按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
bouche。 A little volume written by Lady Holbertonprinted but not
publishedrelating its past history from the date of its discovery in
the library of Lord G…； her grandfather； to the present day； passed
from hand to hand； and this review of its various adventures of
course only added force to the congratulations offered upon the
acquisition of this celebrated autograph。
｛pine = pineapple。 Newtown pippin = a green； tart； tangy American
apple； originally from Long Island； a favorite of George Washington
and Thomas Jefferson； bonne bouche = a tasty morsel （French）｝
While the company were succeeding each other in offering their
homage to the great album； my attention was called off by a tap on
the shoulder from a friend； who informed me that Miss Rowley； a
very clever； handsome woman of a certain age； had expressed a wish
to make my acquaintance。 I was only too happy to be presented。
After a very gracious reception； and an invitation to a party for the
following evening； Miss Rowley observed：
〃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 all