The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-02-18
a New Autograph Album.

This autograph business is getting to
be little bit tedious. 1t is all one
sided. want to get even somehow on
some one. If can't come back at the
autograph fiend himself | might max
some other fellow creature unhappy.
That would take my mind of the woes
that are inflicted by the man who is
making collection of the autographs
of prominent men" and who sends
a printed circular formally demanding
your autograph, as the tax collector
would demand your tax.
John Comstock. the President of the
First National Bank of Hudson, the
other day suggested an idea. | gave
him an autograph copy of my lastgreat
work, and he said: ''Now, I'm a man
OF business. You gave me your auto
graph, l give you mine in return.
That's what we call business" He
then signed brand new S. national
bank note, the cashier did ditto, and
the two autographs were turned over
to me.
Now how would il do to make a col
lection of the signatures of the presi-
dents and cashiers of national banks in
the United States in the above manner?
An album containing the autographs
of these bank officials would be not on
ly a handsome heirloom to fork over to
posterity, but it would possess intrinsic
value. In pursuance of this idea have
been considering the ACCESSIBILITY of is
suing the following letter:
To the Presidents and Cashiers of the
National BGfks of the United States:
GENTLEMEN-l am now engaged in
making a collection of the autographs
of the presidents and cashiers of the
national banks throughout the Union,
and to make the collection uniform, ]
have decided to ask for autographs
written at the foot of the national bank
currency of the denomination of S.. l
am not sectarian in my religious views
and / only suggest this denomination
fer the sake of uniformity throughout
the album.
Card collections, cat albums, and so
forth, may please others, but | prefer
to make collection which shall show
future ages who it was that built up
the finances and furnished the sinews
of war. Some may look upon this
move as mercenary one. but with me
it is passion. 1t is not simply freak,
it is desire of my heart.
In return would be glad to give my
own autograph, either by itself or at
tached to some little gem of thought
which may occur to me at the time.
have always taken great interest
in the currency of the country. So far
as possible / have made it study. /
have watched its growth and noted
with some regret its natural reserve. /
may say that, considering the meager
opportunities and isolated advantages
afforded me, no one is more familiar
with the habits of our national curren-
CIV than / am. Yet, at times my labor
atory has not been so abundantly sup
piled with specimens as | could have
wished. This has been my chief draw
back.
I began a collection of railroad pass
ess some time ago, intending to file
them away and pass the collection
down through the dim vista OF coming
years, but in rash moment | took a
trip of several thousand miles and those
passes were taken up.
I desire in conclusion, gentlemen, TO
call your attention to the fact that
have always been your friend and
champion. have never robbed the
bank of personal friend, and if / held
your autographs | should deem you my
personal friends and feel in honor
bound to discourage any movement
looking towards an unjust appropria-
ton of the funds of your bank. The au-
tographs of yourselves in my possess
ion and my own in your hands would
be regarded as tacit agreement on
my part never to rob your bank.
would even be willing to enter into a
contract with you never to break into
your vaults If you insist upon it. !
would thus be confined to the stages
and railroads in great measure, but
am getting so now that | like to spend
my evenings at home, anyhow, and if
do we'll this year | shall sell my bur-
glars tools and give myself mp to the
authorities.
You will understand, gentlemen, the
delicate nature of this request trust,
and will not misconstrue my motives.
Nv intentions are perfectly honoraole
and nv idea in doing this. may say,
is to supply long felt want.
Hoping that what have said may
meet with your hearty aparoyai and Co co
operation, and that our very friendly
business relations, as they have existed
in the past, may continue through the
wears to come, and that your pank may
wallow in success until ihe COWS come
home, or words to inateffect, beg leave
to subscribe myself. vours in favor Of
one flag, one country and one bank ae-
q PyTT Nyr