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OLD BOOK CONTAINS $50,000 IN SIGNATURES Autograph Of Button Gwinnett, Found by Mi Ruth Blair, Stata Historian, in Dusty Volums of Land Grants. (By Westley Wailes Thomas, in Atlanta Journal) Signatures said to have a commer cial value of approximately $50,000 are contained in an old volume at the state capitol, in which Miss Ruth Blair, state historian, recently found an autograph of Button Gwinnett, worth probably $25,000 to $35,000. Button Gwinnett, former governor of Georgia, president of the execu tive c&uncil, member >of the con stitutional convention of 1777, and one of the singers of the Declaration of Independence* attached his name to so few documents that his auto graph today is the most expensive in the history of the world. In January', when the Colonel James H. Manning collection was be ing sold at auction, a signature of Gwinnett which appeared almost faintly as a witness to a will was sold for $22,500. Last year a Bible re-, puted to have been once owned by Gwinnett and which contained what was supposed to be his autograph, was put up for auction. It had been freely predicted that the Bible and autograph would be sold for as much as $50,000, but the authenticity of the signature was questioned and the owner of the Bible temporarily with drew it from sale. There are fewer Button Gwinnett utographs in existence than sets of signatures of singer of the Declara tion of Independence, and therefore several sets need only a Gwinnett signature to complete them. Sev eral of the Gwinnett signatures are lield by museums, and are not for ■sale. - ■—'' How Signature wa* Found Following the public awakening of interest in Button Gwinnett after the purchase of his signature for $22,r>00, Charles Jenkins, well known historian of Pennsylvania and and author of a life of Gwinnett which will be from press in October, expressed regret that “not a single ClVinnett autograph was to be found in the state of Georgia.” Miss Biair, state historian, had been searching for a Gwinnett signa ture long before Mr. Jenkins made >us comment, and had about given up hope of finding one. But his critic ism spurred her to new efforts. Every volume that would likely contain a Gwinnett autograph had been carefully examined. An old, dusty, yellow-with-age book labeled •‘Confirmation of Land Grants. Me morials of Lands Entered in the Au ditor’s Office in Georgia from Sep tember 22nd, 1758, to the 20th of October, 1772,” was brought up from the basement of the State Capitol building. This v> ’ume contained -several rare signatures of Constitu tional Governors of Georgia, but seemingly there was none of But- ton Gwinnett, inasmuch as his name had not been included in the index, i The old book may have been in teresting, but Miss Blair, who had been suffering with a severe cold, was pot especially pleased with her task that day. The old book was so permeated with dust that even after frequent brushing each closing of the book would throw off clouds of stale air that caused a constant fit of sneezing. ■ She was looking on page 489, to verify a signature stated in the in dex to be that of John Martin, a former governor; she had checked it off and had "tlasped the following page with her lingers to verify an other signature. One does not al ways notice, perhaps, what is under one’s thumb when turning a page, but fortunately Miss Blair did that day. For almost under her finger was the most legible signature so far found of Button Gwinnett! It was .appended to a confirmation of a land jgrant, and evidently jhe actual gran tee was unable to write, for the sig nature reads “Button Gwinnett for John Barber.” The item is dated June 30, 1767. It is indexed in the volume under the name of John Bar ber. Hence the failure to discover the Gwinnett signature earlier. Snt to Regain Signature Gwmnett evidently had signed his wune for a'-'neighbor, because the Sgrant covers land located in a sec tion of St. John’s Parish near St. Catherine’s Island, where Gwinnett was reputed to have owned a planta tion. This signature is very distinct, con ttiderably more so than the one on the will which sold for $22,500. It is *o legible that there is no doubt of Gwinnett’s first name being* “But- ton,” rather than “Bulton,” as sev eral writers have Ihis signature should be especially desir able for the reason that it contains five words. Based on the price paid I for the will signature, this last one 1 should be worth about $25,000 or $35,000. But, of course, the signa ture is a state record and cannot be sold. In her investigations, Miss Blair discovered that the will containing the Gwinnett signature which sold for $22,500 had been taken from the state archives. The state has already instituted legal proceedings to re cover this original wi!’ maintaining that original wills of the colonial period, after they were probated, are 'he property of the state. The signa ture in question was purchased by Mr. Rosenbach, of the RosenbaclfcGal leries of New York. It is possible that the purchaser may have to re turn the complete document to the state. * In many of the old volumes carry ing dates corresponding to the time of Gwinnett’s public career, there is evidence of signatures having been cut out, and in one instance of having been torn out; and basing her opin ion on the wording