The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-27
Kansas Always WIN Remember
Her Own COburn.
Hen Retire From Public Life,
but Not Public Eye.
Untold STORIES Of SECRETARY
Why He Always Has Used His
Famous Inverted Signature.
COburn, Inventor Friend of the
Human Race.

Next week, the man about whom
more has been written and printed
than any other man in Kansas, Will
retire from public life, but not from
the public eye. Using the family resi-
dence at 424 Topeka avenue as head
quarters, he will probably make sor-
magazines. and the name of F. d. CO.
burn will continue familiar with those
who do assemble the types. both by
hand and machinery.
A few days ago, newspaper man
remarked that 1t would require some
effort to give Mr.. Coburn fitting
sendoff when the time came for his
retirement from the ground-foor Of
flee in the state house. Everything
has been written about him." COM
planned this scribe. His life has been
an open book, above the necessities OF
concealment. and there is nothing to
dig up on him. Artists like Vandegrift.
NcCray and Leahy have given him
the once over, and it's cinch they
didn't miss anything. He has fur
niDhed miles of copy. and the most
intimate touches of Coburn story
have been printed somewhere between
SIS and 5000 times. What's the use
of trying? Everybody knows him, and
knows all about him." so
Of his history are worth writing and
reading again, and the scrtbes would
much rather do the repeating now.
while he Is issuing his brief swan song
of retirement from public office, than
years (let us hope many MANY years)
later. while gentleman with black
clothes and white necktie is meaSur-
ing him for a wooden kimono.- And
1t may be that all the Coburn stories
have not been printed. For instance:
Who has written the story of the in
verified signature-the changed initials
of SO years ago? How many people
who know Foster Dwight Coburn Of
Kansas knew Dwight Foster Coburn
Of the 135th Illinois infantry and the
62nd Illinois infantry?
So far as known, the story of the
inverted signature is no secret. Ger
tain it is that when Mr.. Coburn told
the story to a newspaper man. no
oath of secrecy was required. 1t
started in this manner: Mr.. Coburn
was frisking. merrily frisking. through
his morning mail. the. while visiting
with the news writer and Frank
Etahl. He came across a letter adj
dressed to Fred d. Coburn."
THE man who wrote that felt that
] should have a front name" said the
secretary, as he passed the envelope
for the inspection of his visitors.
Il thought everybody knew your first
name was Foster" said Mr.. Stahl.
1T Island it isn't" observed Mr.. Co
burn. dropping back into his deep chair
graceful motion. 1T Is. and 1t isn't
ard thereby hangs a tale
when l was a boy in the ARMY
was about II then, my name was
turned over. My parents named me
after a Dwight Foster-and he was q
good man with a good name. wore
IT parted that way up to and including
the war period. The change was the
result of boy nonsense and fdleness.
With a number of other young fellows,
! was attached to a quartermaster's
department for a time. In those days,
1t was considered an accomplishment
to swing a good PEN and we young
1oafers put in our spare time spelling
good government stationery with fancy
signatures. The other boys could beat
could not hook D. and F" with grace
full curves and pot hooks. making the
letters perfect and at the same time
constructing a satisfactory signature.
Someone suggested that I try the let
tiers inverted. The result was highly
satisfactory. became habit and re-
suited, in later years. in a flxed ar
fangement. But when 1 go down t.
ssgn the pension rolls. write Dwight
+. Coburn.'
That IS the one Coburn story that
seems to have escaped the scribes. 1t
ssn't much Of a story. but who knows
now much effect that change made II
the future life of the young soldier:
May it not be possible that the clean.
graceful Signature of IF. d. Cobiirn"
On lnimportant documents may have
attracted the attention of those who
placed him in a position to sign more
Important writings?
Mr.. Coburn has been called the poor
est public speaker who was ever in
great demand as a speech maker, But
the title of poorest speaker may have
been title of his own choice Perhaps
he could make long. flowery speech If
he wanted to, but he has never wanted
to.
Sitting in his office one day with 4 Wis
itor, he turned and aimed one long
straight finger at a spot on the state
house lawn just east of the old cot
tonwood tree.
Right there" Quoth the secretary,
you will see. some time. a marble
shaft On it will be carved this in
scription: 'Coburn. Inventor; Friend
OF the Human Race
For J am working out an invention
that will keep my memory green long
after I have passed. My invention
shall be known as The Painless Re-
mOveT-cornS. certainly not! Pub
lie speakers! That's what 1t will be
a contraption something like the
mechanism of one Of these disappear
ing coast defense cannon, and used as
n support for a section Of every stage
likely to be occupied by a public speak
er. When he has talked long enough,
he win simply fade through the stage,
quietly. noiselessly. No rough work
no getting the hook or throwing him
through window; he will just fade
that's all-fade. And I shall be remem-
bered by posterity. not as Coburn. the
secretary Of agriculture. but Coburn.
inventor Of that boon to suffering hui
snanity. the remover. !"
Altar lafs rafirex,nanf Mr. Cob,,r,n