One day the boy received a letter from the Confederate general, Jubal A. Early, giving the real reason why he burned Chambersburg.  A friend visiting Edward’s father, happening to see the letter, recognized in it a hitherto-missing bit of history, and suggested that it be published in the New York Tribune.  The letter attracted wide attention and provoked national discussion.

This suggested to the editor of The Tribune that Edward might have other equally interesting letters; so he despatched a reporter to the boy’s home.  This reporter was Ripley Hitchcock, who afterward became literary adviser for the Appletons and Harpers.  Of course Hitchcock at once saw a “story” in the boy’s letters, and within a few days The Tribune appeared with a long article on its principal news page giving an account of the Brooklyn boy’s remarkable letters and how he had secured them.  The Brooklyn Eagle quickly followed with a request for an interview; the Boston Globe followed suit; the Philadelphia Public Ledger sent its New York correspondent; and before Edward was aware of it, newspapers in different parts of the country were writing about “the well-known Brooklyn autograph collector.”

Edward Bok was quick to see the value of the publicity which had so suddenly come to him.  He received letters from other autograph collectors all over the country who sought to “exchange” with him.  References began to creep into letters from famous persons to whom he had written, saying they had read about his wonderful collection and were proud to be included in it.  George W. Childs, of Philadelphia, himself the possessor of probably one of the finest collections of autograph letters in the country, asked Edward to come to Philadelphia and bring his collection with him—­which he did, on the following Sunday, and brought it back greatly enriched.

Several of the writers felt an interest in a boy who frankly told them that he wanted to educate himself, and asked Edward to come and see them.  Accordingly, when they lived in New York or Brooklyn, or came to these cities on a visit, he was quick to avail himself of their invitations.  He began to note each day in the newspapers the “distinguished arrivals” at the New York hotels; and when any one with whom he had corresponded arrived, Edward would, after business hours, go up-town, pay his respects, and thank him in person for his letters.  No person was too high for Edward’s boyish approach; President Garfield, General Grant, General Sherman, President Hayes—­all were called upon, and all received the boy graciously and were interested in the problem of his self-education.  It was a veritable case of making friends on every hand; friends who were to be of the greatest help and value to the boy in his after-years, although he had no conception of it at the time.