Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-10-27
A Man of Cheek.


ters and bell-boys at the hotel. They
pulled the furniture out of large
bedroom and replaced it with some
thing better, put down new carpet,
hung new curtains and made every
thing ready for a distinguished guest.
l had a suspicion that President
Cleveland might be coming down to
fish for shad, but after a while the
landlord said to me:
81 am fixing that room for the
Governor of Michigan"
"No?"
"Honest Iniun. He has written
me from Philadelphia that he will
remain two weeks. You must know
him ?"
Eyes"
"Good fellow, eh ?"
"First-rate."
"Got lots of money"
"Oh, yes"
"Well, l want you to help me give
him good time. Jay Cooke will be
down here in a day or two, and we
are going to have a big general from
Georgia, and l want 'em all to enjoy
themselves"
That evening the Governor of
Michigan arrived. AS l was aware
that Gov. Alger had just before that
started on trip for California l was
quite anxious to know il some other
Governor had been elected in his
place. The new arrival was a very
quiet man, very plainly dressed, and
about 40 years of age. All the
baggage he had was in a valise. He
was a Governor who was travelling in
light marching order. On the regis
ter he wrote, in a large, bold hand i:
"a. r. Alger, Gov. Mich," and he at
once became the lion of the hour.
He was introduced right and left, and
certainly made good impression. l
heard him ask the landlord if there
were any people from Michigan at the
hotel, and when answer was made
there was the Governor seemed to feel
a pin prick him somewhere.
1t was next day before / made his
acquaintance. l was sitting on the
veranda when the landlord led him up
and went through the stereotyped
from of an introduction, after which
he left us alone. own up that / was
quite deeply affected. All signs
indicated that the Governor was more
so. We looked at the deep-rolling
sea for long time in silence. Then
we looked up and down the beach for
another long time. Then we looked
at each other, and the Governor said i:
Rather odd, that l have never
met you."
"Not very odd, Governor, as we
don't belong to the same lodge"
"When did you leave Detroit ?"
"Just after you started for Califor-
MIA Here's paper giving an
account of your reception at Denver
day before yesterday. You must be
hustler, Governor. I'll telegraph
your arrival here :"
He turned red and pale and green,
and had to make desperate efforts to
swallow something which was stuck
in his throat. Finally he said:
"Well, I'm caught"
eyes, it looks that way"
"But don't expose me and raise a
row. want to put in week here,
and won't do anything to disgrace
your State"
| warned him that should feel it
my duty to 60 to the landlord and
expose him, but the opportunity did
not come. He left that night, and
great was the excitement throughout
the house when he was missed and the
truth came out.
/ had been in Atlantic City five
days, when there were signs of excite
ment in the hotel. A room was
cleared out and refurnished, new
lock put on the door, and chamber
maids and bell-boys we're anticipating
big fees from the arrival of general.
That afternoon the the Quaker lady
owning and running the hotel said to
me:
"Has thee ever heard of Gen. Hood,
of the Confederate army ?"
"Oh, yes"
"He will be here this afternoon and
will occupy room on thy floor"
was quiet anxious to see him
knowing that he had been in his grave
for years. When he came he proved
to be my old friend the Governor of