of the context, Miss Blair believes that these spaces contained signatures of Gwinnett that have been stolen. It is stated that wherever possible the state of Georgia is intending to attempt to recover by legal means all such sig natures as are a part of the state’s records. Man of Mystery ButtQn Gwinnett, whose signature has become of such value, died in 1777-from wounds inflicted by* Gen eral Lachlan Mclntosh in a duel. With his de&th, all written record of the man seems to liave perished. Gwinnett was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, from Gf .gia, was governor of his state, i esident of the executive council, and prominent in affairs generally, afod there are only thirty four of his signatures in existence, and only one original letter written by him. He held public offices that required his signature on official do cuments, yet few such’ signatures are khown to exist today. He was a very brilliant man, capable of writing in teresting letters, and he lived N in an age when letterwriting 'was a favor ed means of expression. Further more, the meager knowledge which we have of Gwinnett indicates that he was a man whose expressive tem perament would incite him to even profuse letter-writing. Button Gwinnett is truly a man of mystery; not so much because his life before his death was in any way mysterious—the-few graphic accounts! of his actions in the frequent con- [ that he so often experienced leads one to believe that his feelings and his actions were in no sense a mystery—but because there is today, and there has been since the year of [ his death apparently, so little known that is authentio about the man’s life, his habits and his family. His adversary in the duel that re stilted in his death, and his antagonist throughout most of his public life, was General Lachlan Mclntosh, one of General Washington’s most trust ed officers. It has been suggested that General Mclntosh felt that some of Gwinnett’s letters contained dam aging statements and that he scrup ulously saw to it that all papers bear ling Gwinnett’s name were destroyed, but this theory is withfiut proof, and k hardly seems jeasonable since one could scarcely imagine anything in criminating in a mere signature to a public document. Certainly we would not eypect a person of so imperturba ble a disposition as General Mclntosh has shown himself to be to resort to such action. v Button Gwinnett was a prominent man when he died, but today no one has the slighest idea where he is buried. He has been dead one hun dred and forty-nine years, and he has remained dead in that word’s truest setise, until recent years, when col lectors, in an effort to secure his signatures, have revived interest in trts life. The autographs of all of Georgia’s governors since 1754 have been col lected, collated and photographed by Miss Blair, state historian. All the originals of these autographs, ex cept that of Provisional Governor James Johnson, are on file in the department of archives and history, 1 and that is found in the archives of, the supreme court, Governor John ton having served as judge of) the Chattahoochee circuit from 1870 to f875. In the case of several of | these governors the state department of archives and history has only one signature. The signature most dif ficult to locate was that of Governor Richard Howley, chief executive in 1780; chief justice of Georgia from 1782 to 1783, president of the ex ecutive committee,,, and member of the Continental cojigress. Photo graphs showing the signatures of Georgia’s governors are on sale at the department of archives and his tory. A Lesson From a Tramp Last sping, I, who am commonly known as a bum and an idler, stop ped- at a mountain farm in Tennsee to work for a few days to help pay my way to arfbther city. The owner of the farm and his or phan grandchild, a tiny, unhealthy, yet Very pretty boy of eight years, were planting corn. The old man made furrows, the little boy dropped the corn and I followed with the har row*to cover the seed. The sun was boiling down on the boy’s bare head, the sand was so hot that I knew it was burning his bare feet, yet he worked on uncomplain ing. The old man fussed and grum bled at him every time they passed each other. First he was dropping the corn too far apart, then he was dropping it too close together, then he didn’t get it down in the bottom of the furrow. And at last when we had almost finished the field he said, “Billy, right there you’ve dropped two grains together, and you know that this poor ground won’t make two stalks of corn in one place. I’ve a notion to j?et a whip and see why you can’t drop it right.” Then he passed with his plow. The little boy stood for a moment looking after the old man, then down dropped the bucket of corn and his his dusty hands covered his pretty face, and he sobbed as one sobs who is, entirely without hope. I went to him, took his frail body in my arms, and I hope you will not think me weak when I say that my tears mingled with his, as I •aught of the time when I was left without a -mother and the hard, unkind words of a relative drove me from the only home I knew into the path that I am< now following. “Don’t cry, Sonny,” I said, “don’t pay any attention to the old fool. He hasn’t got a bit of sense.”