29. The French writer Count Alfred de Vigny +(1797-1863), in his book of essays "Stello" (1832), popularized a +legend that Gilbert had died insane and in abject poverty at the +charity hospital of the Hotel Dieu in Paris, and compared his +miserable end with that of Chatteron; it seems likely that Vigny, +whose book appeared while Susan Fenimore Cooper was studying in +Paris, was her source for this reference to Gilbert. In fact, Gilbert +was not impoverished, and died of injuries after falling from his +horse} + +"Better, Hopkins--doing well. But what have you here? I never see +old papers but I have an inclination to look them over. If a man has +leisure, he may often pick up something amusing among such +rubbish. Don't you ever read the papers that pass through your +hands?" + +"No, sir--I 'as no time for that, sir. And then I was never taught to +read writing, and these 'ere papers is all written ones. We puts them +that's written for one trunk, and them that's printed for another, as +you see, sir; one must have a heye to the looks of the work." + +"Why yes--you seem to manage the job very well; and I have a +trunk, by the bye, that wants patching up before my boy carries it off +with him; I'll send it round to you; Hopkins. But stay--what's this?" +and the doctor took up a soiled, yellow sheet of paper, from the +heap rejected by the workman; it contained a scrawl which proved to +be the identical letter of the poor poet, the Lumley autograph, +though in what manner it became mingled with that heap of rubbish +has never been satisfactorily ascertained. + +"Here's a poor fellow who had a hard fate, Hopkins," said the +benevolent man, thoughtfully. "It is as good as a sermon on charity +to read that letter." + +The trunk-maker begged to hear it. + +"Well, poor journeyman as I be, I was never yet in so bad a way as +that, sir." + +"And never will be, I hope; but this was a poet, Hopkins--and that's +but an indifferent trade to live by. I'll tell you what, my good friend," +said the doctor, suddenly, "that letter is worth keeping, and you may +paste it in the trunk I'll send round this afternoon--put it in the lid, +where it can be read." + +The trunk was sent, and the letter actually pasted in it as part of the +new lining. Dr. H-----, who, as we have observed, was rather +eccentric in his ways, had a son about to commence his career as a +soldier; and the worthy man thought the letter might teach the youth +a useful lesson of moderation and temperance, by showing him every +time he opened his trunk, the extreme of want to which his fellow +beings were occasionally reduced. What success followed the plan +we cannot say. The trunk, however, shared the young soldier's +wandering life; it carried the cornet's uniform to America; it was +besieged in Boston; and it made part of the besieging baggage at +Charleston. It was not destined, however, to remain in the new +world, but followed its owner to the East Indies, carrying on this +second voyage, a lieutenant's commission. At length, after passing +five-and-twenty years in Bengal, the trunk returned again to +Southampton, as one among some dozen others which made up the +baggage of the gallant Colonel H-----, now rich in laurels and rupees. +The old trunk had even the honorable duty assigned it of carrying its +master's trophies, doubtless the most precious portion of the +colonel's possessions, though at the same time the lightest; as for +the rupees, the old worn-out box would have proved quite unequal to +transporting a single bag of them, for it was now sadly unfit for +service, thanks to the ravages of time and the white ants; and, +indeed, owed its preservation and return to its native soil solely to +the letter pasted in the lid, which, in the eyes of Colonel H-----, was +a memento of home, and the eccentric character of a deceased +parent. + +{cornet = the lowest officer rank in a British cavalry regiment, below +that of Lieutenant; now obsolete} + +The time had now come, however, when the Lumley autograph was +about to emerge forever from obscurity, and receive the full homage +of collectors; the hour of triumph was at hand, the neglect of a +century was to be fully repaid by the highest honors of fame. The +eye of beauty was about to kindle as it rested on the Lumley +autograph; jeweled fingers were to be raised, eager to snatch the +treasure from each other; busy literati stood ready armed for a war +of controversy in its behalf. + +It happened that Colonel H----- was invited to a fancy ball; and it +also happened that the lady whom he particularly admired, was to be +present on the occasion. Such being the case, the most becoming +costume was to be selected for the evening. What if the locks of the +gallant colonel were slightly sprinkled with gray? He was still a +handsome man, and knew very well that the dress of an eastern +aymeer was particularly well suited to his face and figure. This dress, +preserved in a certain old trunk in the garret, was accordingly +produced. The trunk was brought down to the dressing-room, the +costume examined piece by piece, pronounced in good condition by +the valet, and declared very becoming by the military friend called in +as counsellor. + +{aymeer = Emir; a Muslim title signifying commander in Arabic} + +"But what a queer old box this is, H-----," said Major D-----, eyeing +the trunk through his glass. + +"It's one I've had these hundred years," replied the colonel. "So you +think this trumpery will do, D-----?" + +"Do? To be sure it will, my dear fellow--it gives your Milesian skin +the true Nawaub dye. But I was just trying to make out an old letter +pasted in the lid of your trunk, under my nose here. Is this the way +you preserve your family archives?" + +{Milesian = slang term for Irish, from Milesius, mythical Spanish +conqueror of Ireland; Nawaub = from Nabob, Anglo-Indian slang for +one who has returned home from India with a large fortune} + +"That letter is really a curiosity in its way," said the colonel, turning +from the glass and relating its history, so far at least as it was +known to himself. + +His friend spelt it through. + +"My dear fellow, why don't you give this letter to the father of your +fair Louisa; he's quite rabid on such points; you'll make him a friend +for life by it!" + +The advice was followed. The letter was cut from its old position in +the lid of the trunk, and presented to Sir John Blank, the father of +the lovely Louisa, who, in his turn, soon placed the hand of his +daughter in that of Colonel H-----. + +Sir John, a noted follower in the steps of Horace Walpole, had no +sooner become the owner of this interesting letter, than he set to +work to find out its origin, and to fill up its history. Unfortunately, +the sheet had received some wounds in the wars, as well as the +gallant colonel. One corner had been carried away by an unlucky +thrust from a razor--not a sword; while the date and signature had +also been half eaten out by the white ants of Bengal. But such +difficulties as these were only pleasing obstacles in the way of +antiquarian activity. Sir John had soon formed an hypothesis +perfectly satisfactory to himself. His mother's name was Butler, and +he claimed some sort of affinity with the author of Hudibras; as the +Christian name of the poor poet had been almost entirely devoured +by the ants, while the surname had also suffered here and there, Sir +John ingeniously pursuaded {sic} himself that what remained had +clearly belonged to the signature of the great satirist; as for the +date, the abbreviation of "Nov. 20th." and the figures 16-- marking +the century, were really tolerably distinct. Accordingly, Sir John wrote +a brief notice of Butler's Life, dwelling much upon his well-known +poverty, and quoting his epitaph, with the allusion to his indigence +underscored, "lest he who living wanted all things, should, when +dead, want a tomb," and placed these remarks opposite the letter of +our starving poet, which was registered in the volume in conspicuous +characters as an "Autograph of Samuel Butler, author of Hudibras, +showing to what distress he was at one time reduced." + +{Samuel Butler (1612-1680), another English author popularly +believed to have died in great poverty; he is best known for his long +satiric mock-epic poem, "Hudibras" (1663-1678)} + +Here the sheet remained several years, until at length it chanced +that Sir John's volume of autographs was placed in the hands of a +gentleman who had recently read Mr. Lumley's MS. Life of Otway. The +identity of this letter, with that copied by Mr. Lumley, immediately +suggested itself; and now the first sparks of controversy between +the Otwaysians and the Butlerites were struck in Sir John's library. +>From thence they soon spread to the four winds of heaven, falling on +combustible materials wherever they lighted on a literary head, or +collecting hands. + +By the bye, the rapidity with which this collecting class has increased +of late years is really alarming; who can foresee the state of things +likely to exist in the next century, should matters go on at the same +rate? Reflect for a moment on the probable condition of +distinguished authors, lions of the loudest roar, if the number of +autograph-hunters were to increase beyond what it is at present. Is +it not to be feared that they will yet exterminate the whole race, +that the great lion literary, like the mastodon, will become extinct? +Or, perhaps, by taming him down to a mere producer of autographs, +his habits will change so entirely that he will no longer be the same +animal, no longer bear a comparison with the lion of the past. On the +other hand should the great race become extinct, what will be the +fate of the family of autograph-feeders? What a fearful state of +things would ensue, even in our day, were the supply to be reduced +but a quire! The heart sickens at the picture which would then be +presented--collectors turning on each other, waging a fierce war over +every autographic scrap, making a battle-field of every social circle. +Happily, nature seems always to keep up the balance in such +matters, and it is a consoling reflection that if the million are now +consumers, so have they become producers of autographs; it is +therefore probable that the evil will work its own remedy; and we +may hope that the great writers of the next century will be shielded +in some measure by the diversion made in their favor through the +lighter troops of the lion corps. + +As for the full merits of the controversy so hotly waged over the +Lumley autograph between the Otwaysians and the Butlerites, +dividing the collecting world into two rival parties, we shall not here +enter into it. In all such matters it is better to go at once to the +fountain head; if the reader is curious on the subject, as doubtless +he must be, he is referred to one octavo and five duodecimo +volumes, with fifty pamphlets which have left little to say on the +point. Let it not be supposed, however, for an instant, that the +writer of this article is himself undecided in his opinion on this +question. By no means; and he hastens to repel the unjust +suspicion, by declaring himself one of the warmest Otwaysians. It is +true that he has some private grounds for believing that a +dispassionate inquiry might lead one to doubt whether Otway or +Butler ever saw the Lumley autograph; but what of that, who has +time or inclination for dispassionate investigation in these stirring +days! In the present age of universal enlightenment, we don't +trouble ourselves to make up our opinions--we take and give them, +we beg, borrow, and steal them. True, there are controversies +involving matters so important in their consequences, so serious in +their nature, that one might conceive either indifference or +fanaticism equally inexcusable with regard to them; but there are +also a thousand other subjects of discussion, at the present day, of +that peculiar character which can only thrive when supported by +passion and prejudice, and falling in with a dispute of this nature, it +is absolutely necessary to jump at once into fanaticism. Accordingly, +I had no sooner obtained a glimpse of the letter of the starving poet, +embalmed within the precious leaves of one of the most noted +albums of Europe, than I immediately enlisted under Lady +Holberton's colors as a faithful Otwaysian. With that excellent lady I +take a tragical view of the Lumley Letter, conceiving that a man +must be blind as a bat, not to see that it was written by the author +of Venice Preserved, and this in spite of other celebrated collectors, +who find in the same sheet so much that is comical and Hudibrastic. +Strange that any man in his senses should hold such an opinion--yet +the Butlerites number strong, some of them are respectable people, +too; more's the pity that such should be the case. + +As we have already observed, the controversy began in the library of +Sir John Blank, and it continued throughout the life-time of that +excellent and well-known collector. At his death, a few years since, it +passed into the hands of his daughter, the widow of Colonel H-----; +and it will be readily imagined that although the main question is +still as much undecided as ever, yet the value of the document itself +has been immeasurably increased by a controversy of twenty years +standing, on its merits. I wish I could add that the fortune of Colonel +H----- had augmented in the same proportion; but, unhappily for his +widow, the reverse was the case; and it was owing to this +combination of circumstances that Lady Holberton at length obtained +possession of the Lumley Autograph. Mrs. H----- became very +desirous of procuring for her eldest son a cornetcy in the regiment +once commanded by his father; as she was now too poor to +purchase, the matter required management and negotiation. How it +was brought about I cannot exactly say. Suffice it to declare that the +young man received his commission, through the influence of Lady +Holberton, in a high military quarter, while the Lumley Autograph +was placed on a distinguished leaf of that lady's velvet-bound, +jewel-clasped album. + +It so happened that I dined at Holberton-House on the eventful day +upon which the Lumley letter changed owners. I saw immediately, on +entering the drawing-room, that Lady Holberton was in excellent +spirits; she received me very graciously, and spoke of her son, with +whom I had just traveled between Paris and Algiers. + +"Wish me joy, Mr. Howard!" exclaimed the lady after a short +conversation. + +Of course I was very happy to do so, and replied by some remarks on +the recent success of her friends in a parliamentary measure, just +then decided--Lady Holberton being a distinguished politician. But I +soon found it was to some matter of still higher moment she then +alluded. + +"I never had a doubt as to our success in the house, last night--no; +rather wish me joy that I have at last triumphed in a negotiation of +two years standing. The Lumley Autograph is mine, Mr. Howard! The +letter of poor Otway, actually written in the first stages of +starvation--only conceive its value!" + +Other guests arriving I was obliged to make way, not however, +before Lady Holberton had promised me a sight of her recent +acquisition, in the evening. In the mean time I fully entered into her +satisfaction, for I had already seen her album in Paris, and heard her +sigh for this very addition to its treasures. During dinner the +important intelligence that the Lumley letter was her own, was +imparted to the company generally. + +"I knew it! I was sure of it from her smile, the moment I entered the +room!" exclaimed Mr. T----- the distinguished collector, who sat next +me. + +Another guest, Miss Rowley, also a collecting celebrity, was sitting +opposite, and turned so pale at the moment, that I was on the point +of officiously recommending a glass of water. + +"Have you albums in America, Mr. Howard?" inquired a charming +young lady on my right. + +"There is no lack of them, I assure you,"--I replied. + +"Really! Adela, Mr. Howard tells me they have albums in America!" +repeated the young lady to a charming sister, near her; while on my +left I had the satisfaction of hearing some gratifying remarks from +Mr. T-----, as to the state of civilization in my native country, as +shown by such a fact. + +"And what are your albums like?" again inquired my lovely neighbor. + +"Not like Lady Holberton's, perhaps--but pretty well for a young +nation." + +"Oh dear--not like Lady Holberton's of course--hers is quite unique-- +so full of nice odd things. But are your albums in America at all like +ours?" + +"Why yes! we get most of them from Paris and London." + +"Oh dear! how strange--but don't you long to see this new treasure +of Lady Holberton's--that dear nice letter of Otway's, written while +he was starving?" inquired the charming Emily, helping herself to a +bit of pate de Perigord. + +{pate de Perigord = an expensive French delicacy: goose liver pate +with truffles.