The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-17
Very Hard to Swear To.

Very Hard to Swear To.
A skilled penman writes to the New
York Mail, concerning signature er.
perts," the occasion being the late
"Taylor will case," which turned in
great measure on the genrlineness OF the
testator's signature. More than twenty
years ago, in Cincinnati, I copied the
Declaration OF Independence, appending
fac SMILES OF the signers' names. Mr..
Thomas Stevens, at that time editor of
the Cincinnati Atlas, took occasion in q
pleasant way to doubt my assertion that
had copied the signatures with pen.
70 convince him I asked him to sign
his name on sheet OF paper, which he
did. Immediately wrote ten copies Of
his signature, above and below the
original, and handed him the paper for
HIM to select his owr. After a careful
examination 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 remarkable fact that after
he had really discovered his own, he
could see the most astonishing absurd
tiles i'll all the others.
Some six years ago I was speaking
with wel-known publisher OF this city,
who was at his desk signing some checks
that the bookkeeper had prepared for
him. The signature was OF the firm,
and was peculiar one, as he wrote it.
casually remarked that was an excellent
signature for forger. BE promptly
responded that thare was no forger could
sign that name so as to deceive him.
"Oh, yes, there is" l said.
"Where is he p.
"He is standing at your elbow"
"Do you mean to say" said he, "that
you can initiate that signature SO I can.
not detect the forgery ?"
"I mean to say" said I, "that think
I can do it, and am willing to try it."
eff you will write that signature" he
repl ed. $50 that I cannot distinguish it
from my own, will"-
There don't be rash; I should dis
like to take advantage OF your present
excitement. II you will write the sig.
nature at the top of that letter sheet,
we'll see what little impudence can
do"
He did as requested. I took the sheet
and went to the bookkeeper's desk. Here
I exchanged it for another of the same
kind, and in the same relative position I
initiated the signature in very free, care
less way, not attempting servile copy,
but preserving the Characteristic strokes,
I then very carefully wrote underneath
it three faithful limitations, making
four signatures, all my own. These I
took to the proprietor and told him to
select his own signature. With surpris-
ingly little effort lie pointed out the first
signature, and at once began to criticise
with severity my base limitations.
We'll" said l, az will confess they
are not as well done az expected to do
them, or as I could do them if my nerves
were steady. But, really" said I,
"Don't you think that if. one of these
signatures were placed at the bottom of
your ordinary check your bank would
honor the check ?"
:, well, no, said he, "1 don't think
it would"
~ suppose" said I, "there is no
doubt about the top signature-that
would bring the cash 2"
"Oh, yes, / should like to see our
bank refuse that signature for any
ordinary sum-"
then went to the book-keeper's desk
and produced the original signature.
Chow about this p said /.
he looked at the signature-then at
my "base limitations at the
crowd OF interested spectators who had
quietly gathered around, and who were
beginning to take in the richness of the
joke, and finally he brought out an express
sion which was q mixture Of astonish.
ment, chagrin, merriment, ye1ation and
perplexity, and holding out his hand
with unconditional surrender written oil
over his face, he exclaimed "sold.
A GAY TENNESSEE BELLE had gained
the reputation of being most emphatic.
ally "girl OF the period" She kept
her lover in n state of despair, having