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master's trophies； doubtless the most precious portion of the
colonel's possessions； though at the same time the lightest； as for
the rupees； the old worn…out box would have proved quite unequal to
transporting a single bag of them； for it was now sadly unfit for
service； thanks to the ravages of time and the white ants； and；
indeed； owed its preservation and return to its native soil solely to
the letter pasted in the lid； which； in the eyes of Colonel H…； was
a memento of home； and the eccentric character of a deceased
parent。
｛cornet = the lowest officer rank in a British cavalry regiment； below
that of Lieutenant； now obsolete｝
The time had now come； however； when the Lumley autograph was
about to emerge forever from obscurity； and receive the full homage
of collectors； the hour of triumph was at hand； the neglect of a
century was to be fully repaid by the highest honors of fame。 The
eye of beauty was about to kindle as it rested on the Lumley
autograph； jeweled fingers were to be raised； eager to snatch the
treasure from each other； busy literati stood ready armed for a war
of controversy in its behalf。
It happened that Colonel H… was invited to a fancy ball； and it
also happened that the lady whom he particularly admired； was to be
present on the occasion。 Such being the case； the most becoming
costume was to be selected for the evening。 What if the locks of the
gallant colonel were slightly sprinkled with gray？ He was still a
handsome man； and knew very well that the dress of an eastern
aymeer was particularly well suited to his face and figure。 This dress；
preserved in a certain old trunk in the garret； was accordingly
produced。 The trunk was brought down to the dressing…room； the
costume examined piece by piece； pronounced in good condition by
the valet； and declared very becoming by the military friend called in
as counsellor。
｛aymeer = Emir； a Muslim title signifying commander in Arabic｝
〃But what a queer old box this is； H…；〃 said Major D…； eyeing
the trunk through his glass。
〃It's one I've had these hundred years；〃 replied the colonel。 〃So you
think this trumpery will do； D…？〃
〃Do？ To be sure it will； my dear fellowit gives your Milesian skin
the true Nawaub dye。 But I was just trying to make out an old letter
pasted in the lid of your trunk； under my nose here。 Is this the way
you preserve your family archives？〃
｛Milesian = slang term for Irish； from Milesius； mythical Spanish
conqueror of Ireland； Nawaub = from Nabob； Anglo…Indian slang for
one who has returned home from India with a large fortune｝
〃That letter is really a curiosity in its way；〃 said the colonel； turning
from the glass and relating its history； so far at least as it was
known to himself。
His friend spelt it through。
〃My dear fellow； why don't you give this letter to the father of your
fair Louisa； he's quite rabid on such points； you'll make him a friend
for life by it！〃
The advice was followed。 The letter was cut from its old position in
the lid of the trunk； and presented to Sir John Blank； the father of
the lovely Louisa； who； in his turn； soon placed the hand of his
daughter in that of Colonel H…。
Sir John； a noted follower in the steps of Horace Walpole； had no
sooner become the owner of this interesting letter； than he set to
work to find out its origin； and to fill up its history。 Unfortunately；
the sheet had received some wounds in the wars； as well as the
gallant colonel。 One corner had been carried away by an unlucky
thrust from a razornot a sword； while the date and signature had
also been half eaten out by the white ants of Bengal。 But such
difficulties as these were only pleasing obstacles in the way of
antiquarian activity。 Sir John had soon formed an hypothesis
perfectly satisfactory to himself。 His mother's name was Butler； and
he claimed some sort of affinity with the author of Hudibras； as the
Christian name of the poor poet had been almost entirely devoured
by the ants； while the surname had also suffered here and there； Sir
John ingeniously pursuaded ｛sic｝ himself that what remained had
clearly belonged to the signature of the great satirist； as for the
date； the abbreviation of 〃Nov。 20th。〃 and the figures 16 marking
the century； were really tolerably distinct。 Accordingly； Sir John wrote
a brief notice of Butler's Life； dwelling much upon his well…known
poverty； and quoting his epitaph； with the allusion to his indigence
underscored； 〃lest he who living wanted all things； should； when
dead； want a tomb；〃 and placed these remarks opposite the letter of
our starving poet； which was registered in the volume in conspicuous
characters as an 〃Autograph of Samuel Butler； author of Hudibras；
showing to what distress he was at one time reduced。〃
｛Samuel Butler （1612…1680）； another English author popularly
believed to have died in great poverty； he is best known for his long
satiric mock…epic poem； 〃Hudibras〃 （1663…1678）｝
Here the sheet remained several years； until at length it chanced
that Sir John's volume of autographs was placed in the hands of a
gentleman who had recently read Mr。 Lumley's MS。 Life of Otway。 The
identity of this letter； with that copied by Mr。 Lumley； immediately
suggested itself； and now the first sparks of controversy between
the Otwaysians and the Butlerites were struck in Sir John's library。
》From thence they soon spread to the four winds of heaven； falling on
combustible materials wherever they lighted on a literary head； or
collecting hands。
By the bye； the rapidity with which this collecting class has increased
of late years is really alarming； who can foresee the state of things
likely to exist in the next century； should matters go on at the same
rate？ Reflect for a moment on the probable condition of
distinguished authors； lions of the loudest roar； if the number of
autograph…hunters were to increase beyond what it is at present。 Is
it not to be feared that they will yet exterminate the whole race；
that the great lion literary； like the mastodon； will become extinct？
Or； perhaps； by taming him down to a mere producer of autographs；
his habits will change so entirely that he will no longer be the same
animal； no longer bear a comparison with the lion of the past。 On the
other hand should the great race become extinct； what will be the
fate of the family of autograph…feeders？ What a fearful state of
things would ensue； even in our day； were the supply to be reduced
but a quire！ The heart sickens at the picture which would then be
presentedcollectors turning on each other； waging a fierce war over
every autographic scrap； making a battle…field of every social circle。
Happily； nature seems always to keep up the balance in such
matters； and it is a consoling reflection that if the million are now
consumers； so have they become producers of autographs； it is
therefore probable that the evil will work its own remedy； and we
may hope that the great writers of the next century will be shielded
in some measure by the diversion made in their favor through the
lighter troops of the lion corps。
As for the full merits of the controversy so hotly waged over the
Lumley autog