} + +"Yes, I am exceedingly curious to see it." + +"You don't believe it was written by that coarse, vulgar Butler, do +you?" + +"No, indeed,--it is the pathetic Otway's, beyond a doubt!" + +My neighbor, the Butlerite, gave a contemptuous shrug, but I paid +him no attention, preferring to coincide with the soft eyes on my +right, rather than dispute with the learned spectacles to the left. + +After dinner when we had done full justice to the bill of fare, +concluding with pines, grapes, and Newtown pippins, we were all +gratified with a sight of the poor poet's letter, by way of bonne +bouche. A little volume written by Lady Holberton--printed but not +published--relating its past history from the date of its discovery in +the library of Lord G-----, her grandfather, to the present day, passed +from hand to hand, and this review of its various adventures of +course only added force to the congratulations offered upon the +acquisition of this celebrated autograph. + +{pine = pineapple. Newtown pippin = a green, tart, tangy American +apple, originally from Long Island, a favorite of George Washington +and Thomas Jefferson; bonne bouche = a tasty morsel (French)} + +While the company were succeeding each other in offering their +homage to the great album, my attention was called off by a tap on +the shoulder from a friend, who informed me that Miss Rowley, a +very clever, handsome woman of a certain age, had expressed a wish +to make my acquaintance. I was only too happy to be presented. +After a very gracious reception, and an invitation to a party for the +following evening, Miss Rowley observed: + +"You have Autographs, in America, I understand, Mr. Howard." + +"Both autographs and collectors," I replied. + +"Really! Perhaps you are a collector yourself?" continued the lady, +with an indescribable expression, half interest, half disappointment. + +"No--merely a humble admirer of the labors of others." + +"Then," added the lady, more blandly, "perhaps you will be good- +natured enough to assist me." + +And, after a suspicious glance toward the spot where Lady Holberton +and Mr. T----- were conversing together, she adroitly placed herself +in a position to give to our conversation the privacy of a diplomatic +tete-a-tete. + +"Could you possibly procure me some American autographs for my +collection? I find a few wanting under the American head--perhaps a +hundred or two." + +I professed myself ready to do any thing in my power in so good a +cause. + +"Here is my list; I generally carry it about me. You will see those +that are wanting, and very possibly may suggest others." + +And as the lady spoke she drew from her pocket a roll of paper as +long, and as well covered with names as any minority petition to +Congress. However, I had lived too much among collectors of late to +be easily dismayed. The list was headed by Black Hawk. I expressed +my fears that the gallant warrior's ignorance of letters might prove +an obstacle to obtaining any thing from his pen. I volunteered +however to procure instead, something from a Cherokee friend of +mine, the editor of a newspaper. + +{Black Hawk = Black Hawk (1767-1838), an American Indian (Sac) +chieftain, defeated by the U.S. Army in 1832, whose "Autobiography" +(1833) became an American classic.} + +"How charming!" exclaimed Miss Rowley, clasping her hands. "How +very obliging of you, Mr. Howard. Are you fond of shooting? My +brother's preserves are in fine order--or perhaps you are partial to +yachting--" + +Bowing my thanks for these amiable hints, I carelessly observed that +the letter of the Cherokee editor was no sacrifice at all, for the chief +and myself were regular correspondents; I had a dozen of his letters, +and had just given one to Mr. T-----. This intelligence evidently +lessened Miss Rowley's excessive gratitude. She continued her +applications, however, casting an eye on her list. + +"Perhaps you correspond also with some rowdies, Mr. Howard? Could +you oblige me with a rowdy letter?" + +{rowdies = in the mid-nineteenth century, an American slang term +for backwoodsmen or other rough and disorderly types} + +I drew up a little at this request; my correspondents, I assured the +lady, were generally men of respectability, though one of them was +of a savage race. + +"No doubt; but in the way of autographs, you know, one would +correspond with--" + +The sentence remained unfinished, for the lady added, + +"I wrote myself to Madame Laffarge, not long since. I am sorry to +say Lady Holberton has two of hers; but although an excellent +person in most respects, yet it cannot be denied that as regards +autographs, Lady Holberton is very illiberal. I offered her Grizzel +Baillie, two Cardinals, William Pitt, and Grace Darling, for one of her +Laffarges; but she would not part with it. Yet the exchange was very +fair, especially as Madame Laffarge is still living." + +{Madame Laffarge = Marie Lafarge (1816-1853), French woman +convicted in 1840 for poisoning her husband; later pardoned. Grizzel +Baillie = Lady Grizel Baillie (1665-1746), Scottish poet. William Pitt += either William Pitt "the Elder" (1708-1778) or William Pitt "the +Younger" (1759-1806), both British Prime Ministers. Grace Darling = +Grace Darling (1815-1842), English heroine and lighthouse keeper's +daughter, famous for her rescue of castaways in 1838.