, 1879-12-11
Hotel Autographs

cipal hotels in tho city
The friend replied dyes, and the
names inscribed a. accurately Indicate
the character Of the writer's as do the
most sensational love couplet OF the
most practical maxim ever written in
the albnm OF tho average Autograph
iicnd."
In this way the conyersation began,
and it was followed by long and inter
esting study Of the Register, with com
ments upon the various signatures and
the thoughts which were suggested BY
them.
"Now, here, for instance" said the
elder, ''is probably the signature Of
some amateur travelling agent who i'm
agines that he must staggcr hotel clerks
and all who look into the register by
scribbling bis name so that it cannot be
deciphered."
alt looks ~ though badly tangled
skein of black thread had been dropped
on the page" said his companion.
"Yes," said the first speaker, "the
writer probably thought somebody would,
judging from his autograph, take him
for bank president or something OF the
kind"
The line,
"James-a and wife, Flint
with the word "wife' written shaky,
awkward style, suggested the arrival Of
bridal party, the male portion of which
was exceedingly nervous over his first
public effort at writing the word which
indicated the great responsibilities rest
ing upon his shoulders
As in all hotel registers throughout
the country, so in the one under exam
ination, was found great scrawling au-
tograph, in the production of which ink
had been used without stint There
was no regularity in the size or position
of the letters the only flourish was at
the end OF the name, and instead OF be-
ing graceful and pleasing to look upon,
suggested that the writer had concluded
his work with friendly jog Of the el-
bow from some impatient traveller.
The comments on this signature were
made knowingly, both OF the examiners
being acquainted with the writer as one
of the chief capitalists in one of the prin-
cipal cities in Michigan, who, during the
past two weeks, is credited with having
realized a profit of upward of $50, 900 on
grain speculations.
The next signature was in an elegant
round hand with many Aourishes, and
was that of an individual who parted his
name in the middle-W. Gregory
Thompson, for instance-and i'm
parted the information that Chi
cago, his home, is in the State
of "Illinois. 4" Evidently the wri-
ter had recently graduated from some
business university and probably parted
his hair in the middle as well as his
name. "Hell get over that after he has
been about the world two or three
years." remarked one of the self-appoint-
ed examiners
There were names written back hand
ed, others like tiers of pot-hooks, some
requiring two lines the full width of the
page, and others hardly legible.
They came upon name with "Rev.
and 'L l. d." attachments and it was
ascertained that the writer was the pas
tor OF church in an obscure village in
the State of New York, also, that when
he settled his bill at the hotel he was
violendy offended when they refused to
give him more than "a half off.
The hotel proprietor. turning back
four or five pages, pointed to plainly
written name, and said, Snow, there's
a man who controls one Of the
chief railroad corporations in the
country, besides being heavy holder of
stock in one OF the Oldest and wealthiesS
Insurance companies in the United
States. He is worth millions, and when
he arrived all the good rooms in our
house were engaged / knew Of his
wealth and influence, and felt enl-
barrassed when obliged to tell him |
could not give him very pleasant room.
With the utmost good nature, he asked ::
Is there . bed in the room ? and said
yes, OF course, He continued, 'Are the
sheets clean and are there plenty of bed
clothesl Having satisfied himself on
these points he bade me good night, went
20 his room, remained there three days,
never asking to have his room changed,
and when he paid his bill thanked me