New-York tribune., 1905-03-12
PART V.
EIGHT PAGES.

sNe moi
,--s - q universally ostracized from sympathy
he is as repeIlent TO the celebrity the
s-.--snce agent TO the millionaire and that
i-le +,-o,o,s request for a signature is granted
' -..nt good humor, If granted at all.
- s.orv of their travels among the greater
A, r.s- literary and artistic lights of New
~ ssstroving the established theory of the
..ar,aph gatherer's lack Of popularity. is in
-st;ng. only twice, in the long year through
S,.h thew pursued their extraordinary course
@..reonal visits to the homes OF noted persons,
.-.rs they received with antagonism By many
- we're oourteously, if briefly. entertained
- o,lv in these two aforementioned for sta
..-s,oaI bensht-were they sent away autograph
us.-N'., - 5iscorofted They called upon au-
- ,r.,s+s and playwrights. And in every
,--t.roe the actual cause of the visit became
,,o-tsnt IN consideration OF the interesting
e,,---se NJ personality it invariably gave.
- ration came in the summer at Lake
.o and they met their first success in
- On we'll known actress. who had re-
tt-.s from the stage and built home there
go c.rabtree They had TO row miles to reach
- -1acs Just within sight Of her house they
ras+ed on their oars and drew lots to decloe
- sbouI5 sneak first Both were anxious
..naias+es but both a little hesitant. The one
:. ~.,ono The lot fell nervously planned what
HaS
. nf,ss Crabtree was home. The maid left
49,, and soon small, sprightly figure ap-
.-a5 and they found Miss Craptree smlilng
:. +hsno The moment had arrived
.nfv friend and 1 came 10 see IL you "ouio
give us each your autograph
..Tr,r certainly she replied. and left them
~ heard her tell the maid to ask them to go
.o,,bc front door, and soon they found tnenl-
selves waiting in the entrance or peauuLally
furnished house. A few moments later she ap-
reared again and handed them two caros' each
WITH her signature, "Lotta. heaNily ooie IL
black ink
Thank your they crled siliiui'oi
You are very kindr'
Don't mention il, my dears, she answered.
Good morning" and vanished.
Il was this successful and iattering reception
., their trial trip which tempted them to go on
Further operations were naturally delayed until
autumn. for the Hopatcong supply Of celebrities
began and ended with Miss Crabtree But tho
return 10 the city opened up long ana Wioe
6el5 for autographic research and visitation
They decided TO alternate in delivering the in
itiative remark-the original formula, as
practioal inclusive and effective one was adopt
ed: MY friend and I came to see II you wouIo
give Us each your autograph, ana a sultry
evening in early September found them ringing
the lower east side of town where Richard
Henry Stoddard and his wife then lived The
elderly coupIe had returned from the country
that day and were very tired. This was ex-
platned TO the collectors by the maid VINO
opened the door. But she would take q mes
sage They told her what they had come for
Mr. ctoddard's autograph-"one each' was
hastily added. And they heard her at the heao
Of the stairs repeating this and appending'
They're very young"
few minutes later the poet himself descend
ed the stairs. gave them the signatures. asked
them their names, shook hands with them ana
opened the door.
Some time later they called at q morning hour
on Mrs Stoddard. She received them gracious
~ in the parlor and asked them why they
wished her signature.
perhaps you've heard" she said, "of Eliz-
abeth Stoddard, who has written some novels
But you've never read any OF them. Now con-
fess" And they had to-
only one little book of mine has any sale
now she went on, "and that isn't bought very
often believe I get 10 cents every time a
copy is sold. So you my writing doesn't
support me-"
Shortly before this they had called on Ernest
Thompson Seton, who was then at the height
Of his popularity.
Mr. and Mrs. Seton were at that time living
IN an old house on lower 5th-ave. Their apart
ments were on the upper floors. and the little
paw Of some wild animal the artist-author had
known formed the handle of the bellrope which
dangled in front of a gate in the dark hallway
The boys were more than kindly received.
Mr. Seton gave them his signature, with its ap-
pended and fascinating pawmark, and he intro
duced them to his wife, formerly Miss Grace
GaIIatin, who had just published her book, "A
W
"I tried keeping tame wild animals here"
said Mr.. Seton For a long while had a
beautiful little skunk for pet"
The most delightful visit the boys had was at
the home of Mrs Mary Mapes Dodge. Follow
ing a sad morning of mot at homes" they
found her one beautiful spring afternoon and
the author of Donald and Dorothy showed
that even beyond printed pages she had
warm heart for young people. She not only
told them she'd give them the signatures they
had asked for, but said she liked the way they
set about getting them.
Amy one who is enough interested in auto
graphs 10 call on people and ask for them de-
serves 10 get them" she said. II have a great
many letters asking for signatures-almost
more than can answer. have big package
q them now. some of them months old Is
there any special way you'd like them written?'
Almost inarticulate with pleasure at their
reception. the boys whispered there wasn't.
so many boys and girls ask for quotations
from my stories or verses of mine" she ex-
plained. and she left them in the parlor while
she wrote the autographs.
She returned quickly. handing them two
cards. and they rose TO leave but their interest
ing visit was not over.
I've just been going through some boxes OF
papers. and there are some things that you
might enjoy seeing. Don't you want TO come