"WHERE SHALL I AUMOGRAPH."

Temuka Leader, Issue 2259, 26 September 1891, Page 3

"WHERE SHALL I AUMOGRAPH."

Commodore Eldbridge T. Geary is authority for this story about Mr Chauncey M. Depew. The famous post prandial orator entered an hotel in a small town in Georgia, and, walking up to the desk, said to the young clerk behind it, “ Where shall I autograph?” “ Where shall you what ?” said the clerk. “ Where shall I autograph—sign my name ?” said Mr Depew. “ Oh, yes ! Right here, sir,” said the clerk, with a broad grin producing the register. Mr Depew wrote his name in a bold hand, and then sat down in the hotel lobby. In a few minutes four gentlemen from the suburbs, known as Georgia “crackers,” came in. As soon as the leader reached the desk, the clerk shook • hands with him and pointing to the register said, “Will you autograph 1” “ Will I w-h-a-t ?” “ Will you autograph ?” repeated the elerk, smiling. “ Well, I don’t mind if I do. I’ll take old rye. What’s yours, boys ?” addressing his partners. “We take the same said they. The clerk treated them with as good grace as possible. Leaning against a pillar in the office, Mr Depew said quietly to a friend, “ And this is the result of talking a foreign language in a Georgia hotel.”