"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 order--or 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.}