BRANDER MATTHEWS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 02/12/1904 - HFSID 13792

BRANDER MATTHEWS
The Columbia scholar is glad to serve on a transit reform group, but prefers not to join the Finance Committee, "as I am neither rich nor acquainted with many who are."
Autograph Letter signed: "Brander Matthews", 3 pages (integral leaf), 4½x7. 681 West End Avenue, N.W. Corner 93rd St, New York [City]. To "James Lehmaier", in full: "I am glad to lend a hand for Transit Reform and to remain a member of the larger committee. But I feel sure that you can get a more useful member for the Finance Committee - as I am neither rich nor acquainted with many who are. I am quite willing to allow my name to remain on this list of this committee, if you think that it has any weight. But I should really be glad if you could replace me by someone likely to be of more utility. Yours truly". BRANDER MATTHEWS (1852-1929) taught literature at Columbia University and wrote many fiction and nonfiction books of his own. He co-authored with Laurence Hutton a book about contemporary British and American actors. He was President of the Modern Language Association of America, first chairman of the Simplified Spelling Board, and recipient of France's Legion of Honor award. His "dramatic museum" of costumes, scripts, props and other stage memorabilia at Columbia has been broken up, but an English professorship at the University still bears his name. Two filing holes at left edge. One vertical and one horizontal fold. Lightly worn. Slightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition.