The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-02

Valuable Souvenir Contains Celebra-
TED Nomen's AutOgraphs.

St Louis Post-Dispatch.
This is the plain story OF a silk handker-
chlef-the most valuable handkerchief, from
a financial point of view. to be found in any
country. 1t is the property of Hugh C1eve-
land Quaries, a man OF cosmopolitan tastes,
who is at present living in Harlem. What
makes Mr.. Quarles'S handkerchief valuable
Is the fact that il Is almost covered with
the autographs of famous actors. Mr.
Quarles's object In securing the signatures
tnat crow@ his novel autograph album and
the methods he employed in obtaining them
make an interesting story. Half dozen
years ago he lived in a Western mining
town and knew little nothing OF the
stage. Having made his stake in the
mines he followed the fashion set by lucky
New York was spent in Broadway thea
ter The players made a profound impress
sion on Quaries, and he.became confirmed
theater-goer. One night he saw Henry Irv-
ing, and after the performance met the fa-
nous Englishman. mutual friend told
Irving of Quarles's enthusiasm. and the
tragedian began to chaff the Westerner
about 1t. You will be wanting our auto
graphs next, l fancy" said Irving. A good
idea" replied Quarles, and I'm going to
act on it at once. Mr.. Irving, you must be
the first to sign your name" "Cheerfully.
my friend" answered Irving. but as you
don't happen to have any album handy. the
thing is impossible / am willing to give
you the autograph, but" Excuses
don't CO." retOrted Quarles; write your
name in pencil on this" Then he drew
large white silk handkerchief from his
pocket and handed ii to Sir Henry" who
laughed, and picking up a pencil, affixed
his signature in one corner. On the follow
ing day Quarles induced Irving TO present
him to Ellen Terry. Quarles lost no time
In expressing himself to Miss Terry. You
are very great actress" he said, ''and
not only want your autograph. but l want
you to embroider both your own name ana
Mr.. Irving'S in any color you fancy Then
he handed the handkerchief TO the stat
uesque Terry, who spent an even hour in
embroidering her own and Irvings auto
graphs on the handkerchief. Mr.. Quarles
hon fl,1s IL to tVCI NJ
the autographs of all the best-known
celebrities. It has taken time, money and
a deal of persuasion, but he has been re-
warded, for the handkerchief IS now a
thing of beauty well as most valuable
Mr.. Quarles made two trips to Europe dur
Ing the years he spent in making his collec-
ton of names, and on each occasion he Sc
cured the autographs of foreign stars or
the first magnitude. OF course in Sc
to an almost incredible amount OF
expense and trouble, not to mention
the time, for since he took the idea he has
given his life to it. Olga Nethersole gave
Quarles trouble before she added her name
to the famous group the handkerchief.
He made his first attempt in 1895. Miss
name. This was the first refusal Quarles
had had. and ii nettled him. A few months
later he made a second attempt This time
the fair Olga relented somewhat. saying
that if he would buy a new handkerchief,
so that her name would be the only one on
it, she would sign. This Quarles declined
more than a year. One night, in st. Louis,
he met her after q performance and again
asked her to sign This time she capitu-
lated. working out her name in purple silk.
her favorite color The signatures of many
American actors and actresses adorn the
handkerchief. Among the famous names
are Ada Rehan, Kathryn Kidder Lillian
Russell, Margaret Mather, May Irwin, Amy
Leslie, Fanny Davenport Della Fox. Jo-
Russell Louis James, Stuart Robson and
Melbourne Mcdowell. Mr. Quarles induced
every actress to embroider her name in her
favorite color after first tracing IT In pen
Gil, and, as a result, the big handkerchief
contains about all the colors of the rain
bow. Five hundred dollars has been offered
to Quarles for his unique album" He not
only refused the offer, but announced that
money could not buy it, Among the for
kerchief are Sarah Bernhard Emma
Calve Pol Plancon Henry Irving, Ellen
Terry Edouard De Reszke E. Duquem,
PaderewSl<i, Bran Stoker, John Hare Chez
Waller, Rejane and Olga Nethersole.
Quares had funny experience when he
called on Bernhardt in Paris. He knew
he no French, but he sent her his card and
was ushered into her reception room.
Sarah happened to be at peace with herself
and the world that morning. Furthermore,
QuarleS'S letters of introduction were sign
ed by people she knew. So she greeted him
with a smile of welcome Imagine her sur
prise when she saw him pull out his hand
kerchief, which then had about forty names
on it, and with gesture and broken Eng
gliSh try to explain that he wanted her TO
write her name. The divine Sarah. how
ever, misunderstood Quarles's gestures.
while his dialect was Greek to her. She
decided that he wanted her to buy the
handkerchief and started to hand the con-
fused collector a 'rouleau," at the same
time reaching for. the handkerchief. For
tunately, an interpreter was called at that
stage Of the proceedings and matters were
quickly explained. When she understood
what was wanted Sarah laughed, and. after
scribbling her name in pencil, she embroid-
cred the lines in letters of flaming red. AS
persons with diligence necessary to collect
another such souvenir are few, Mr..
Quarles's treasure will be unique.