} + +I bowed an assent to the remark. + +"And then she herself actually once made proposals for +Schinderhannes, to a friend of mine, offering Howard, the +philanthropist, Talma, William Penn, and Fenelon for him--all +commonplace enough, you know--and Schinderhannes quite unique. +My friend was indignant!" + +{Schinderhannes = German bandit chief, executed in 1803. Howard = +John Howard (1726-1790), English philanthropist and prison reformer. +Talma = Francois Talma (1763-1826), popular French playwright. +William Penn (1644-1718), Quaker founder of Pennsylvania. Fenelon += Francois Fenelon (1651-1715), French Archbishop and writer} + +I ventured to excuse Lady Holberton by suggesting that probably at +the time her stock of notabilities was low. + +Miss Rowley shook her head, and curled her lip, as if she fancied the +lady had only been seeking to drive a hard bargain. + +"On one point, however, I have carried the day, Mr. Howard. Lady +Holberton is not a little proud of her Vidocq; but I have obtained one +far superior to hers, one addressed to myself so piquant and gallant +too. I called on the dear old burglar on purpose to coax him into +writing me a note." + +{Vidocq = Francois Vidocq (1775-1857), French police detective who +turned robber, and was exposed in 1832.} + +I wondered, in petto, whether I should meet any illustrious convicts +at Miss Rowley's party the next evening; but remembering to have +heard her called an exclusive, it did not seem very probable. + +{in petto = silently, to oneself (Latin)} + +After running her eye over the list again, Miss Rowley made another +inquiry. + +"Mr. Howard, could you get me something from an American +Colonel?" + +I assured the lady we had colonels of all sorts, and begged to know +what particular variety she had placed on her catalogue--was it an +officer of the regular service, or one of no service at all? + +"Oh, the last, certainly--officers who have seen service are so +commonplace!" + +My own pen was immediately placed at Miss Rowley's disposal, as +my sword would have been, had I owned one. As I had been called +colonel a hundred times without having commanded a regiment once, +my own name was as good as any other on the present occasion. + +"You are very obliging. Since you are so good, may I also trouble you +to procure me a line from a very remarkable personage of your +country--a very distinguished man--he has been President, or +Speaker of the Senate, or something of that sort." + +To which of our head men did Miss Rowley allude? + +"He is called Uncle Sam, I believe." + +{Uncle Sam = "Uncle Sam" became a popular personification of the +United States during the War of 1812, replacing Brother Jonathan, +and was often used in contradistinction to the British "John Bull"} + +This was not so easy a task, for though we have thousands of +colonels, there is but one Uncle Sam in the world. On hearing that +such was the case, Miss Rowley's anxiety on the subject increased +immeasurably; but I assured her the old gentleman only put his +name to treaties, and tariffs; and although his sons were wonderfully +gallant, yet he himself had never condescended to notice any woman +but a queen regnant: and I further endeavored to give some idea of +his identity. Miss Rowley stopped me short, however. + +"Only procure me one line from him, Mr. Howard, and I shall be +indebted to you for life. It will be time enough to find out all about +him when I once have his name--that is the essential thing." + +I shrunk from committing myself, however; declaring that I would as +soon engage to procure a billet-doux from Prester John. + +{Prester John = Mythical ruler believed in the Middle Ages to head a +powerful Christian Kingdom somewhere in Asia; later identified with +the Christian Kings of Ethiopia in Africa} + +"Prester John! That would, indeed, be quite invaluable!" + +This Asiatic diversion was a happy one, and came very apropos, for it +carried Miss Rowley into China; she inquired if I had any Chinese +connections. + +"Though altogether, I am pretty well satisfied with my Chinese +negotiations; as soon as the Celestial Empire was opened to the +civilized world, I engaged an agent there to collect for me. But, could +you put me on the track of a Confucius?" + +{opened to the civilized world = following the so-called Opium War, +Britain had in 1842 forced China to open trade with her} + +I was obliged to admit my inability to do so; and at the same +moment the collecting instincts of Lady Holberton and Mr. T-----, +drew their attention to the corner where Miss Rowley and myself +were conversing; as they moved toward us, Miss Rowley pocketed +her list, throwing herself upon my honor not to betray the +deficiencies in her role d'equipage, or the collecting negociations just +opened between us. Lady Holberton, as she advanced, invited Miss +Rowley, with an ill-concealed air of triumph, to feast her eyes once +more on the Lumley autograph, and not long after the party broke +up. + +{role d'equipage = muster roll (French); here, Miss Rowley's list of +her autographs} + +The next day, in passing Holberton-House, I observed the chariot of +a fashionable physician before the door; and at Miss Rowley's party +in the evening learned from Mr. T----- that Lady Holberton was quite +unwell. The following morning I called to inquire, and received for +answer that "her ladyship was very much indisposed." It was not +until a week later that I saw Lady Holberton herself, taking the air in +Hyde Park. She looked wretchedly--thin and pale. I inquired from the +English friend with whom I was riding, if there was any probability of +a change of ministry? He looked surprised; and then catching the +direction of my eye, he observed, + +"You ask on Lady Holberton's account; but Sir A----- B----- tells me +her illness was caused by the loss of the Lumley Autograph." + +This unexpected intelligence proved only too true. On returning to my +lodgings, I found a note from Lady Holberton, requesting to see me, +and, of course, immediately obeyed the summons. + +"Lost!--lost!