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〃You have Autographs； in America； I understand； Mr。 Howard。〃
〃Both autographs and collectors；〃 I replied。
〃Really！ Perhaps you are a collector yourself？〃 continued the lady；
with an indescribable expression； half interest； half disappointment。
〃Nomerely a humble admirer of the labors of others。〃
〃Then；〃 added the lady； more blandly； 〃perhaps you will be good…
natured enough to assist me。〃
And； after a suspicious glance toward the spot where Lady Holberton
and Mr。 T… were conversing together； she adroitly placed herself
in a position to give to our conversation the privacy of a diplomatic
tete…a…tete。
〃Could you possibly procure me some American autographs for my
collection？ I find a few wanting under the American headperhaps a
hundred or two。〃
I professed myself ready to do any thing in my power in so good a
cause。
〃Here is my list； I generally carry it about me。 You will see those
that are wanting； and very possibly may suggest others。〃
And as the lady spoke she drew from her pocket a roll of paper as
long； and as well covered with names as any minority petition to
Congress。 However； I had lived too much among collectors of late to
be easily dismayed。 The list was headed by Black Hawk。 I expressed
my fears that the gallant warrior's ignorance of letters might prove
an obstacle to obtaining any thing from his pen。 I volunteered
however to procure instead； something from a Cherokee friend of
mine； the editor of a newspaper。
｛Black Hawk = Black Hawk （1767…1838）； an American Indian （Sac）
chieftain； defeated by the U。S。 Army in 1832； whose 〃Autobiography〃
（1833） became an American classic。｝
〃How charming！〃 exclaimed Miss Rowley； clasping her hands。 〃How
very obliging of you； Mr。 Howard。 Are you fond of shooting？ My
brother's preserves are in fine orderor perhaps you are partial to
yachting〃
Bowing my thanks for these amiable hints； I carelessly observed that
the letter of the Cherokee editor was no sacrifice at all； for the chief
and myself were regular correspondents； I had a dozen of his letters；
and had just given one to Mr。 T…。 This intelligence evidently
lessened Miss Rowley's excessive gratitude。 She continued her
applications； however； casting an eye on her list。
〃Perhaps you correspond also with some rowdies； Mr。 Howard？ Could
you oblige me with a rowdy letter？〃
｛rowdies = in the mid…nineteenth century； an American slang term
for backwoodsmen or other rough and disorderly types｝
I drew up a little at this request； my correspondents； I assured the
lady； were generally men of respectability； though one of them was
of a savage race。
〃No doubt； but in the way of autographs； you know； one would
correspond with〃
The sentence remained unfinished； for the lady added；
〃I wrote myself to Madame Laffarge； not long since。 I am sorry to
say Lady Holberton has two of hers； but although an excellent
person in most respects； yet it cannot be denied that as regards
autographs； Lady Holberton is very illiberal。 I offered her Grizzel
Baillie； two Cardinals； William Pitt； and Grace Darling； for one of her
Laffarges； but she would not part with it。 Yet the exchange was very
fair； especially as Madame Laffarge is still living。〃
｛Madame Laffarge = Marie Lafarge （1816…1853）； French woman
convicted in 1840 for poisoning her husband； later pardoned。 Grizzel
Baillie = Lady Grizel Baillie （1665…1746）； Scottish poet。 William Pitt
= either William Pitt 〃the Elder〃 （1708…1778） or William Pitt 〃the
Younger〃 （1759…1806）； both British Prime Ministers。 Grace Darling =
Grace Darling （1815…1842）； English heroine and lighthouse keeper's
daughter； famous for her rescue of castaways in 1838。｝
I bowed an assent to the remark。
〃And then she herself actually once made proposals for
Schinderhannes； to a friend of mine； offering Howard； the
philanthropist； Talma； William Penn； and Fenelon for himall
commonplace enough； you knowand Schinderhannes quite unique。
My friend was indignant！〃
｛Schinderhannes = German bandit chief； executed in 1803。 Howard =
John Howard （1726…1790）； English philanthropist and prison reformer。
Talma = Francois Talma （1763…1826）； popular French playwright。
William Penn （1644…1718）； Quaker founder of Pennsylvania。 Fenelon
= Francois Fenelon （1651…1715）； French Archbishop and writer｝
I ventured to excuse Lady Holberton by suggesting that probably at
the time her stock of notabilities was low。
Miss Rowley shook her head； and curled her lip； as if she fancied the
lady had only been seeking to drive a hard bargain。
