"Wasn't he invited, General ?" "Yes," said Washington, "he was invited, but he couldn't come.

He had to go over the river to consult with an autograph syndicate they've formed in New York.

You know, his autographs sell for about one thousand dollars apiece, and they're trying to get up a scheme whereby he shall contribute an autograph a week to the syndicate, to be sold to the public.

It seems like a rich scheme, but there's one thing in the way.
Posthumous autographs haven't very much of a market, because the mortals can't be made to believe that they are genuine; but the syndicate has got a man at work trying to get over that.

These Yankees are a mighty inventive lot, and they think perhaps the scheme can be worked.