New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-09
information which led to the arrest of the prisoners
COLLECTION OF AUTOGRAPHS.
A BROOKLYN RoYs GREAT SUCCESS.

Edward w. Box. of Brooklyn, age eighteen. has a
bobbv which he rides with diligence and persistence.
His rulnp passion is the collecting Of autographs.
Tn his pursuit he is daunted neither by unanswered
letters nor verbal refusals. Beginning on August
81. 1880. with his fathers signature, he has ac-
cumulated collection of about 300 names. inns
is of exceptional interest Mr. Box possesses the sig
natures of emperors presidents, dukes, prime mn-
isers generals poets noveliss scientists orators,
fnanciers and professional men and women OF emil
nence Nearly all the names those of persons OF
prominence at the present day. Some have been
obtained in answer to requests three or four times
reneated by letter Others have been secured by
interviews and some have been secured Tor
the collector by his friends
Mr. Box is employed in the office of the attorney
Vi the Western Union Telegraph Company at NO
1915 Broadway. His father, recently deceased.
was widely known as a linguist abroad and at
the time of his death held the position
of translator for the. same company. When the
son failed in securing answers TO his requests te
father often wrote personally for the autograph
thus obtaining many names not usually seeh' III
such collections Mr. Box states that autograph-hunt-
ing is increasing here to surprising extent, but IL
is said by distinguished visitors not to have assumed
one tenth of the proportions here that 1t has ABROAD
Albion w. Tourgee and Thomas A. Edison wrote
Mr.. Box that they accumulated drawers full OF re-
quests for autographs and occasionally devoted
dov simply TO signing their names. Another promi-
nent man receives an average OF 80 letters day
asking for his autograph
The chiToTaphy OF many of the Distinguish men
whose names Mr.. Box possesses would be the aeS-
pair of a writing master. His collection Is proDa-
by one of the best in the country in the distinction
of the writer's. In document appointing DR.. BOX
Vice-Consul in Holland appear the signatures oil
Emperor William and Bismarck. just six inches
beneath the wavy lines of the wilhelm" is the
grabbed. stiff Won Bismarck. This distance is re-
auired by law between the signatures of the En-
pcror and a subject An official document appoint
ing Mr. Bok's father Consul in the Province of
North Holland is signed Willem' in rather eff
Terminate hand the signature of King William III,
of Netherlands. The only appointments receiving
the royal signature are those in the diplomatic
corps. The latter document is certified by Minis
ter of Justice. The signature "Frcdrck, Pr DIES
NederlandesS appears on an appointment OF Mr..
BOX ST. as the Grand Master of the Dutch LOdge. Next
i'm the list of royal personages Is the pan bold sig
nature of Kalakaua, obtained at the Hotel Bruins
wick through member If his suite. The DIXIE of
Sutherland signed his name IN the young collectors
book at the Windsor remarking, somewhat iTita,
bly,, don't see the sense OF collectingautographs
Two letters bearing the stamp OF the frlVy seal W
fee are signed with name resembling Pigott, which
is in reality Argyll He was requested to obtain the
autograph Of the Queen and Prince of Wales and
replied: regret that IL is not in my power TO sup
pl Won with the autographs referred to in your let
Ter of the 25th of june "W. l.. Gladstone" IN
firm characters is written on an envelope as frank.
The envelope contained note from his secretary
saving that Mr.. Gladstone received too many april
cations 20 send autographs TO each, but tn the en-
yelope bore one Of his regular franks. An order
of admission to the House OfCommons bears " John
Bright" in fine eglble Letters At your fathers wish,
Chas Bradaugh" was the reply to a letter from DIR.
Box after his sen had failed. The name Is almost
inClOsed in the flourish of tho &" But the letter
10 be returned to him FOR the date, as This IL
matter Of prime Importance To professional auto
When the Marquis de Rochambeau was receiving
Governor Cornell and his stan at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel he was astonshed by the app2yitiOn of Mir.
Box autograph book in hand. and the result il " A.
de ROchambeau" IN delicate feminine characters.
