Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-18
AUTOGRAPH ALBUMS.
Some Of the Verses Popular in Days
of0ld.
Birthday Books Now Hold First Place
With Children.

.essor Of such a volume, gOrgeously
bound with tinted leaves and resplen-
dent with much gilt, was sure to De re-
garded with increased respect by MS
sctoolfellows. Not to own an auto
graph album of some sort was an ac-
knowledged mark of inferior claims to
social standing at school.
remember we'll the time when /, an
ambitious mite of humanity with my
hair in two pigtails, sat with big
Harper's geography propped up be-
fore me on the desk, and while l STU
died about the commercial importance
of London, or the effect Of large stand
ing armies upon industrial develop
ment in Europe, 1 dreamed golden
dreams of the hour when I might have
a red plush autograph album, with
gilt edges, for my own. In due time
my elders, after sundry supercilious
and incomprehensible remarks about
autograph albums in general, decided
to crafty my hearts desire. and be-
slowed upon me an album, bound in
dark red leather. 1t seems a long time
since the days when red plush APP
pealed to me. but have scarcely for
given them yet for that disappointment
of my hopes. p. ,--4
However, an album IS an album, If
it is not bound in plush. 1t was saved
from ostracism, and I came to take a
subdued delight in my little leather
bound volume. Still it was hard not to
break the tenth commandment when
saw the proud owner of a plush album
stroking its soft and alluring surface.
and casting glances of open disdain
uron my humble property.
Since then l have seen many auto
graph albums. Children have brought
them to me to write in, and during
many a call I have had them presented
for my delectation. Indeed, for a sea-
son they rivalled the family photograph
album as means of entertaining
guests. And whether bound in plush
or paper. cloth or leather, they have a
great deal in common. and in the senti-
ments found upon their pages there is
much matter for laughter, some for
thought; and even some for tears.
The great popularity Of the auto
graph album led to some curious and
interesting performances on the part
of the village poet. The desire for
Original sentiments was so universal
that those who were known to be culti-
vators of the muse were eagerly sought
as contributors to album lore. Many
of their choicest gems found such favor
that they were widely copied and had
much more than merely local popular
ity. If one may judge by the way in
which they are distributed. I doubt if
there is anything in the history Of the
achievement of the village poet that
equals some of these productions. The
maker of album verses certainly has
earned repose, and if he has seen fit to
Tie down for an aeon or two" we
should have no desire to disturb his
slumbers.
I have selected several of these all
bum verses, which seem to me to give
an idea of their general character. I
have taken care, alsos to choose those
which best display the heights to which
the maker of obituary poems and birth
day odes can rise upon occasion. Here
is couplet we'll calculated to stir the
emotions and appeal to the magma
ton:
Il thought and thought and thought in
At last l thought I'd write my name"
Yet this becomes but commonplace be-
side the exquisite pathos and delicate
sentiment of the following:
ct only ask this little spot
To write three words-forget me not"
What gentle self depreciation is com
veyed in the suggestion that 1t would
he possible to forget the author of such
lines!
This gains in effectiveness when it Is
penned by some sChoolboy in whose
hands pen is yet an uncertain agent.
Sprawling in huge letters over a whole
page. it moves one inexpressibly.
But the muse is not always sad,
even when she lends her aid to the
maker of album verses. At times we
have such bits of sportive fancy as the
following:
"Alas. alas. am SO dumb
l cannot write in this album"
The metre here would seem to call for
a different pronunciation of the word
album" from that to which we are ac-
customed. but one cannot expect the
petty tyranny of dictionary accent to
stand in the way of free expression.
Then there Is the daring, merry boy
who with little dash of love wrote:
1.-THE rose Is red. the violet's blue,
Sugar is sweet and so are you"
Gas sure's the grass grows round the
stump,
You are my darling sugar lump"
Then there is this:
May your virtues ever spread
Like butter on hot gingerbread"
AS another example of playful wit Is
when you get old, and cannot see
Put on your specks, and think of me-
The laudabe desire to do something to
cheer the owner of the album in his de-
Ginning years displays itself with pleasing
frequency. Here is another:
Long may you live, happy may you be
And when you are old. remember me-
Here is somewhat loftier flight:
Go little album, far and near,
To all of Nellie's friends so dear.
And ask them each to write page
For her to read in her old age
The picture here presented of the album
making benevolent peregrinations ir
search of words of cheer for it's owner ir
her old age is truly touching. Nor do we
lack for words of wisdom and sage coun-
sci:
Remember this and bear i'm mind
That true friend is hard to find,
And when you've found one good and
true,
Change not the old one for the new
i