. Perhaps I shouldn’t have told him that, but it expressed at least a part of what I thought of such a man. “I’ve been trying my best to plant it right,” the little fellow sobbed, brokenly. I! Yes, I’m a roamor—a bum and an idler, but if in later years, I should find some good woman who would be willing to risk her happiness by be coming the wife of such a man as I am, and help me to keep my wayward feet upon that straight'and narrow path, and we should have a son or grandson like Billy—Oh; God forbid that I should ever by word or deed cause such a look of discouragement or utter hopelessness upon his face as I saw on the face of little Billy. What was one stalk of corn, more or less, compared to the happiness and love and respectyf that little boy, [who had no mother to pet and love ' him and who’s God seemed so far 'away?—The Progressive Farmer. INDIVIDUALITY The fiddler wise -s he could sing, The writer longs vo paint, The subject wishes to be king, The devil would be saint, But wise is he who plods along And leaves the singer to his song. Oh, lot the dancer dance, say I, One job’s enough for me, I’Twere nice to paint a summer sky And take the’ artist’s fee, I’Twere nice to do another’s work, | But I’ve a task I mustn't shirk. I have no voice with which to sing,. I’m clumsy with the dance, ' I could not to a canvass bring Life’s beauty and romance, l My job, as far as I can see J Is just to make a man of me. ,So though my task be commonplace, | I’ll find what joy I can, |The tests of life I’ll try to face iAs well befits a man; I’ll do my best and plod along, And leave the singer to his EDGAR A. GUEST* i A RECIPE FOR HAPPINESS Take a large quantity of Gheer fulness and let it simmer stopping. Put with it a brimming basinful of Kindness, then add a full measure of Thought for other peo ple. Mix into these piling tea spoonful of Sympathy. Flavor with essence Charity. Stir weli to gether and then carefully strain off any lumps of Selfishness. I.et the whole be served with Love sauce and Fruit of the Spirit.—Ex ( Home made meal, made from Jackson county corn. —Boggs Bros. & Dadisman. ———; Four O’Clock Tea a FTERNOON tea in the shad- A ow of a summer porch is a r7k delightful way to entertain through the warm months, but the hostess only enjoys it completely when the menu has cost her little effort. A simple menu of tea sandwiches with pastes made of canned foods, or easy salads from prepared foods, f’ 'it drinks, and wafer-like slices off- it cake, which also comes in cans, t resent small effort and excellent - - suit*. Peanut butter combines well wi* K other foods for sandwich pastes. I’ is packed in cans with tops that ca -I>e replaced on the can. Use pcantn butter with white, graham, and whole wheat bread to secure variety. The peanut butter may be mixed in equal quantities with cream cheese for one filling. Another®sandwich, a “three decker,” is made with one layer of neanut butter, the other of Russian dressing and a leaf of lettuce. The Russian dressing is made of one half A Dollar Dinner for Four An appetizing dinner that does not require long cooking over n hot stove is a boon to the housewife in summers If in expensive, it is doubly welcome. Here is a menu costing SI.OO which will serve four people. Sirimjless Dean' en Casserole Whole Wheat Dread and Butler Egg Salad Raspberry Souffle Cofee st’-iogl'-ss-rbcan” that come in 1 can?, already cooked, are ex ceedingly convenient on a hot i day. At this season they can be had a bargain rate of 2 cans for 25 c.-nts, or 13 cents a can. Mixed with a white sauce and cooked for a few in unites in a casserole, with bread crumbs arid grated cheese sprinkled !>v?r the top, /they make a delicious, nourish irtg.- and inexpensive main dish. A I'Ut i whole wheat bread costs 10 Cents. E'g salad for four people re :(;-.lrc.-. 4 eggs at about 3 1/3 ceqts •ach. er 14 cents altogether. A head cA ItUxce car. be bought for 12 Raspberry souffle for four people would take a can o i raspberries at 29 TRAIN SERVICE TO AND FROM ATLANTA SEABOARD AIR UNE RAILWAY Leave Jefferson G. M. 9.03 a. m. 4.53 p. m. Arrive Athens G. M. 10.10 a. m. 5.50 p. in. Leave Athens S. A. L. 2.45 p. m. 6.15 p. m Arrive Atlanta S. A. L. *4.10 p. m. *B.OO p. m Leave Atlanta . S. A. L. *6.10 a. m. Arrive Athens S. A. L. 10.00 a. m. Leave Athens G. M. 11.15 a. m. (Ex. Sunday) Arrive Jefferson G. M. 1.00 p. ’in. •Atlanta, Central Time For further or other information, write or call on C. G. LaHATTE, T. P. A., S. A. L. Ry., At lanta, Ga. H. E. PLEASANTS. Asst. Gen. Passenger Agent. S. A. L. Ry., Atlar.ta, Ga. FOR SALE Small Farm, 20 80-100 acres, good house and barn, cheap. See Col. H. W. Davis. —■■■ - See us for your needs in the Grocery line. We try to car ry a full line at all times.