Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-28

Lincolns time also has a most valuable
autographtc collection, including letters
States.
The Typewriter I'm Letter Writing.
The Introduction of the typewriter is CO.
ing TO have serious effect on the auto
graph letter business. Statesmen of the
past, down to a period so recent as that of
Roscoe Conkling, for example, wrote many
epistles with their own hands: now they
dictate them to the machine Such mis-
slves, OF course, have no individuality
Iney are not received in court as evidence
on the same basis with handwriting.
me question of courtesy, as to how far
the typewriter should be employed in pri-
vate correspondence has not been settled
satisfactorily. Charles Eliot Norton Of
cambridge, Mass, who is a famous author
ny on ali matters which have to do with
culture and propriety, win not deign to re-
ply TO letter in typescript He carries
his IDEAS in this direction so far that he
VIII not confer upon any one a gift which
Is made by machine A gift should always
be something made by hand, he says be-
cause the hand is the instrument of the
SOUL The case may be recalled of the
young lady who was content to receive
typewriter love letters from her fiance.
but drew the line when they showed signs
of manffolding. But the line OF conven-
ton as to this subject In general has not
! been clearly drawn yet
seemingly mas a relation TO
geography. Cultured people in the neigh
borhood Of Cambridge and Boston almost
Invariably affect the clear and print-lik e
up-and-down style Of penmanship. Exam
pies OF this may be observed in the pen
work of Gov. Russell, Josiah Quincy and
Edward Atkinson. In libraries, banks, in
surance offices and other establishments
where written documents are kept on file
Tor reference the use of this method nova
days is insisted on. simply because it is
easier to read. Owing to this business re-
Quirement there is likely to be a revolu-
ton in the system of penmanship taught
In the schools. The day of the Spencerian
script Is drawing to close.
1t Is even possible to tell nowadays the
age OF person by his or her handwriting
al all events, to some extent. Certain forms
OF penmanship have come in during .he
last two years and have been adopted by
the younger generation, such as the go
and e like the same letters in print
They have the advantage of greater clear
ness over the ''e" formed of a single loop
ana the old script IS" AS a rule only very
elderly people any longer employ the $50
that looks like an 81 without a cross mark.
That is practically obsolete.
Those Who Have the Hobby
Fortunes are invested in autographs bv
persons who are afflicted with the hobby
one can spend any amount of money on
them, 1nasmuch as nc collection can ever
De complete An autograph letter of John
Adams. President and signer of the Decla-
ration OF Independence, is now quoted in
the market at SO. Benedict Arnold is
worth SIS, Gen. Braddock Slz.50, Abraham
Lincoln $40. Horace Greeley 50, r. b. Hayes
E9o. Patrick Henry 81, Washington Irving
70. John Ruskfn 50 and Nicholas Biddle so
cents All these quotations are for letters
In the handwriting Of the person p.en
TONED Baron Munchausen, the famous
story teller, Is valued at S. Other prices
quoted are 81 for oliver Wendell Holmes
G5o Tor the Empress Josephine 81 for the
Duke de Morny and 81 rs for Sir John Lub-
book. Edgar Fawcett will fetch only 50
cents. A Dill made out by Andrew johnson
IS.
Unattached signatures come comparative
~ cheap. For Is cents one can buy such
autographs of Richard Mansfield Levi z.
MOI MOI ION, senator Mills or Justin Mccarthy.
Ten cents is all that is asked for I'homas
MAST, Daniel Manning, DIR. McCosh or Geo.
PARSONS Lathrop. But Gen. Robert E. Lee
WILL Ietcn u any time. RENE BACHE