The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-09-19
!. DULLES AN ENGLIsHMAN .
Col. Pepper, Of Kentucky. Makes u Lon
don Hotel Clcrk GET on His Knees
I; md Apologize to All
.--N VI America.
a DESERVED HUMILIATION.
IN. Sun Cable Letter.

II. T. Sun Cable Lottery
Col. James Pepper, of Pepper whisky
fame, who has been on a wedding tour in
Europe, sailed with his wife on the Servia
to-day for New York, followed bv the
blessings of many American visitors to
London who have stopped at the Hotel
Mgtropole. The employees of this cstab-
lishmcnt have never been noted for cour-
tesy to American guests, and this has
been the case during the present season
particularly as the great influx of trans
atlantic travellers has made the hotels feel
independent. 1t was reserved for Col.
Pepper, however, to introduce discipline.
The Colonel and his wife came home from
the theater one night this week and Mrs.
Pepper at once got into an elevator while
her husbadd stepped up to the desk for
his key The night clerk, particularly
naughty and pompous person, was talking
to an Englishman close 70 keyboard,
but, though Col. Pepper asked him three
or four times for the key, the clerk paid
not the slightest attention until he had
finished his conversation. Pepper took
this calmly enough, but when he got into
the elevator the Englishman, who had
been talking to the clerk, said: ~ beg
your pardon Sir, but ] think you really
ought to know why that clerk was so in
attentive. He said to me when you first
asked for your key he's only an Amcri-
can; let him wait /"
The Colonel's Kentucky blood suddenly
rose to the boiling point. He sprang from
the elevator and whipped huge pistol
from his pocket.
.Come out from behind that desk" he
shouted to the clerk "Come quick; come
a-runnin'."
The clerk came and he came running
likewise, pcrspiring with terror. His face
was ashen, and though he was trying to
speak his lips moved like the jaws of an
expiring trout, and no sound came from
them. Fifty people in the great corridors
rushed up to see what was the matter.
"Get down on your knees" cried Pepper
in an awful voice, relapsing into the Ken
lucky vernacular. "Get down on your
knees, or I'll shoot your years off.
The terrified clerk hcsitatcd but frac-
ton of second, and came down to his
knees on the marble floor.
"Now," cried the kentuckian, "Iou
upOlOPlLc W every AHCiIS"H tH"' S'Si
stayed here for your damned impudence
to the people that keep your hotel going.
Repeat after me what ! say. apologize
to all the Americans in London Say it
quick"
81 apologize to all Americans in Lon
don," stammered the clerk.
"For all my previous incivility," con-
tinucd the Colonel stcrnly.
"For all my previous incivility," faltered
the victim.
"'And l hereby solemnly promise to
treat all Americans with respect and con-
sideration hereafter. Quick, say it.
The mental obeyed and Pepper then
allowed him to rise and retire behind his
desk, the humblcst and most crestfallcn
clerk in any hotel anywhere. Then the
Colonel showed his pistol to the assembled
multitude. at is one l picked up in a
curiosity shop in Paris for friend who
has collection Of ancient firearms" he
said, "and it has not been loaded for a
hundred years, and the lock is rustcd out. :"
Up to date the Metropolc clerk has kept
his VOW to treat all Americans with re-
spcct, and the reverence he manifested
when Col. Pepper was about during the
remainder of his stay was touching.