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Show f f ( Autographs, a profitable investment By Jane Bergen , , Diamonds, real estate, the stock market . . . everyone seems to have his or her own way of coping with inflation. But there is one form ol tangible wealth that doesnt require an eye for a marquise cut or a financial statement. Its portable, and it boasts an appreciated rate that would be the envy of any Krugerrand hoarder. The commodity in question is fast rule. Because every signature, letter or document is unique, there is no guidebook to consult as there is with rare stamps or coins. Several general principles do apply, autographs. Information about famous people, their writing and signature is of greatest importance. Greta Garbo' born In 1905 and still living, is the Swedish-America- n film actress famed for her unusual beauty as much as for her acting. Owing to her expressed desire to be left alone," Greta Garbos autograph is rare. The retraced small es in the word Greetings and in her first name, Greta" show secretiveness. Though she was a near perfectionist, she did not dot the small i in the word Greetings indicating attentiveness to detail was not her forte, or she just didnt remember to place a dot over that short stem. Autographs of living entertainment celebrities usually arent worth much, but heres the exception. Largely because of Garbos her autograph is the rarest and most expensive of contemporary showbiz notables. The demand for exceeds the supply, even at prices of $1,000 and up. Autographs are now a respectable and profitable investment. The handwirting of famous people has been appreciating at an annual rate of 25 percent or more, well over the inflation rate. Thereare two distinct kinds of autograph collecting. The first is typlified by the casual collector who, more often than not, is an adolescent with autograph books filled with many kinds of signatures with .casual or cool sayings in them. Serious collecting is an entirely different ball game. Here the emphasis is less on Hollywood stars and more on figures from the political, artistic or scientific spheres. A serious collector is much more interested in a complete letter, document or manuscript than in a mere signature. For the right autograph, a real collector may pay any where from $10 lo $100 ,000 or more. In spite of the dizzying prices, just about anyone seems to be a potential collector. A doctor may want to collect the letters of Pasteur or S. Freud, a banker may want to specialize in the signed checks of famous people. As an added The lawyer inducement, autographs can be who buys a framed letter of Oliver Wendell Holmes for his office can usually write it off as office furniture. Lately, autographs have become popular as highly original gifts. What makes one grouping of handwriting worth $100,000 and another worthless? Unfortunately, theres no hard and ultra-low-profi- le life-styl- e, Date set tor Private Property Week Ogden Mayor A. Stephen Dirks signed a proclamation at Thursday nights city council meeting proclaiming 9 as Private April Property Week and has urged citizens to join with the 760,000 Realtors and Realtor-Associatnationwide in marking the ob13-1- es servance. During this annual event, which carries the theme Private Property Rights Protect Them, the mayor pointed out that we not only have the right to own real property, but we must all an individual assume responsibility to guard this prerogative from any infringement, political or personal. Mayor Dirks called the right of each of us to own real a cherished property legacy bequeathed to us by our colonial forefathers, and one which carries a concomitant obligation to preserve this land upon which our lives depend. MAYOR A STEPHEN DIRKS, seated, declares April 13-1- 9 Private Property Week. Rich Creer, director, Chad Hull, executive officer, ad Doug Miller, public relations chairman Clearfield Courier, April Once Upon a Noble Rain barrel Jackals STAHLE PUBLICATIONS 9 is happy to announce the addition of a new column to our papers. ONCE UPON A and Giants however. Rarity is the biggest factor in determining an autographs worth. Another important factor is the content of a letter or document. The more significant it is, the better. i NOBLE By Judith Degn Vanier Years ago on one of my trips to India, I heard a strangely beautiful story. It has echoed through my mind like a phantom teacher . . . Parables and stories have always acted that way for me. One night in the small town of Rajpur, I went to visit two friends Id come to know through an eminent teacher by the name of Kirpal Singh. I was a guest in his mountain retreat and they had just completed building a modern home next door to this white bearded teacher. Aileen, an architect from Canada and Khukhu, a reticent Indian princess, prepared a dinner of deep fried pokoras and chapaties. The air stirred the smell of spices and smoldering firewood into one delicious clud and carried it up the chinmey to the snow capped Himalayas shining in the steely moonlight. The nightly chorus of jackals and other nocturnal animals reminded me that we were backed onto the jungle and invading the home of these creatures. They