The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-08-22

patiently. Register your name, sir,
please"
Now, be it understood that, up to that
time, had often heard the word Reg
ister," and had frequently used the word
myself, hut never had the slightest idea
that it applied to anything else IN the
wide world than "Walton's Vermont
Regi. ter" an annual publication with
which some of my hearers may have
been familiar so, of course, was
dumbfounded, but summoned courage to
say, "What do you expect me to do, sir?"
He replied somewhat snappishly, as l
thought, "Write your name, if you can,
and if you can't, IL write it for you"
Now, be it known, that for some years
previously, had regarded it as entirely
unconstitutional to allow any boy of my
age to write his name better then l wrote
mine, hence was considerably nettled
by his remark, as l thought it implied
degree of doubt in his mind as to my
ability to write my name, but as my
father had cautioned me to he very care
full in regard to how, where and when |
furnished my autograph, still hesitated,
fearing that my signature might bind me
to some agreement that might be incon-
venient for me to fulfill some compact
that might affect me financially or other
wise, to my detriment. Finally, he said
to me, quite authoritatively, Register
your name, sir, or let me do it for you"
looked at him timidly and said. "Do
you mean that am to sign my name,
sir ~ "Yes, if you can" "Well sir, /
can, ''said 1, "ifyou will show me where. !"
He 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.
observed that had surpassed his ex-
pectations somewhat and that he toned
down as he pointed to the next column,
and said, "now put down where from, y
and wrote boldly, "West Randolph, VT"
The next column in the book was
headed Destination, and he said very
mildly and pleasantly, "Where are you
going, Mr.. Chandler y was much
pleased with bis changed manner, and
intensely gratified that he knew me well
enough to call me Mr.. Chandler, and |
told him was going out west. "Well,
said he, "put it down" and so l wrote
"Out West" in "destination" column,
and then looked him squarely in the face
and said, "Mister, will you have the
, kindness to tell me what is the object OF
all this 2"
He smiled, almost audibly, then
3 checked himself, and with much gravity
said. "You have just left home, haven't
you ?" ''Yes, SIR" "Well sir, you may
' get lost before you get back and your
: people may be along here looking fol
you, and if they find your name entered
} on this book they will know that you
have been here"
! candidly assert that this explanation
/, was entirely satisfactory to me nor hac
g l the slightest idea that this recording
d my name was intended to serve any
other purpose than that which he hat
Q indicated.
9 He called boy, handed him key ant
, said to him, "Show the gentleman AZ,
/ which remark to the boy fully satisfied
n me that he certainly regarded me as
n gentleman, and was pleased with tn
| man, and with his tavern, 80 far as ha'
e learned its running arrangements.
II He sang out sharply, Porter, baggag
d to 49," and at the same time came ou
o and said to me, very politely. "Pleas
n point out your trunk, sir, and will hav
e it sent right up"
d The difference in his manner and ton
,f of voice between his remark to Mr.. POI
e ter and when he addressed me fully cor
k vinced me he had begun to like me yer.
d much, and that he pretty fully realize
o who l was.
If UIon retiring TO my room, improve
: my personal appearance by such change
l. as hundred miles of stage travel ha
TT rendered necessary, and then descende
le to ''the Office" for the double purpose G
% seeing and being seen.
!, The handsome gentleman behind tn
u counter came and seated himself besld
o. me, and in very agreeable manner ar
=, nounced to me that he occupied th
II position of clerk in that hotel and b
was aware he had not treated me as we
~ in all respects, or as civilly as guests
~ y, first class house should be treated, an
he desired to beg my pardon for haVin
intimated that had never enjoyed th
70 advantages of common school educt
W ton, and he proceeded to state that, whll
~ he might have spoken to me as II wer
y the veriest ignoramous, he perceive
y upon further inspection that what trout
= led me most was my extreme VerdancI
u which he attributed to the fact that m
D. knowledge of the world was CONNER
y surate with my personal observations
~ it, therefore limited to such acqulr'
a' ments as had been able to gain in m
u somewhat circumscribed rural home.
VI Ascertaining from ME that designe
~ to remain two nights and day, he yer
~ kindly proposed to aid me in any wa
90 he might be able, so that at my ne1
q stopping place my greenness would M
u. u. ''stand out" 30 prominently. l thaDke
az az him without fully realizing how muc
~ occasion had for doing so, but 80 far
oi l was able ] appreciated his kindne
III when he told me to feel perfectly free
=. ask him any questions / might desire
e' ask.
u gained sufficient courage during thi
conversation to venture outside the doc
AZ as soon as our pleasant interview ha
vi ended, and finally, to walk short dl
e. tance from the hotel, probably abol
90 two blocks, but l turned no corners lie
~ l might lose myself.
nd l found my way back without eve
,ff once inquiring the way and went direc
nc ly to the handsome clerk and (whom
N thought was dressed we'll enough for
" minister) with this question, "Can it
~ possible, sir, that New York is muC
Le larger than Troy ?" He assured me tn
a should ever be so fortunate as to g.
,ir tend my travels to New York wou
,ly find material difference in the popul
ayy ton of the two cities. then said
na him, earnestly and anxiously, "Plea
(, inform me, sir, what all these peop
~ whom see on the streets do for living
nd and where do they all go to dinner 7"
be To his praise he it said, he gave n
on very civil and entirely satisfactory a
mt swers to these TO mel highly importa
q questions.
Ie- The next morning, after getting fro
vn this elegant gentleman, the clerk, vel
On minute directions. l found my way wit
w out guide, to the Hudson river g
H. at oard little steamboat, the first ht
~ seen, and the fret craft Of any kind hi
70 ever boarded-all without falling of q
lid gang-plank ; paid York shilling
10 my passage to Albany, six miles, and
sv dint of sticking TO the boat closely du
"a ing the entire voyage, managed to a
ad rive at the very capital OF the Empi
nd State at the Bame time the steambo
nd arrived.
TX, was overw helmed at the magnitu
rds of Albany. Looked the property oy
Nv, pretty thoroughly. without reference
red purchasing. however, after which to-
the stage for West Troy crossed the 4
in ry and found my way to the Mansi
ard House alone, and with somewhat e
nv largened views of the American con
to- nent, and with correspondingly dimi
of ished views of my own Importance as
me American citizen. On my route fro
in the boat landing to the Mansion Hou'
vas l saw a little, Insignificant buildin