The times., 1899-04-16
GEORGETOWN MANS
AUTOGRAPH JOYS
Collections of Letters From
Thespian Stars.
Documents From Ancient Days
Down to the Present.
An Aggregation of Curios in the
Possession. ofiJ. Earton
MiiIeF.

Among the Washingtpnians who have
followed the drama closely and kept track
of stage people and their doings is ]. Bar
ton Miller. of Georgetown. For fifteen
years he has seen every play and every
star of consequence ttat has come to
Washington. He does mot look upon the
theatre solely as acpiace of amusement.
but OF instruction. and the taste for lit
erature which he cuitivates after the prac-
ticai hours of his busy days are over has
been largely fostersd and developed
through his study of the theatre from the
front OF the house. ,,i Is
While the study of the drama and its
people constitutes his hobby. he does rot
care to speak of it to any except TO those
who are interested as much as he, and 1t
was with reluctance that he consented TO
talk with The Times man for publication.
He prefers to enjoy his hobby aone.
Naturally his interest in the theatre and
the consequent affection for all things
dramatic has engcndered an appstite for
the collection of theatrical knlck-knacks.
Among his odds and ends OF the stage
and its folks gathered from the ocean of
everywhere is a collection of autograph
letters These he regards with particular
affection. and when night comes nothing
pleases him so much as TO contemplate and
dream over them.
1T Is not always necessary to Sleep in
order to dream said Mr.. Miller to the
Times reporter who was permitted 10
yiev his collection. ITO handle these au-
toSraph letters is like communing with
old celebrities. 1t is like enjoying al
alone great honor denied to the world
at large. Photographs are well enough in
their way but they picture man only ex-
teTioriy Letters bring their thoughts to
ones knowledge and it is Ike haaIing the
writer's speak These autograph letters
represent time, patience, and research for
fifteen years. They have been~fsund in
queer out of the way places, in junk
shops and at old book sales and Some are
gifts
While letters from representatives, of
the stage predominate In ths- collection
authors. artists, and miscellaneous celeb
rites have also found place. These auto
graph letters to the cold practical mind
may appear to have no substantial value
but to the collector, the man OF mind and
sentiment, they are priceless.
Some Rare Old Documents.
The collection contains notably -letters
and documents of William ". King of
England, George III and Ferdinand v
bearing the date of 1895. All these rdocu-
ments are of velIum. There is letter
bearing the date of March 5, 1868. signed
by Ignatius Donnelly, the author of the
famous Shakespearean cryptogram. When
this epistfe was written the Impeachment
proceedings against President Johnson
were on, and in the letter written on Con-
gressional paper of the Fortieth Congress
House of Representatives. addressed to a
friend, Mr.. Donnelly refers to the STIR
ring events of the period in the following
words:
We are in the midst of very exciting
events here We have impeached our re-
creant President and hope soon to sec
him out of Office. His, removal will be a
blessing to the whole nation"
Attached to the letter is card OF ad-
mission bearing the following words:
United States Senate
Impeachment of the President
Admit the Bearer.
April II, ,ls6s.
George F. Brown, Sergeant-at-arms
1t is needless to say that the reereant