The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-08
Nocietn ynpirs.

Snl1RID gnq1ES.
Autograph books for some reason or
other always seem popular. What the
reasons are it is often hard to deter
mine. There may be some pleasure In
collecting h signatures Of mes friends
n recalling when looking at them some
happy time, but If the friend is forgot
ten without the autograph is it valuable?
The mania for collecting autographs of
distinguished people is much harder to
understand. There are people who haunt
those who have been SO unfortunate as
to become desirable for some. particular
act and dog their footsteps till in utter
WEAKNESS of spirit they give their sig
natures. Others go SO far as to petition
by letter authors and actors whom they
have never seen for an autograph. What
good does this do? OF what use is a
book so filled? One ann say, Eyes,
this is Longfellow's autograph. He was
a dear friend of mine.'' when Longfellow
merely sent it in reply to many impor-
tunate letters.
And If it were true! If one had met
DR.. Holmes at some event n after a
delightful conversation with him had sue
ceeded in obtaining his signature. of
what value would it be-? If one were
anxious to let acquaintance know that
DIR. Holmes had talked for an hour on
various topics, could it not be done quite
as readily without the aid of the auto
| graph? Would not the acquaintance
believe the story just as much without
the evidence of the autograph? And If
the acquaintance were ~incredulous would
the autograph be convincing proof?
II an autograph book is not kept to
impress ones calling acquaintance but
for ones own delectation, is 1t really
worth the struggle? Is the agony of
mind when a distinguished person is met
n the autograph book is at home of
no Importance? Is it worth while to be
so intent on getting that autograph that
the lecture or address is forgotten? Peo-
pie, however. who keep autograph books
seem to let none of these matters trouble
them. They seem to think the pleasure
of obtaining the signatures outweighs all
the disc greeableness. 1t is a pastime that
lasts through many years and is revived
fame.
In this city Mrs. ohm L. Scudder per-
haps ranks first as a collector of auto
| graphs. AS a member of Sorosis Mrs.
Scudder meets many prominent people
and has opportunities for obtaining auto
graphs. Last year both Amelia Barr
and John Oliver Hobbs CMrs. Craigs.s)
were guests Of Sorosis and Mrs. Scudder
obtained their signatures. She was so
fortunate as to meet Ian Maclaren a few
weeks ago and add his autograph to her
collection.
The pupils of Hasbrouck Institute put
autographs in another form. One class
after studying the poems of DR.. Holmes,
wrote to him p~raising the poems. DR..
Holmes replied in an interesting letter.
This the class framed with an engraving
of DR.. Holmes, and presented it to the
school together with his complete works.
Another class received an autograph
letter from Joel Chandler Harris and
gave that to the school with his books.
A number of ladies of this city were
present last Monday afternoon at the
meeting of Sorosis. Three of the ladies
are member of the club, Miss May
0ioACiSC IdIh, MIS-. JOnu L.. ScuQQer
and Mrs. Horace G. Wait. Mrs. Scudder
had charge of the afternoons programme,
which was very enjoyable. Miss Pad
dock of this city recited charmingly, and
Miss Florence Turner, formerly of this
city, delighted the audience with two
songs The Jersey City ladies who were
guests were Mrs. e. F. c. Young. Mrs.
Samuel G. Negus, Mrs. George w. Cleri-
hew, Mrs. w. j. Hunt, Miss Hunt, Misses
Scudder. Mrs. g. c. Stimets and Miss
Frost.
Mrs. Wait is also a member of the New
York Woman's Press Club. At a recent
meeting of the club she talked for a few
minutes ON the question Does Modern
Journalism initiate Against True Litera-
ture?" Mrs. Wait said she objected to
the size of the newspaper: she didn't be-
qieve in having every little thing dragged
before the public; she thought the Sunday
newspapers were too voluminous, and no
one could read them through and do any
thing else ON that day, and she objected to
| people staying home from church to read
the papers, even if she herself did not 60.
80
The Rambler Club wdll have one Of It's
two Current Events days next Wedncs-
day. The new books and writers as well
aus the current topics will be discussed.
Miss Myers will have charge OF the meet
ing.
The Musical Club viii meet Monday
night, January II, at the residence of Mrs.
olnsted, No. 26 Bentley avenue. The club