— Boggs Bros. & Dadisman, Phone 245. cup mayonnaise and three tablespoons canned chili sauce. , For sand wiches, use peanut butter with grape or currant jelly or with chopped dates. Tuna fish may be used in good salad combinations. Uae it with Russian dressing or witj mayonnaise and sprinkle chopped green olives over it. Those good looking cans of mixed fruits for salads should not be for-\ gotten. Also excellent salads, may be made of canned pears or Hawaiian pineapple with halls of cream, pi i mi-mto, or neufcbatel cheese. When fruits are used, save the juices in the I can for fruit drinks. The most delicious fruit drinks may be made from these canned fruit juices. The juice of mixed! fruits With lemonade makes 'excellent fruit lemonade, the juice of pineapple flavors either tea or ginger ale, and canned raspberries added to lemonade make a remarkably delicious summer drink. cents, the whites of 2 eggs costing about 7 cents, and a heaping table spoonful of powdered sugar. Beat the eggs, add the raspberries and sugar and as much of the raspberry liquor as the eggs will absorb. Serve boiled <?ustard with the souffle, using the yolks of the eggs for the custard. Enough coffee for four people, at an average cost of 40 cents a pound, is abcut 4 cents. The total cost of the various iteijjs of this menu is about 89 centrfT This would allow 11 cents to cover the cost of butter and sugar for the meal, milk, flour, and cheese for the casserole dish, in gredients for the salad dressing, sugar and milk for the souffle and custard. Buy Butterfly Bread anc| save your wrappers. We get it fresh every day.—Boggs Bros. & Dadisman, Phone 245. HOME FOR RENT Nice Home For rent, 7, 8 or 11 rooms to rent, furnished, or unfurn ished.—Address P. O. Box 64, Jeffer son, Ga. ANNOUNCEMENTS JOE COLLINS FOR CONGRESS To People of Ninth District: / lam a candidate for Comgress, subject to Democratic primary. •Born in log cabin in Union county poverty compelled doing without edui cation or making my way. Taking provisions from home, I did my cook ing and laundry nearly three yean at Hiawassee. After graduating there, at Mercer and Virginia Uni versity, have practiced law in Gaines ville since 1902. I have never held office excep. 8 years ago I carred 8 of 9 coundes for Solicitor General, served four years, retired without asking re election. I favor more Federal aid for roads. I favor bettering farm conditions and labor. I believe Congressmen from South could exert more influence co National legislation by being mon outspoken. Will appreciate your help. Joseph G. Collins. FOR CONGRESS To the People of the Ninth Con gressional District of Georgia: I am a candidate for Congress from the Ninth Congressional District of Georgia, subject to the primary to be held in September. My candi dacy for this high office is based up on my experienpe in farming and business, and upon my record as a citizen and legislator. I was born qnd reared in the Ninth District. It was the home and birth place of my father and mother. I am bound to this district by ties of interest and affection which can never be broken. It is the desire to serve my people and to advance the welfare and pros perity of district which prompts me-to seek the honor and privilege of representing you in Congress. If I am given this opportunity of service, I shall di&gharge the duties of the of fice faithfully and conscientiously* always having in view the best in terest of all the people. I shall ap preciate your vote and influence. Respectfully, Herman P. DeLaperriere. FOR CONGRESS To the People of the Ninth Dis trict: In announcing my candidacy for the Democratic nomination to Congress, to be determined at the polls on September the Bth, I wish to say it is my purpose to visit all the counties in the district -at as early date as possible and give an account of my work as your public servant. I must at the same time keep up with my official duties, which I have never neglected. It will be a pleasure to me to meet all the peo ple, and shall make it a point to do so. In the meantime, I shall appre ciate very highly anything done by the people in behalf of my re-elec tion. If re-elected, the people, one and all, may depend upon me to continue my offorts for them in all matters in which they are interested, and to do my duty in the future as I have in the past. ~ Sincerely yours, Thomas M. Bell. FOR REPRESENTATIVE I hereby announce my candidacy for Representative of Jackson coun ty, subject to the rules and regu lations of primary election Sept. Bth, 1926. I am 'serving my first term as Representative, and hope that my record and experience will be re garded by the people of the county as entitling me to an endorsement, by re-election, which is usually accorded officials who have served only one term. In this connection, I wish to express my gratitude to the people of this county for their kindness, co operation and help during my term of office. Your interest and continued support will be highly appreciated. Respectfully, W. B. Rice. FOR REPRESENTATIVE I hereby announce my candidacy for re-election to the next General Assembly of Georgia from Jackson county, subject to the action of the Democratic primary. Having served only one term, and having given my best efforts for' the interest of the county, I am asking for an„endorse ment. My experience in the sessions of the present General Assembly have fitted me for greater and more effective service to the people, and if elected I pledge tb look carefully after all questions that touch upon the welfare and economical admini stration of State affairs. Respectively, Homer Hancock. FOR REPRESENTATIVE Having been urged by friends, and having a desire to be of service to my people, I announce myself * candidate for Representative of Jack son County, subject to the action of the Democratic primary to be held ( September Bth, 1926. Earnestly soliciting the votes and influence of the good men and women of Jackson county. 1 am, yours for service, 3 ; J. E. J. Lord.