Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-27
THE CLERK APOLOGIZED.
The Way q kentuckian Introduced
Discipline In q London Hotel.

The London correspondent Of the New York
Sun says: Col James Pepper Of Pepper whisky
fame, who has been on q wedding tour in
Europe, sailed with his wife on tho Servia to.
day for New York, followed by the blessings OF
many American visitors to London who have
stopped at the Hotel Metro pole. TNYem.
ployes of this establishment have never
been noted for courtesy to American
guests, and this has been the case dur.
ing the present season particularly, a
the great influx OF transatlantic travellers has
made the hotel feel independent. 1t was re-
served for Col. Pepper, however, 70 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 husband stepped up to the desk for his
key. The night clerk, a particularly naughty
and pompous person. was talking to an En-
glishman close to 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 Engiishman who had been
talking to the clerk said: II beg your pardon,
sir, but think your really ought to know why
that clerk was SO Inattentive. He said to me
when you first asked for your,key Hes only an
American; let HIM watt"
The coionels Kentucky blood suddenly rose
to the boiling point He sprang from the eie-
vator 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 like
wise, 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
oeonla in the great corridors rushed nm tn sae
what was the matter.
"Got down on your knees" cried Pepper in
An awful voice, relapsing into the Kentucky
vernscular. ''Get down on your knees, or III
shoot your years of.
The terrified clerk hesitated but fraction of
| q second, and came down to his knees on the
marble floor.
SNOW" cried the Kentuckian, "you apollo
gize to every American that ever stayed here
for your id impudence to the people that
keep your hotel going. Repeat after me wha,
l say: I apologize to all the Americans in
London Say 1t quick"
II apologize to all the Americans in Lon
DON" stammered the clerk.
For all my previous incivility," continued
tho colonel sternly.
"For all my previous incivility," faltered the
victim.
".And hereby solemnly promise to treat all
| Americans with respect and consideration here
| after Quick, say it"
Inc meniai opeyed and Pepper tnen allowed
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. 1T is one
picked mp in a curiosity shop in Paris for q
friend who has collection OF ancient fire.
| arms" he said, land it has not been loaded for
hundred years and the lock is rusted out"
Up to date the Metropole clerk has kept bis
VOW to treat all Americans with respect and the
reverence he manifested when Col Pepper was
about during the remainder Of his stay was
touching.