The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-09-19
THE AUTOGRAPH CRAZE.
It Has Taken On the 9emblanoe
Of q NaladY.
Eegernsss Of Collsctees to Constantly
Keep Adding to Their Store ct
Famous SlGnaturee-A Les
oon for Hunters.

Among the many maladies of this
generation is that Of the autograph
fend, evinced in the hunting and per-
sistent petitioning for detached sigma
lures of all sorts Of persons OF more or
less contemporary fame. In jealousy
guarded albums tl,ese Jealous collcc-
tors will paste their names ON musty
leaves for keepsakes. In this species
is, Of course, not to be included the hon
est autograph gatherer, who, for lit
erary or historical research, shelves au-
toerap aplaal manuscripts of the celebrities
of the rast or present for the benefit of
students. These have their peculiar
intrinsic value Of authenticity and BIZ
ographical, historical and scientific inn
port And what can there be more at
tractive or venerable than the yellow
sheets, with, their paling characters Of
the handwriting of the great spirits of
mankind, in which they willed to pos
tcrity their thoughts and feelings, their
discoveries and theories, their joys and
sorrows, their hopes and fears?
There has just been published in fac
Beethoven. It is impossible to scan
these pathetic and tremendously pon-
derous lines and letters of the great
master without emotion or compassion.
With the key to his ft-misunderstood
life, they give us the key to his art,
however much both may at the first
sight appear to stand in inexplainablc
contrast. Under date of October 9.
1902, when he was only in his 32d
year aud about the time when he COM
pieted his cheering and nelodious
symphony in d major, while himself In
despair over that incurable trouble
which obscured his whole existence, the
young composer made his will. lie
had closed with this life, but not with
his art, which only fruited and ripened
through the highest efforts OF which
music is capable during the succeeding
20 years that "enyious fate" had still
for him in store.
Most touching strains of harmonious
resignation, won after the most gallant
struggle of a noble soul, whose depths
those near him never fathomed, echo
from these melancholy and ahectionate
notes addressed to his brothers and
heirs. From the first lines expressing
his grief at the worlds misconception
of himself as being "moroee, stubborn
and misanthropic," without its know
ing the heart and the irreparable coudi-
ton of the health of man Of "fery and
vivacious temperament and fond of the
pleasures of society," as he writes, who
by dire necessity in early life was
forced ''to spend his days in loneliness
and to live as one banished from home,"
Beethoven continues the elegy of his
last will to this concluding adagio
patetico: 'Come, then, death, when
ever thou wilt! Boldly go to meet
thee. Farewell, brothers! Do not
wholly forget me; that have not de-
served of you, for IN life ever thought
Of you aud strove to make you happy;
be it!'' The most unsenMmental read
er's eyes might moisten at the sight
of these tear-stained notes Of this great
and yet SO unhappy genius.
It is said that the old chancellor, BIS
marck, would not get done signing his
name, if he complied with all applica-
tions for it, by writing several hours
day, even if he should reach the age Of
six score, like the lawgiver, Moses, who,
according to Deuteronomy 5:22. was
the first autograph collector. A story
from London, containing lesson for
both autograph hunters and autograph
writer's, is as follows:
'A well-known public man, who has
an excellent opinion of himself, re-
ceived not long since q well-merited re-
buke. It had been stated that his
celebrity knew how to make most
excellent cup of coffee. An epicurean
gentleman wrote to him cowteously
asking him for the recipe. This request
was granted, but at the end Of the let
ter was the following unique manifes-
tation of splendid self-conceit: I hope
this is genuine request and not sur
reptitious method of securing my au-
tograph.' To this the country gentle
man replied: Accept my thanks for
the recipe for making coffee. wrote
in good faith, and in order to convince
you of the fact allow me to return what
it is obvious you infinitely prize. but
which is of no value to me-your auto
graph
1t is to be regretted that not only
the well-applied rebuke to the public
mans" self-conceit, but also the good
common sense Of the English country
squire may bear it's fruits.-Baltim0re