--lost! Mr. Howard!" said the lady, endeavoring to conceal +her emotion, as she gave me the details of her affliction. + +"It must have been stolen--basely stolen--on the evening of my +party. Oh! why did I so foolishly exhibit it among so many people, +and collectors among them, too! Never again will I admit more than +one collector at a time into the room with my album!" she exclaimed +with energy. + +I was shocked; surely Lady Holberton did not conceive it possible +that any of her guests could be guilty of such base conduct? + +"How little you know them! But it is that, Mr. Howard, which has +interested me in your favor--you have so much naivete, and +ignorance of the moral turpitude of the old world, that I feel +convinced you never could be guilty of such an action yourself." + +I assured Lady Holberton that in this respect she only did me justice; +and, in fact, a theft of the kind she alluded to appeared to me all but +incredible. + +"Remember that it was only the other day that ----- lost his +invaluable album; remember that last winter Madame de ----- had all +her notes on botanical subjects stolen from her own portfolio--and I +could mention a dozen instances of the same wickedness." + +These facts were already known to me, but I had forgotten them. I +remarked with a glow of national pride, that we certainly were much +more virtuous in these matters across the ocean; in America we are +much above pilfering autographs; when we do steal, it is by the +volume--we seize all an author's stock in trade at one swoop, and +without condescending to say even, thank ye, for it. + +{author's stock in trade = though ostensibly referring to the stealing +of autographs, Susan Fenimore Cooper is also clearly referring to the +widespread pirating of British and other foreign literary works by +American publishers, in the absence of international copyright laws-- +which not only cheated the authors, but made life difficult for +American authors expecting to be paid for their creations} + +"So I have always understood, Mr. Howard--and I felt that my album +was safe with you," observed Lady Holberton, with tears in her eyes. + +Wishing to relieve this distress, I proposed advertising for the lost +treasure--applying to the police. + +Lady Holberton smiled through her tears, as she assured me that the +police, old and new, had been enlisted in her service an hour after +the discovery of her loss, while communications had been opened +with the municipal governments of Brussels, Paris, and Vienna, on +the same subject. + +{police, old and new = the first modern English police force had been +established in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel -- from which the British +nickname of "bobby" for policeman.} + +"And have you no clue, no suspicions?--your servants--your maid?" + +The aspersion on her household was indignantly repelled. + +"You will readily believe, Mr. Howard, that a collector, the owner of +such an album as I have the honor of possessing, is particularly +careful as to whom she admits into her family. I will vouch for all +about me; still I have suspicions--but--" + +I begged her to speak, if she thought I could be of the least +assistance. + +"Yes, I will trust my son's friend. Mr. Howard, I here solemnly accuse +Theodosia Rowley of having stolen the Lumley Autograph!" + +The dignity of manner, the concentrated passion of expression, the +strength of emphasis with which Lady Holberton spoke, would have +done honor to a Siddons. The natural start of horror and amazement +on my part, was also, no doubt, very expressive--for I was +speechless with surprise. + +"I see you do not credit this," continued the lady. + +But thought, like a flash of lightning, had already recalled some +circumstances of the last evening at Holberton-House. I did credit +the accusation, and immediately informed Lady Holberton of what I +had observed, but forgotten, until reminded of the facts by her own +remarks. I had seen Miss Rowley, bending low over the album at a +moment when some one was telling an exceedingly humorous story +which engrossed the attention of the rest of the company. + +"Could she have had an accomplice?" cried the lady, with dashing +eyes. + +I knew nothing on that point. But, I added, that soon after Miss +Rowley had left the room very quietly; and as I followed her to fulfill +another engagement, she had started, turned pale, and betrayed +much nervousness, scarcely allowing me to assist her to her carriage, +although we left the house at the same instant. + +Lady Holberton's suspicions were now confirmed beyond a doubt. + +"And yet it seems incredible that any lady should be guilty of such +conduct!" I exclaimed, almost repenting having allowed the previous +remarks to pass my lips. "Miss Rowley is undoubtedly a woman of +principle--or good moral standing." + +"Moral standing!--principle!" exclaimed Lady Holberton, bitterly. "Yes, +where an autograph is concerned, Theodosia Rowley has all the +principle of a Magpie " + +{Magpie = European bird known for stealing and hiding small bright +objects.} + +Whatever might have been the fact, it was clear at least that Lady +Holberton's opinion was now unalterably made up. + +"Remember, she is a Butlerite!" added the lady, thus putting the last +touch to the circumstantial evidence against Miss Rowley. + +Weeks passed by. The advertisements remained unanswered. The +police could give no information. Lady Holberton was in despair; the +physicians declared that her health must eventually give way under +the anxiety and disappointment consequent upon this melancholy +affair. Much sympathy was felt for the afflicted lady; even Miss +Rowley called often to condole, but she was never admitted. + +"I could not see the crocodile!" exclaimed Lady Holberton, quite +thrown off her guard one day, by the sight of Miss Rowley's card +which she threw into the fire. + +Some consolation, however, appeared to be derived from the +assiduous attentions of Mr. T-----, who personally admired Lady +Holberton; at least he professed