The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-07-15
SIGNATURES OF SOME PROMINENT
MEN.

the free. bold, yet graceful handwritin.
of President Garfield. as displayed il
hundreds of fac-similes will be glad tt
learn that his original autographs are
quite as fine as any copies of them eve
made.
President Arthur writes large, care
less, heavy hand, with no particular in
clination. 1t looks precisely as if the
writer could not spare even the time
necessary to execute it. There is strength
in the writing, however, and both these
signatures compare fay orably with the
inflated, shapeless, balloon capitals o.
General Grant, or the little crampet
hand Of President Hayes, which likewise
appears among the rest.
Secretary Robert T. Lincoln, by thu
way, writes hand strikingly like that OF
Elk president Hayes. Ex-Secre,ary Mac
Neagh's signature resembles some o.
those affixed to the Declaration-that is
large, bold, antique and distinguished
looking. Ex-Secretaries kirkwocd ant
Windom are neat and legible penmen
Postmaster General James writes prettily
with several graceful little flourishes
Ex- Secretary Blaine's hand is large, bold
and distinct all letters and words being
connected throughout.
If ever signature could be received
as indicative of the character of its own
Ell, it is that of Roscoe Conkling-grand
gloomy and peculiar. 1t stands out, il
the relief of the blacklist ink, from the
paper. Scarcely two letters at the same
angle, with intricate and grotesque flour
ishes everywhere, it certainly gives ex
preston to the mental ramitications Of
the great unknown, SO far us they can be
guessed at. 1t seems to say: MY mas
ter writes like no one else; | stand alont
among signatures Directly below, as
is fitting, appears the respectable and
business-like chirography of Thomas c.
Plat, which is above inviduous criticism
Col. George Bliss signs his name i'll Z
bold, dashing, running hand, every stroke
of which is clearly cut, without par
ticle of atfectation.
General John 4. Logon inscribes his
name in a series of coarse, black, up
right characters. Senator Pendleton' s
style is somewhat similar, though the
letters are better joined and better form.
ed. The Hon. Thomas F. Bayard's hand
is study. Plain, neat and angular, il
resembles the bold English manner Of
writing SO much affected by ladies. Gen
Joseph Il. Hawley's elegant and grace.
full autograph is familiar, from it's ap-
pearance on innumerable diplomas and
other documents issued by the Centennial
Commission in 1876. Hon. Alexander II
Stephens writes hesitatingly, in small,
tremulous hand.
General William Malone, the great
Virginia readiuster is the possesser OF
what may be termed a lateral handwrit.
ing, if handwriting is a proper term tC
apply to sea of broad horizontal dashes
extending from one side of the paper to
the other, with here and there a slight
ripple of upward stems. Hon. Hannibal
Hamlin apparently wastes as little time,
ink and paper as possible in signing his
name, yet there is no need of second
glance in order to interpret it. Senator
George +. Hoar, of Mossacl u sets, writes
quite as plainly, but in linched sort OF
hand, like that of New England school
marin, who sets copies to her pupils
prettily in the style Of former days.
Wade Hampton wells his warlike person.
atty behind rather pretty lady's hand,
which some his fair constituents might
envy. Don Cameron appears to have
entirely forgotten that one Of the objects
of writing at all is to convey ideas to the
human mind, as not even the profound
handwriting expert, who figures in Sc
many courts, could confront the scrawl
described as his signature, without a feel
ing of awe.
Ex-senator Ii. X. Bruce places on rec
ord one of the most dainty and micro
scopic round hands imaginable. William
Pitt Kellogg simply writes his name like
other people, and not unlike them in any
marked degree. Bob Toombs's sigma
tuIc is an old style round hand, as much
hal nd 10 tt,o &c hot
cradle fire eater. jeff Davis has a char.
acterless way of allowing little sharp let
tiers to struggle up and down hill, rather
i'll accordance with the imaginary curved
line of beauty than with the straight
line commonly regarded an the line OF
beauty most appropriate to chrography
General Beauregard' signature is a.
distinguished and Frenchy as his three
magnificent names, which he gives in
full length.
Ex-TYoasurer Spinner, whose auto
graph has been as eagerly sought for as
that of any other man living, appearing
as it has in all its strange luxuriance
upon millions of groenbackS, writes from
his quiet home in Florida, a courteous
little note, the chief interest of which is
that it exhibits i'll a curious manner the
great difference between his ordinary
handwriting and his remarkable sigma
ture. The Latter, however, has lost none
of its Unique perfection.
wv. 7. Sherman, General" appears
upon a visiting card in strong, upright
letters, with two bold ilourishes, just
large enough to give emphasis to the
whole effect. Gen. Sheridan's signature
is as bold and dashing as one of his OWL
fierce cavalry charges. General Hancock
writes beautifully clear and regular
hand, which is unfortunately disfguret
and given e slight appearance of aiiecta
ton by an unnecessary profusion Of heavy
downward dashes. Ben. Butler has .
round, awkward, school-boy land. Gen
Mcclellan shows a lack Of sufficient exc
cutive ability to transfer ink to paper il
cNcu y NCCoTous HidltiSI. beu. Terry
the renowned Indian fighter. is punctil
ious in his permanship, writing clearly
and gracefully, without tho least attempt
at ornamentation, ten. Burnside con.
trived to make half dozen words cover
whole page Of commercial paper, ana
this not by any ordinary means, as his
huge, scrawling characters, plain as those
on circus poster. seemed to literally
chase each ether down the page, or rather
to L.a festooned over it like the cluster.
OF a wild nrane-Y BrO0LIun .,nnI1.