St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-03-01
pEpEws BURLINGTON SPEECH.

DEPEWS BURLINGTON SPEECH.
Mr. Depew's preparation of his
Burlington speech was an unusual
and very interesting achievement. 1t
may be interesting to record his
method as illustrative OF the unusual
facility of one who after all is our
mostconspicuous and happy speaker.
HOLLAND" tells it in his correspon-
dence thus
Mr.. Depew had received an invita-
ton to deliver formal address upon
Lincoln in the West, and he declined
it because just now he is overwhelm-
ed with important matters which
are under consideration by himself
and his associates in railway man
agement.
DR.. Seward Webb came to him in
his capacity as colonel upon the staff
of the governor of Vermont, and
asked him to go to Burlington, at
tend dinner to be given by the Re-
publican Club, and make few infor-
NAL remarks, and being sorely urged,
Mr.. Depew consented.
Two or three days before the cere-
monial, he was informed that it had
been decided to have a great gather
ing of prominent men OF the state in
the opera house in the afternoon, and
he should then deliver his address, so
that he might eat his dinner in the
evening with the young republicans
in peace.
That meant for Mr.. Depew the do.
ing of something which was exactly
the reason why he had declined to 20
to Chicago and speak on Lincoln.
He could not very we'll decline, and
so he made up his mind to put himself
under discipline.
After day of unusually exhaustive
mental work at the railway Offices,
Depew went home tagged out, and
appalled, by the thought that some
time between sunset and sunrise he
must needs have that speech prepared.
He told his stenographer to come
to his house at half-past nine. After
a light dinner he went to his library,
wondering what he could say about
Lincoln which had not already been
said. He pulled down from the
shelves three or four books giving
something of the story of Lincoln,
and for an hour or more his mental
condition was almost chaotic.
Suddenly the line of thought ap-
feared to him, and there were two
features of his address suggested
which he knew would be absolutely
new, one the comparison of Lincoln
with Washington, the latter the rep.
sentative and the finest flower of
american aristocracy, the former the
most perfect development of pure
democracy. He also thought to
compare Lincoln with Douglas, his
great rival, in their early environ
ment, their training and the COM
handing forces of their nature.
At halt past nine the doorbelI rang
and in walked the stenographer.
MIR. Depew was then in the exhlara-
ton which is always one of his happy
experiences when he is composing
speech. He wanted an audience, and
where was he to find it? He went to
The door and called for his son, who
IS a most appreciative and critical
youngster, and he called for his
niece.
Miss Paulding, great granddaugh-
ter of the Paulding who captured
Major Andre, and very charming,
orlghteyed and intelligent girl came
lying on light feet to the library, and
with them was one other. They took
heir places as small but apprecia-
I'VE audience; thestenographer, who
Nnew what was coming, was pre-
pared fora siege, and then Mr.. Depew
oegan.
He paced up and down the room
Sesticulating, shouting at the en-
phatic points, watching his audience
closely, until at last he stopped, and
urning to his stenographer said:
Mr.. Cowperthwait, ought not to
nave ATTEMPTED this. Twas very tired
when | came in, tagged out, and now
have a severe pain in my head,
which shows me that l was foolish
10 undertake to dictate. We will
nave to suspend"
But, Mr.. Depew," said the stenog-
rapher, you don't seem to realize
That you have been talking tor an
hour and forty-five minutes, enough
20 make any man tired" And Depew
nd not realize it. He was amazed.
Some pruning was necessary to get
he speech within limits; it was put
INTO type, and thus one of the finest
Speeches that DepeW ever made was