to do so, though some persons +accused him of interested views, and aiming at her album rather +than herself. But although his attentions were received, yet nothing +could afford full consolation. At length, all other means failing, at +the end of a month, it was proposed that two persons, mutual +friends of Lady Holberton and Miss Rowley, should call on the latter +lady, and appeal privately to her sense of honor, to restore the +autograph if it were actually in her possession. This plan was finally +agreed on; but the very day it was to have been carried into +execution, Miss Rowley left town for an excursion in Finland. + +As for myself, I was also on the wing, and left London about the +same time. The parting with Lady Holberton was melancholy; she +was much depressed, and the physicians had recommended the +waters of Wiesbaden. Mr. T----- was also preparing for an excursion +to Germany; and he was suspected of vascillating {sic} in his +Butlerite views, brought over by Lady Holberton's tears and logic. + +Returning to London, some three months later, I found many of my +former acquaintainces {sic} were absent; but Lady Holberton, Miss +Rowley, and Mr. T----- were all in town again. The day after I arrived- +-it was Tuesday the 20th of August--as I was walking along +Piccadilly, about five o'clock in the afternoon, my eye fell on the +windows of Mr. Thorpe's great establishment. I was thinking over his +last catalogue of autographs, when I happened to observe a plain, +modest-looking young girl casting a timid glance at the door. There +was something anxious and hesitating in her manner, which +attracted my attention. Accustomed, like most Americans, to assist a +woman in any little difficulty, and with notions better suited perhaps +to the meridian of Yankee-land than that of London, I asked if she +were in any trouble. How richly was I rewarded for the act of good- +nature! She blushed and courtesied {sic}. + +{Tuesday, 20th of August = does this date the final composition of +"The Lumley Autograph" or of its setting? August 20 fell on a +Tuesday in 1844 and 1850} + +"Please, sir, is it true that they pay money for old letters at this +place?" + +"They do--have you any thing of the kind to dispose of?" + +Judge of my gratification, my amazement, when she produced the +Lumley Autograph! + +Of course I instantly took it, at her own price--only half a guinea-- +and I further gave her Lady Holberton's address, that she might +claim the liberal reward promised far the precious letter. Tears came +into the poor child's eyes when she found what awaited her, and I +may as well observe at once that this young girl proved to be the +daughter of a poor bed-ridden artisan of Clapham, who had seen +better days, but was then in great want. It is an ill-wind that blows +no good luck, and the contest for the Lumley Autograph was a great +advantage to the poor artisan and his family. The girl had picked up +the paper early one morning, in a road near Clapham, as she was +going to her work; Lady Holberton gave her a handful of guineas as +the promised reward--a sum by the bye just double in amount what +the poor poet had received for his best poem--and she also +continued to look after the family in their troubles. + +But to return to the important document itself. Never can I forget the +expressive gratitude that beamed on the fine countenance of Lady +Holberton when I restored it once more to her possession. She +rapidly recovered her health and spirits, and it was generally +reported that seizing this favorable moment, Mr. T----- had offered +himself and his collection, and that both had been graciously +accepted. Miss Rowley called and a sort of paix platree was made up +between the ladies. A cargo of American autographs arrived +containing the letter of the Cherokee editor, the sign-manual of +governors and colonels without number, and I even succeeded in +obtaining epistles from several noted rowdies, especially to gratify +the ladies. Lady Holberton made her selection, and the rest were +divided between Miss Rowley and Mr. T-----. Joy at the recovery of +the Lumley Autograph seemed to diffuse an unusual spirit of +harmony among collectors; many desirable exchanges were brought +about and things looked charmingly. Alas, how little were we +prepared for what ensued! + +{paix platree = patched-up peace (French)} + +On the occasion of the presence in London of two illustrious royal +travelers, Lady Holberton gave a large party. So said the papers at +least; but I knew better. It was chiefly to celebrate the recovery of +the Lumley Autograph, and its restoration to her celebrated Album +that the fete was given. The Album was produced, in spite of a half- +formed vow of Lady Holberton to the contrary, but then His Royal +Highness Prince ----- ----- had particularly requested to see the letter +of the poor poet, having heard it mentioned at dinner. The evening +passed off brilliantly, their royal highnesses, came, saw, and +departed. The crowd followed them to another house, while a favored +few, chiefly collectors, remained lingering about the table on which +lay the Album. I should have said earlier, that Lady Holberton had +appointed a new office in her household the very day after the loss +of the Lumley Autograph; this was no other than a pretty little page, +dressed in the old costume of a student of Padua, whose sole duty it +was to watch over the Album whenever it was removed from the rich +and heavy case in which it usually lay enshrined. He was the guard +of the Album, and was strictly enjoined never, for one instant, to +remove his eyes from the precious volume from the moment he was +placed on duty, until relieved. + +Well, there we were, some dozen of us, collected about