Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-13
AUTOGRAPH FIENDS.
Developing New Enterprises-BuYinR Up
Hotel Registers In the South.
Savannah News.

DfNflOpiuK new -
Hotel Registers In the South.
Savannah News
"What do you suppose that man
wanted?" asked Pulaski-house clerk
Yesterday Of a NeUs reporter.
A neatly-dresscd and shrewdlooking
Young man had Just turned away and
was lighting cigar. lie had been talk
ing earnestly in an undertone for some
minutes, and the Ners man thought
perhaps the stranger wanted to borrow
few dollars.
"No, he does not want to borrow,
but had rather buy" replied he Of the
sparkling kohinoor. "And you might
guess your teeth loose before guessing
what he wants to buy" continued the
hotel clerk. " lie has just made me
an offer for the old registers Of this
house."
"What would be do with them
Keep a directory " inquired the re-
porter.
mot much. lie claims to be travel
ling for a northern firm that is collect
ing hotel registers. The older they are
the more fhey are worth. Hotel regis
tors are the greatest autograph albums
IN the world. There is not man who
travels whose autograph is not scat
tered all over the country. All promi-
nent men travel. The signatures OF
hundreds of these have a commercial
value, even when not attached to a note
or a check. The autographs Of states
men generally sell the highest. those of
ex-Presidents bringing the most. A
few days ago a rare collection Of GU
riouS manuscripts. letters, end auto
graphs were under the hammer in New
York. A dozen autographs were
knocked down at from s. to $50 apiece.
That would-bc purchaser was tell
ing me that in few months it will be
the proper thing to mount the auto
graphs of ex-Prcsidents. literary men,
generals. and all men Of note in some
unique style, and give them place
beside the plaque. This firm is now
buying up all the registers 1t can get
hold hold of. Some bright men so
over each page carefully, and cut out
the signatures Of all the most proml-
nent men. They have quite long
list. and whenever one Of the names is
found it is clipped out and attached to
little slip, on which are noted the
date and city. The register, of course,
indicates each. He says that right now
Grants signatures are in demand. lie
never stopped at hotels much, how
ever. There were generally people in
all of the cities through which he passed
who wanted to entertain him, and |
never knew him to decline.
This enterpriSing firm, you see, are
first getting a supply on hand, and will
then introduce the rage and fill the
demand
"'Thrin is blessing '-Shaks-
pesre," gssped the reporter, dazed by
The wonderful display Of enterprise.
The registers are really no usc to
us. and most hotel-men, | believe, are
willing to dispose Of them at a low
figure" resumed the clerk. " One OF
this size, which is the standard, will
hold 5000 names. 1t is seldom that a
register in the large hotels Of big cities
does not contain half dozen good
names. know that from personal Oh
soryation. In some seasons there
are one hundred good names.
A great many o. the signatures to
be sme, were written before the owner
came into prominence. When the auto
graphs come to be sold, however, ! halt
suspect they are dated up. though they
may not be. The residence. which IS
written opposite the name, is also cut
out. In mounting, which is gen
orally on cardboard, Bristol, Of
some such kind, the residence l.
placed below the name. 1t /,
done so neatly, too, that more than s
casual inspection is necessary to dis
cover where the two pieces are joined.
( in this way the purchaser gets the
autograph in the shape of visiting
card. and the miniuatcd will be anx
/ ious to learn when the dignitary Gale.
and if he is one of the family's init
mate acquaintance.
" The sgent then showed me SOM
fine specimens. and there is undoubt
eoly money in the scheme. lie tol'
ne, too, that they not only take tn
names Of persons who are now and hay'
been well known, hut also the sigma
lures Of number who they believe ar
rising and will be prominent in
few years, such as leading members o
Congress, United States senator's, lead
ing Judges, and members of the bar
Pe>ideS these they have such names a.
Bcecher, Talmage. and lngersoll. popu
lar poets and noyelli>ts and actors an'
actresses by the score. The autograph
Of Booth, Keene. Lawrence Barrett
Irving, Patti, Mary Anderson, Langtry
Lolita, and dozens of lesser lights ar
always in demand, and admirers vii
pay well for them"
We'll, are You going to strike
bargain: :"
lie will have to see the proPrieto
about that; reckon there IS ton @
them stored away, some Of them prett
muSty, doubtless. on the outside. bu
sound and well-prcseI,ed inside.