mournfully protested our presence to the moon. Late evenings in India always lay pregnant with the atmosphere of story telling and that night was not disappointing. The fragile appearing Khukhu, savored a hot cup of Darjeeling tea as she related the story of events as she recalled them from the past. Shortly after Khukhu had come to study and work with Kirpal Singh, a hapless sadhu wandered in from the jungle seeking food and shelter.. Kirpal Singh, whos name translates to Merciful Lion, had a reputation throughout Northern India for geneYousity towards such wandering monks. This particular ascetic appeared less capable of fending for himself, and so, Kirpal Singh offered him food and lodging as long as he promised to devote himself diligently to his spiritual disciplines. India is virtually littered with these homeless monks, some of whom sincerely seek enlightenment, while others take advantage of the saffron robe. At first the sadhu was grateful for the protection he received, but soon he grew greedy to have more than his spiritual vows allowed him. He wanted spending money and other material items that he had renounced. Though Kirpal Singh was doubtlessly aware of the sadhus growing weaknesses, he apparently chose to keep the matter to himself. As a famous lecturer, Kirpal travelled throughout India on speaking tours, leaving his affairs at home in the hands of Khukhu and another trusted friend Taiji. Pausing to sip her tea, Khukhu then continued to relate her story. After Kirpal Singh left on one of his tours, the sadhu decided to take advantage of the situation. He went to one of the caretakers and informed her that Kirpal had authorized him to receive certain sums of spending money. The assistant, not being suspicious by nature gave him the money. Naturally when Kirpal returned from his trip, he asked for an accounting of the funds and discovered that the sadhu had falsely obtained money. The Stern Teacher called the deceitful monk to task for having broken his vows. He denied the man further fundsjiut still offered to provide food and shelter if he would, once again, devote himself to his spiritual disciplines. The saffron robed monk bristled with indignation at being chastized and left the compound like a jackal skulking away in the night. No one seemed surprised by the departure of the unstable fellow nor tried to follow his -activities. - RAINBARREL writ- ten by Judith Degn Vanier, founder and director of SUNVVEST Seminars and VANIER OF finishing school will be a weekly feature. HOUSE JUDITH VANIER Later invesitigations by government officials revealed of the wayward sadhu drove him to vengeful preoccupations. He used every idle ear to spread that the wounded ego slanderous stories about the indulgent Kirpal Singh Evidence showed that he went so far as to solicit financial aid to print malicious posters and hung them around in the market places of Delhi. . . The posters falsely claimed that the Government intended to arrest and imprison Kirpal Singh, Taiji, and Khukhu for a bizarre list of supposed misdeeds. The gentle voiced Khukhu recounted that she had he'-totally unaware of such a poster campaign and set out to visit relatives in Delhi. By the time she finished listening to ttie familys fanciful tales of impending disaster, the princess herself grew hysterical with imagined fear. She immediately returned to the compound to warn Kirpal about the alleged danger. Khukhus animated story of arrest and imprisonment evoked a most surprising response from the placid teacher. Why, he said in enthusiastic tone, How utterly wonderful for you! This curious attitude took the wind right of her n sais she incredulously me for him. Yes, he answered in sweet teasing. (In Havent you always wanted me all to yourself alone Eastern traditions, it is the sincere wish of every student to have the private attention of an admired mentor ) . Well, he continued, If we get arrested and thrown into jail together, youll have your wish! Obviously, Khukhu hadnt expected such a response . . . Obviously, I wouldnt have expected such a response . . But then, great teachers come from a source above the obvious. The story concluded with Khukhu giving the report of the official investigation and the recommendation to Kirpal Singh to bring liable suit against the sadhu. The noble teacher spoke directly to the point. If I bring suit against this fellow, he will lose the little money he gets for such trivial work, and he could starve. He continued Its not my business to take the bread out of any mans mouth. It is my work to put it into as many mouths as I can. Truthfully the teacher spoke, for literally thousands of hungry travelers found hot meals at his free kitchens each year. Later, after dinner, I walked back to the moon drenched retreat of Kirpal Singh. The pack of jackals had fallen silent as they listened to my feet scuffing the gravel path. I heard the echo of my mind recall the words, Why, how utterly wonderful for you! That silly phrase evoked a laugh from deep inside my body. Yes, I thought, How utterly wonderful for me. Here I am walking in the shadow of the Himalayas . . . 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