the table; +Lady Holberton looking triumphant, Mr. T----- very proud; and there +stood the page of the Album, dressed in his Paduasoy gown, with +eyes fastened on the book, according to orders, while he supported +its gorgeous case in his arms. Some remark was made as to the +extraordinary manner in which the precious Autograph had been lost, +and then found again. My blood actually boiled, as one of the +company turned to me and asked in a suspicious tone, if I did not +know more of its history than I chose to confess? My indignation was +boundless; fortunately I could produce the friend walking with me in +Piccadilly, and the artisan's family at Clapham, as witnesses in my +favor. Miss Rowley was standing near me at the moment. + +{Paduasoy = a strong corded or gros-grain silk fabric, traditionally +associated with Padua, Italy} + +"Still, Mr. Howard," observed that lady; "I really cannot see why you +should resent the insinuation so warmly. Now, do you know, I am not +at all sorry to have it in my power to declare that I have some +knowledge of the fate of that paper during its eclipse." + +All eyes were instantly fixed on the speaker. The lady smiled and +continued: + +"Lady Holberton thinks the Lumley Autograph was stolen--I +understand she even thought it was stolen by myself--" + +She here turned deliberately toward our hostess, who looked uneasy. + +"If such were your suspicions, Lady Holberton," continued Miss +Rowley, speaking with great deliberation--"I am happy to say they +were quite correct--you only did me justice--I am proud to declare +the deed was mine--" + +We were all speechless at hearing this sudden and bold avowal. + +"It was I, Theodosia Rowley, who carried off--the word is of little +consequence--who stole, I repeat, that precious paper. So long as +the treasure was mine, the consciousness of possessing it was +sufficient in itself--but having afterward lost it from my pocket by +unpardonable carelessness, I shall at least now glory in the daring +deed which made it once my own." + +Conceive the amazement which these remarks--delivered with calm +enthusiasm--produced among the listening circle. We all know that +high crimes and misdemeanors enough are committed by men, and +women too; but somehow or other the delinquents are not often +given to talking of them; they would just as lief in general that the +act should not be known. The effect of Miss Rowley's words was +different on different individuals. As for myself, I involuntarily felt for +the handkerchief in my pocket. The page of the album drew nearer. +Lady Holberton looked aghast, as though she had seen a cannibal. +Some bit their lips; others opened their eyes. Mr. T-----, however, +who held the album at the moment, and was bending over it when +Miss Rowley began her extraordinary disclosure, raised his eyes, +fixed his glasses on the fair speaker, and sent through them such a +glance as no words can fully describe. It was a glance of intense +admiration. + +"What exalted views! What sublime sentiments!" he exclaimed in an +ecstasy. + +But Mr. T-----'s blaze of admiration was not the only flame at work, +while he was gazing at the heroine of the moment. In the sudden +burst of enthusiasm roused by the fair purloiner, he forgot all else; +the precious volume in his hand drooped, touched the flame of a +wax-light on the table, and in another instant the great Holberton +Album, that Album of European reputation--was burning before our +eyes--its invaluable leaves were curling, and blackening, and +smoking under the devouring flame! + +A shriek from Lady Holberton--an unearthly cry from the page of the +Album--both echoed by the spectators, came too late. The volume +was half consumed. Of the Lumley Autograph not a line remained! + +Such was the ill-fated end of the letter of the poor starving poet. It +was written amid gloom and distress; its career closed in a stormy +hour. The loss of the Album of course broke off the engagement +between Lady Holberton and Mr. T-----. This however could scarcely +have been regretted under the circumstances, for their union, after +the catastrophe must have been one long series of miserable +reproaches. The sudden change in Mr. T-----'s feelings toward Miss +Rowley was not a momentary one; the admiration first kindled by +that lady's bold declaration, grew to be the strongest sentiment of +his heart, and only a few weeks later he was made the happiest of +men by receiving as his own the fair hand which accomplished the +deed. Miss Rowley and Mr. T----- were united in the bands of +matrimony and collectorship. Lady Holberton was still inconsolable +when I left London; she was thinking of traveling among the +Hottentots, or in any other clime where albums are unknown and her +loss could be forgotten. The journey to Kaffirland was however +postponed until the next change of ministry, and I have learned +recently that the lady has so far recovered her spirits as to be +thinking of an 'Omnibus.' The very last packet, indeed, brought a +flattering application to myself; Lady Holberton graciously declaring +that the name of Jonathan Howard is not only valued by herself, as +that of a friend, but interesting to collectors generally, as having +been once connected with that much lamented document, now lost +to the world, the letter of the poor starving poet, known as the +Lumley Autograph. + +{"Omnibus" = in this context, an "omnibus bill" (i.e., one dealing +with a variety of subject) in Parliament} + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext The Lumley Autograph, by Susan F. Cooper + diff --git a/old/lumly10.zip b/old/lumly10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6eafaaa --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lumly10.zip |