The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-04-18
Popularity Of Signatures.


turned in great measure on the genuine
ness of the testator's signature. More
than twenty years ago, in Cincinnati, |
copied the Declaration of Independence
appending fac similics of the signers'
names. Mr. Thomas Stevens, at that
time editor of the Cincinnati Atlas, took
occasion in a pleasant way to doubt my
assertion that had copied the signatures
with pen. .....
TO convince him l asked him to sign
his name on a sheet of paper, which he
did. | Immediately wrote ten copies Of
his signature, above ana below the origi-
nal, and handed him the paper for him
to select his own. After careful exam
ination he selected one as his own. He
was wrong. He tried again and again,
with the same result, and finally, by mere
guess work, he hit the right one. And
it was a remarkable fact that after he had
really discovered his own, he could see
the most astonishing absurdlties in all the
others.
Some six years ago was speaking
with well known publisher of this city,
who sat at his desk signing some checks
that the book-keeper had prepared for
him, The signature was Of the firm, and
was peculiar one, as he wrote it, |
casually remarked that that was an excel
lent signature for forger He promptly
responded that no forger could sign that
name SO as to deceive him. .
"Oh, yes there can" said /.
"Where is he p"
He is standing at your elbow"
" Do you mean to say" said he, 7" that
you can initiate that signature so can
not detect the forgery ...
% mean to say" said |, " that | think
] can do it, and am willing to try it."
"If you will write that signature" he
replied, so that cannot distinguish
it from my own, l will
There, there, don't be rash; should
dislike to take advantage of your present
excitement, If you will just write the
signature at the top of that letter sheet,
wen see whata little impudencc can
do" H.i.. I..
He did as requested. | took the sheet
and went to the book-keeper's desk.
Here | exchanged it for another of the
same kind, and in the same relative po-
sition initiated the signature in very
free careless way, not attempting servile
copy, but preserving the characteristic
strokes. | then very carefully wrote un-
derneath it threa faithful limitations,
making four signatures, all my own.
These / took to the proprietor and told
him to select his own signature. With
surprisingly little effort he pointed out
the first signature, and at once began to
criticise with severity my base limitations.
"Well" said |, az will confess they
are not as well done as expected to do
them, or as l could do them il my nerves
were steady. But really" said /, "don't
you think that if one of these signatures
were placed at the bottom Of your or
dinary check, your bank would hon
or the check ?"
"Well, no." said he, ~ don't think it
would"
81 suppose" said I, there is no doubt
about the top signature-that would
bring the cash ~
"Oh, yes, / should like to see our
bank refuse that signature for an ordina-
ry sum-"
then went to the book-keeper's desk
and procured the original signature
How about this ?" said l.
g He looked at the signature--then at
my " base limitations" then at the crowd
of interested spectators who had gather
ed around, and who were beginning to
take in the richness of the joke, and
finally he burst out in an expression that
was mixture of astonishment chagrin,
merriment vexation and perplexity, and
holding out his hand with unconditional
surrender written all over his face he
exclaimed, sold"
That was the only word in the Ameri-
can language that could adequately ex-
press the situation.
But the sell was very easy one and
required no skill at all. The fact is that
when the original signature was compared
with the forgeries the discrepancies were
so palpable, that ga wayfaring man,
though fool" need not be taken in and
yet, if my friend had not been deacon,
which he was-and is-and if l had been
as most forgers, l could have won very
nice sum, had l offered to stake it on the
; issue
Finally, to convince the deacon that he
was not the only fool in the firm, called
80, ona oF tha othar nartnara and showino
him the three false signatures, asked hin