Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-06-27
WOODSTOCK, VT. WEDNESDAY, JUNE o. 1872.


handsome man, Iuntil he said some
what impatiently, "Register your
name, sir; please"
Now, be it understood that, up to
that time. | had often heard the word
'Register;" had frequently used the
word myself, but l never had the
slightest idea that it applied to any
thing else in the wide world than
.'Walton's Vermont Register an an
; nual publication with which some OF
. my hearers may have been familiar; I;
so, of course, | was dumbfounded, but
Z. / summoned courage to say, "What
do you expect Inc to do, cir ?" He
replied somewhat snappishly, as l
thought, "Write your name you can,
. and if you cant, III write it for you"
Now, he it known that for some years
previously l had regarded itas entire
ly unconstitutional to allow any body
of my age to write his name better
than wrote mine, hence | WAS con-
siderably nettled by his remark, rs l
thought it implied a degree of doubt
, in his mind as to my ability to write
my name, but as my father had eau.
toned me to be very careful in re-
gard to how, where and when | fur
, nshed my autograph, | still hesitaled,
f fearing that my signature might bind
me to some agreement that might be
; inconvenient for Inc to fulfill some
compact that might affect me, tinan'
cially or otherwise, to my detriment.
Finally he said TO me quite authorita-
lively, "Register your name, sir, or let
me do it for you"
] looked at him timidly and said,
"Do you mean that | ain to sign my
name, sir g Yes, if you can.
'Wei, sir, can" said |, ''it you will
show me where lie pointed to the
proper column and line, when / wrote,
with dash, and without raising my
pen between the first and last letter.
"W. w. Chandler" in better style
than | would be able TO do it now, to
, save me.
1 observed that l had surpassed his
expectations somewhat, and that lie
, toned down rs be pointed to the next
column, and sald, snow put down
where FROM and l w,ote boldly
"West Randolph, W." The next
, column in the book was headed,
. ''Destinalion," and he said, very mild
ly and pleasantly, "where are you go
ing, Mr.. Chandler y | was much
q pleased with his changed manner, and
, intensely gratitied that he knew mt
+ well enough to call me MIR. Chandler
/" and / told him | was going out West
!, "Well," said he, "put it down." and
-, so wrote "Out West in "dcstina
, ton" column, and then |
q LOOKED HIM sQUARELY IN THE FACE
t and said, "Mister, will you have the
= kindness to tell me what Is the object
" of all this 2"
y lie smiled, almost audibly, ther
y checked himself and with much gray
c lty said, "You have just left home
h haven't you!" ''Yes, sir" "And
0 you are going Out West, aren't you?'
4 "Yes, sir. "Well, sir, you may gel
d lost before you get back, and YOU
J. people may be along here, looking to1
|. you, and if they find your name enter
:. ed on this book they will know yor
|. have been here !"
y l candidly assert that this explana
} ton was entirely satisfactory to me
it Nor had | the slightest idea that this
l recording my name was intended t'
J." serve any other purpose than tina
s which he had indicated.
u He called a boy, handed him. a key
f. and said to him, "sbow the gentleman
s. 49," which remark to the boy full!
is satisfied me that he certainly regard
Is ed me as a gentlemar, and | wa
l pleased with the man, and with hi
e, tavern, so far as | had learned its run
1t ming arrangements. He sung GU
Il sharply, Porter, baggage to 49, an(
/ at the same time came out and SAID tt
e me, very politely, "PIease point ou
r. yonr trunk. sir, and will have it sen
le right up
$ The difference in his manner ant
it tone of voice, between his remark t.
>. Mr.. Porter and when he addressed
c me, fully convinced me that he ha'
E. begun to like me very much, and tha
a he pretty fully realized who was
Upon retiring TO my room, | improved
my personal appearance by such chan
.; pes as f hundred miles OF stage trave
lo,ol ,oooss,rv and then de