Morning journal and courier., 1890-10-02
A KENTUCKY COLONEL.
And the Way in which He Vindica
ed America In London.

And the Way In which He vindicat-
ed America In London.
Especial Cable to New York SUM-
Colonel 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 by blessings
of many American visitors to London who
have stopped at the hotel Metrepole. The
employees of the establishment have never
been noted for courtesy to American guests,
and this has been the case during the pres
emit season particularly, as the great influx
of transatlantic travellers has made the ho-
tells feel Independent. It was reserved for
Colonel Pepper, however, to introduce dis
cipline. The colonel and his wife came
home from the theater one night this week
and Mrs. Pepper at once got into an eleva-
tor while her husband stepped up to the
desk for his key. The night CLERK, "a partic-
alarly naughty and pompous person, was
talking to an Englishman close to a key
board, but, though Colonel 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: II beg
your pardon, sir, but I think you really
ought to know why that clerk was so mat
tentive. He said to me when you first ask
ed for your key he's only an American;
The coloneps Kentucky blood suddenly
rose to the boiling point. He sprang from
the elevator and whipped a huge pistol
from his pocket.
"Come out from behind that desk" he
shouted to the clerk. "Come quick; come
arunnin'."
The clerk came and he came running
likeness, perspiring 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 rushed up to see what
was the matter.
"Get down on your knees" cried Pep
per in an awful voice, relapsing into the
knees or Fll shoot your years off"
The terrified clerk hesitated but tract
ion of second, and came down to his
knees on the marble floor
Nov" cried the Kentuckian, "You
apologize to every American that ever
stayed here for your damned impudence to
the people that keep your hotel going
Repeat after me what say. I apologize
to all Americans in London Say it
quick"
81 apologize to all the Americans in
London" stammered the clerk.
"For all my previous incivility," con-
tinued the colonel sternly.
For all my previous incivility," fal
tered the victim.
"And I hereby solemnly promise to
treat all Americans with respect and con-
sideration hereafter. Quick, say it,
The mental obeyed and Pepper then al
lowed him to rise and retire behind his
desk, the humblest and most crestfallen
clerk in any hotel anywhere Then the
colonel showed his pistol to the assembled
multitude. SIT is one picked up in a
curiosity shop in Paris for a friend who
had q collection of ancient firearms" he
said, "and it has not been loaded for a
hundred years and the lock is rusted out"
Up to date the Metropole clerk has kept
his VOW to treat all Americans with re-
spect, and the reverence he himself mani
tested when Colonel Pepper was about
during the remainder of his stay was quite
touching.