Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-08-14
CHAUNEY II. DEPEW.
Penaitsss Of Prominence illustrated In HIS

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Men of extraordinary abilities are not
common even in acountry of GO, OOO, 0O0
people and in exact proportion to their
rarity are they obliged to bear excess
sive burdens. To bear them, and do ii
not only cheerfully but with strength
and grace, is the penalty they pay to
their prominence. If they should
happen to possess not only opulence OF
mind but large generosity Of heart as
well, the chances are many and great
that the burden put upon their shoul-
ders will be continuously increased.
just such q man as this is Chauncey NJ.
Depew, who stood prominently forth q
year ago as one of the most favored by
his countrymen Of those who were
thought wOrthiest to carry through the
campaign the standard Of his party -
its presidential candidate. Mr.. Depew
is that curious anomaly in this country
IA popular railroad manager. He is
popular in every character, and his
character is q many sided A q
man of afairs-as president OF . great
railroad corporation, as q lawyer, pub
licist and orator--Mr. Depew stands
in the foremost rank Of Americans. He
is the servant of every good cause, re-
ligious, political, social. He can
scarcely call himself, his labor or his
time his own. He ia the faithful, will
ing, valuable servant of the public.
The public calls upon him and, as the
merest matter of course, he responds
to its call, and always fsvorably. His
public spirit knows no limitations. His
brain, heart and hands are always
ready for those who need them for any
wise, generous purpose. Mr.. Depew
does not exalt himself; his country
men exalt him, thrust him into places
of honor, trust, usefulness. They
thrust him into the Office of historical
orator Of the recent centennial celebra-
ton in New York and he cheerfully
submitted to their will. But being 70
busy a man., he asked an old class
mate who was in the city Of our nation
al archives to look up and send him
certain data upon which he himself
should build, in accordance with his
marvelously harmonious and symmet-
rical, fashion, that Grafton which still
echoes round the world because of it's
strength of thought and beauty Of die
ton. His object, it is said, was not
only to secure at the national capital
that which he could not secure at New
York, but to assist an old friend upon
whom fortune had smiled less benignly
than upon himself. His old classmate
for some reason delayed doing what he
was desired to do, or his data miscar-
ried, and consequently Mr.. Depew
collected what he needed with his own
head and hands. But his classmate
had done the work which he
was requested to do and asked
to be paid for it. To this
proper request. MI. Depew responded
promptly, and, As those Of good judg-
ment and liberal minds think, most
generously, butthe gentleman to whom
the response was addressed thought
otherwise, and has presented q claim
regarding which there can scarcely be
two opinions.
Experiences of the sort that Mr.. De-
pew has had in this matter are likely
to prove discouraging to all who be-
come familiar with them and who want
to do good in q practical way. Those
who know the broad, noble nature of
Mr.. Depew know that he is happiest
when quietly doing some good thing,
and that he is neve quite SO happy as
when sharing his stock and store with
less successful competitors for fortune.
There is not an illiberal drop of blood
in Mr.. Depew's body, it is warmly de-
clared by those who best know him,
and that in this affair, the same ad-
mirers say, he desired more to aid his
old college chum than to secure the
material for which he asked.
Be this IS II may, it is noticeable
that Mr.. Depew's experience has been
that of many other generous minds,
who, wishing to help those to whom
help would be valuable, have reaped
similar reward for their good purposes
through the unreasonableness Of the
object of their good will. But in the
cas- OF q man of Mr.. Depew's broad
nature it is most unlikely that the spirit
Of gain, even if unduly displayed by q
single object, or by many objects of
his friendly feeling, would be sufi-
GENTLY potent to check his generous
impulses Of helpfulness, or weaken his
desire to use the wealth and influence
he has nobly earned for the benefit Of
those whose necessities appeal to his
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