{" Edw Thornton "in coarse bold hand was signed
both on the envelope and lnclosed sheet that
came in reply to letter Mr. Box has several sigma
lures Of u. Grant with one of his wife, julia D.
Grant and the signatures of several members OF his
Cabinet including Hamilton Fish. W. w. Belknap,
b.. II. BristOw. and George NJ. Robeson. Accom-
panying these are the autographs OF eX-PresldGnt
HAYES and his wife, ". q. Wheeler and the Cabi-
net-Messrs. Evarts, Sherman, Dcycns, Rams s. Con.
MAYNARD, Key, Thompson and Schuiz Three letters
nrodnccd no effect on Mr. Thompson. but lac yielded
At a personal interview. he late President Gar
field sent simply his autograph at FIRST but in re-
sponse to another request Through Mrs Carl Id he
wrote:
MENTOR. ONO, Nov. 10. 1880.
Dear Master Box. In answer 10 your request, take
pleasure in saying that am very truly yours,
Anillnstration OF the high pressure at which Cen
eraI Garfield was living at this time is found in the
repetition of the concluding syllable Of pleasure
"Pleasureure.'
Mrs Garfield wrote
have never objected to having my placed be-
side General Garhclds. II "a pleasant therefore 20
grant your request with kind regards very truly yours
LUcRETIA RANDvLrH GARFIELD.
Signed notes from the members of the Cabinet
Messrs. James, MacVeagh, Lincoln, Window
Hunt and KirAwood, were written in July or Au-
gust and all dwell upon the conditions of the Prcs-
deM. Secretary Hunt wrote as follows under the
date of Sept. i:
SIR: Everyone who know the qualities Of President
Garfield before attempt made upon his life by an
assassin recognized his Intellectual power his enlarged
patriotism and hs generous nature. But two weary
months Of suffering, when his life has been his own
knowledge trembling IN tho balance, have revealed IN
him patient courage, depth Of tenderness and an nm
selfish devotion 10 others broad charity OF Judgment
trust in Cod and loyalty TO family friends and coun
try that have been known only TO the few who havecen
nearest him In his hours Of trial. and whilst develop
ing the true greatness OF his character In their eyes,
have bound him TO them by ties OF the most sincere aud
Thank God fbeieve the life Of this noble man will be
spared. Your obedient Serv't WILLIAM II. HuST.
Mr.. Box has also President ArtLur's signature and |
intends as soon as events permit 10 secure those OF
his Cabinet. A letter from General Sherman com |
plains of the difficulty of writing with no subject to
write about. The bold signature of L. III. Sheridan
is attached to a letter which is regarded as great
triumph In autograph collecting Three letters |
drew no response from the late General Burnside
but his autograph was finely procured from friend
General Mcclellan gave his signature after some |
personal persuasion. General Hancock's letter is |
peculiar in its chir0gr2phy There are long down |
strokes, very heavily shaded starting abruptly A.
different angles. General Rosecrans John C.. Ere
mont. Fitz John Porter, and Generals Fitzpatrick and
Banks are among the othor Union Generals: and |
Beauregard, Early Johnston and Longstreet among |
Confederates In connection with a letter from DR. |
Schlemann the explorer of Troy, the fact is inter-
ssting that Dr. Box rescued him from the breakers
when he wrecked on the Island of Texel of the
coast OF Holland, and resuscitaed him. The TWO be- |
came aftcrwardwarm friends
The list of poets is headed with a. Tennyson.D |
This the result Of nine letters costing % cents
ont aoV.tra EF...
autograph hunters as one Of the prOmptest to reply
Lowell sont his name after one or two letters Bry-
ants was procured from friend. Robert Brown |
ing sent.a quotation, John g. Winters round sig
nature is appended to verse of poetry and |
Holmes signs a of 1.-THE Chambered |
Nautilus" Alexandra Dumas writes in French 81
weary myself, this is how it begins; he wearies me-
this is how it ends Such is in two words the story
of the first fault OF women" Jules Verne and dc Les