Autograph Fiends

The author of "Chats With Celebrities, " Mr. Guild, says of the dernand upon Longfellow for his autograph: I remember one very pleasant party at the poet's dinner table, at which Mr. Monti, Professor E. N. Horsford and myself were present, when Mr. Longfellow related a iiumber of amusing anecdotes respecting applications that were made to him for autographs. He was very kind to autograph seekers and used to keep in a little box upon his writing table a number of slips upon which were written, " Yoursvery truly, Henry W. Longfellow." One of these would be sent to the applicant by a member of his family to whom he passed over tbeir requests. But the autograph seekers were not alwaya satisfied with a mere signature, and he often sent a verse from one of his poems signed with his name. The most remarkable request, however, came from a lady in Boston, who, the poet said, sent him by expresa a package of 150 blank visiting cards, with a letter requesting that he would inscribe his name on each of them the next day, as she was to have a grand reception at which a number of literary people would be present, and she wished to present each one of her guests with the poet's antograph. This was too much for even Lougfellow's good nature and would seein to be hardly credible had I not heard it from the poet's own lips.