The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-20
OPERATIONS OF THE
AUTOGRAPH FIEND.
LARGE FIELD IN WASHINGTON
The Majority Of TIL, signature Hunt
ers Are Women Who Earn n
Living by Getting tn Albums
and Selling Them.


haDs. than any other city in the country
Tor the operations Of the autograph fend.
There is not a single Government Of
fetal or individual prominent in the pub
lie eye who is not besieged with these
beings. ever on the alert to add another
signature TO their list It appears 20 be
z disease with them.
Armed With Album and Pes.
They go about armed with a neat little
black morocco-covered album and
fountain pen. very much after the fash
ion OF the press representative Of an
Client comparison
The more active wui spend hours wait
ing for a favorable opportunity to re-
quest some person. Of more OF less i'm
Dortance. for his autograph The larger
part Of these signature hunters are wo-
men. many Of whom earn their living by
getting up autograph albums and selling
them.
Autographs of TheSpinns.
Society folk. however. seem 10 prize
highest the autographs OF distinguished
Thespians- Accordingly the host OF per-
sons who cater to this trade haunt the
stage doors and dressing rooms OF the
-mummers."
whenever an actor or actress OF any
prominence is appearing az a local thea
tire, unless orders have been issued 10
the doorkeeper 10 prohibit the admission
Of everyone. the stage entrance is packed
70 oveptowing after each performance
with persons suffering from the mania
VINO, on various pretenccs, seek admission
TO the victims dressing room and beg
for an autograph.
Those who have had experience in the
business. VIII If intercepted draw upon
their imaginatlons for all sorts Of plausi-
bic reasons for seeking admittance. Some
OF them claim TO have an appointment
with the star. or are personal friends
others pretend 10 have important bust
ness that cannot be delayed, and some
even 90 so far as 10 assume the name
Of some prominent person OF the day. and
state that they merely wish % say an
encouraging word TO the star.
Treasury Clerk Eclipses Record.
There is a female clerk in the Treasury
department. however, who ecIipses all
records Of success in the business. Evil
IDENTIFY practice has made her perfect
Long ago she became known 10 all the
nent Government officials and business
men. and 70 the stage dOOrkeepers Of
every theatre. She became a constant
source Of dread to these individuals, who
possessed a WhOlesOm fear Of her
dauntless nerve and sharp tongue. Then.
too. her methods OF attack were as hu-
merOus and variable as her visits. I'm
mediately at the elise Of Office hours she
would start upon her rounds, and wOGld
poster busy people with such regularity
and undagging zeal. that every conceiv-
able scheme was adopted to prevent her
! entrance into Offices and other places.
Nothing, however. could withstand her
! onslaughts. She would await her OppOr-
tunity and slip into room while a clerk
/ or Watchmans back was turned. or per
form some similar stunt.
With the number OF her visits the num-
| Der Of albums under her arm grew great
] err until she finally began 10 carry as
many as i've or six az a time. request
ing the victim 10 place his signature in
each.
Reception From Actor with Temper
Recently she had been tormonting an
actor noted for his temper Suddenly he
turned upon her an the string OF adjec-
tives which for several minutes came
from MS lips would have done credit 10
the proyerbial sailor. Then he called the
doorkeeper and in no uncertain tones or
dered that she be escorted out Of the
theatre.
She has not since been seen IN the To-
! Cality Of that particular playhouse.