The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-20
NAME DOWN
WITH CELEBRITIES
Hungarian Autograph Col
lector Visits Capital Has
1874 Famous Signatures
Washington,

Washington, Dec. 2O.-President
a has added his autograph to a
collection of signatures Of worldwide
celebrities which is owned by LOUIS
bartn, a citizen Of Budapest, Hungary,
VINO travelled all the way from Europe
to obtain the autographs of the presi-
oent. Thomas A. Edison, and other
celebrated Americans.
n collection is one Of the most
remarkable ever made. Mr.. Barth
mas spent nearly $4,000 in travelling
to different parts of the globe in quest
OF autographs. He has signatures and
sentiments written in forty-four Ian
guages. and the presidents autograph
will make the 994th in the collection.
or the men and women who have
signed his album, 11S have died, the
most recent death being that of Am
6assador Whitelaw Reid. Andrew
Carnegie was the last celebrity to in
dite his autograph.
When the late King Edward gave
Mr.. Barth his autograph he remarked
that there was but one defect in the
lcollectien-that it did lot belong to
him. Mr.. Barth is q man of indie.
pendent means. He began his collec-
ton eight years ago.
Contains Sketches by Artists.
In nearly every. instance the collec-
tor has had miniature paintings or
Sketches made by eminent artists in
every part of the world. either TO
symbolic the country in which the
autograph was obtained, or some trait
of its character. Nearly every ruling
sovereign of Europe and some of
Africa and Asia are included in the
collection.
l.. One or two great rulers are miss
Ing. the car OF Russia and Kine Leo
lpold Of Belgium. He has every DOM
Iinant statesman Of all the countries.
every leading writer, every artist,
usually on a small painting; scientists,
factors. the publicists, and some of the
distinguished mobiles. His great
regret Is that he was not able to get
Count Tolstoy before that great writer
died. Mr.. Barth has several distin-
lguished Americans on his list already;
Theodore Roosevelt succumbed in Ber-
lin in 1910 and ]. Pierpont Morgan
wrote a little sentiment in Paris last
iyear.
Collection Not for Sale.
II have Icen offered 100000 for
my collection" said Mr.. Barth. but
One hundred and eighteen of the great
men and women whose name l have
are now dead; others are of great age.
The only public use to which 1t will
be put will be the publication of L
book Of facsimiles, together with a
narrative Of how each autograph was
procured. I will keep the originals.
The book is about ten inches thick
now with the binding. the
autographs being slipped III as pages
lin the order of their procurement.
The effect is interesting.
Under a bronze medallion of Pope
Plus is a benedictton in the hand
writing of the head of the Catholic
church. On the next page. facing a
portrait in pencil of Emperor William
by a grand duchess. is the imperial
signature. a gold wilhelm l." which
takes up half q page.
King Edwards Autograph.
The autograph of the late King
Edward Is followed by a drawing in
crayon. almost a miniature, of King
George. which is followed by Queen
Marry, the Princess Mary. and the
present Prince Of Wales. Queen Alex
andra. Queen Maud Of Norwa" and
the Princess Victoria are all on one
page. and the Dowager Queen of Eng
land has a little verse.
A tiny. perfect little scene, signed
with the name of a famous German
artist, Is followed by a page or which
Is written in fine. copperplate hand.
alfonso" Of Spain. and then. after
a prime minister OF two and a scien-
fist like Ramsay or Metchnikof.
comes the still smaller signature of
Franz Josef Of .Austria-Hungary. his
page bordered by the national colors
Of the empire.