〃On one point； however； I have carried the day； Mr。 Howard。 Lady
Holberton is not a little proud of her Vidocq； but I have obtained one
far superior to hers； one addressed to myself so piquant and gallant
too。 I called on the dear old burglar on purpose to coax him into
writing me a note。〃
｛Vidocq = Francois Vidocq （1775…1857）； French police detective who
turned robber； and was exposed in 1832。｝
I wondered； in petto； whether I should meet any illustrious convicts
at Miss Rowley's party the next evening； but remembering to have
heard her called an exclusive； it did not seem very probable。
｛in petto = silently； to oneself （Latin）｝
After running her eye over the list again； Miss Rowley made another
inquiry。
〃Mr。 Howard； could you get me something from an American
Colonel？〃
I assured the lady we had colonels of all sorts； and begged to know
what particular variety she had placed on her cataloguewas it an
officer of the regular service； or one of no service at all？
〃Oh； the last； certainlyofficers who have seen service are so
commonplace！〃
My own pen was immediately placed at Miss Rowley's disposal； as
my sword would have been； had I owned one。 As I had been called
colonel a hundred times without having commanded a regiment once；
my own name was as good as any other on the present occasion。
〃You are very obliging。 Since you are so good； may I also trouble you
to procure me a line from a very remarkable personage of your
countrya very distinguished manhe has been President； or
Speaker of the Senate； or something of that sort。〃
To which of our head men did Miss Rowley allude？
〃He is called Uncle Sam； I believe。〃
｛Uncle Sam = 〃Uncle Sam〃 became a popular personification of the
United States during the War of 1812； replacing Brother Jonathan；
and was often used in contradistinction to the British 〃John Bull〃｝
This was not so easy a task； for though we have thousands of
colonels； there is but one Uncle Sam in the world。 On hearing that
such was the case； Miss Rowley's anxiety on the subject increased
immeasurably； but I assured her the old gentleman only put his
name to treaties； and tariffs； and although his sons were wonderfully
gallant； yet he himself had never condescended to notice any woman
but a queen regnant： and I further endeavored to give some idea of
his identity。 Miss Rowley stopped me short； however。
〃Only procure me one line from him； Mr。 Howard； and I shall be
indebted to you for life。 It will be time enough to find out all about
him when I once have his namethat is the essential thing。〃
I shrunk from committing myself； however； declaring that I would as
soon engage to procure a billet…doux from Prester John。
｛Prester John = Mythical ruler believed in the Middle Ages to head a
powerful Christian Kingdom somewhere in Asia； later identified with
the Christian Kings of Ethiopia in Africa｝
〃Prester John！ That would； indeed； be quite invaluable！〃
This Asiatic diversion was a happy one； and came very apropos； for it
carried Miss Rowley into China； she inquired if I had any Chinese
connections。
〃Though altogether； I am pretty well satisfied with my Chinese
negotiations； as soon as the Celestial Empire was opened to the
civilized world； I engaged an agent there to collect for me。 But； could
you put me on the track of a Confucius？〃
｛opened to the civilized world = following the so…called Opium War；
Britain had in 1842 forced China to open trade with her｝
I was obliged to admit my inability to do so； and at the same
moment the collecting instincts of Lady Holberton and Mr。 T…；
drew their attention to the corner where Miss Rowley and myself
were conversing； as they moved toward us； Miss Rowley pocketed
her list； throwing herself upon my honor not to betray the
deficiencies in her role d'equipage； or the collecting negociations just
opened between us。 Lady Holberton； as she advanced； invited Miss
Rowley； with an ill…concealed air of triumph； to feast her eyes once
more on the Lumley autograph； and not long after the party broke
up。
｛role d'equipage = muster roll （French）； here； Miss Rowley's list of
her autographs｝
The next day； in passing Holberton…House； I observed the chariot of
a fashionable physician before the door； and at Miss Rowley's party
in the evening learned from Mr。 T… that Lady Holberton was quite
unwell。 The following morning I called to inquire； and received for
answer that 〃her ladyship was very much indisposed。〃 It was not
until a week later that I saw Lady Holberton herself； taking the air in
Hyde Park。 She looked wretchedlythin and pale。 I inquired from the
English friend with whom I wa