New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-24
NR. DEPEW'S BIRTHDAY.
HE is sIXrY-Two AND HAS BEEN TOLD EY A
CHINESE GOD THAT HE'LL. MARRY THIS YEAR

CHINESE GOD THAT Hell MARRY THIS YEAR
Chauncev NJ Depew was sixty-two years old yes
terday. HIS birthday is always remembered by
numerous friends and relatives. and yesterday was
no exception The Montauk Club, in Brooklyn, gives
a dinner every year in honor of his birthday but
not always on the actual date. Mr. Depew sat In his
office at the Grand Central Station yesterday after
noon amid floral display that was luxurious IN It's
extravagance Huge lunches OF American Beauty
roses reposed on his desk. and handsome La France
roses nodded theli heads mis- table. Mr.. Depew
was in a genial mood and he was kept busy opening
packages of flowers. and answering congratulations
over the telephone. When he answered one call he
said
you lust ought TO see this II is exciting
great deal OF comment and interest. There has
been no such display of flowers since the recent
floral show at the Garden" Here boy entered
with another bunch and he added And still they
come"
Mr. Depew in speaking OF his birthday said that
he felt he growing younger each year. and
that in the future he believed he would count his
birthdays from the date of the Greater New
York" lie told a good story upon himself In con-
necton with the reports that are so persistent that
he will marry again.
1T was during my recent trip 10 San Francisco.
said Mr.. Depew. that paid visit 10 Chinatown
in San Francisco. We secured an Interpreter and
eventually found way into joss house where
god of gigantic proportions and monumental
hideousness serenely looked down upon MS. The god
had been converted into a sort of base burner.
as incense was burnt 10 him every time that the
Chinese worsh.ppers asked anything from his hand:
Neither myself nor my friend. who was a married
man. was known TO the retaners IN the JOSS house.
In pointing out this idol the prizes, gravely
informed that II could tell the future for year
ahead. but could guarantee no further. ! told him
TO go ahead, and then il was that he played trick
on the god. The price dollar, and handed
him silver dollar He then took piece of paper,
green in color which looked like stage money.
This he carefully wrapped in ball and set fire TO
it. The smoke went up TO the god and the man pros,
trated himself in front of the idol asked him II
putting the silver dollar In his own pocket ana
burning counterfeit not cheating the idol.
but he said that the god would understand.
After the ceremony he said that this what
the god had said 1t told him that we were great
travellers and had come from long distance. We
also had a long distance TO go before We would get
that is the train bearing US would go safely. and
that sole danger lay in getting on and OF th>
cars, and therefore TO be careful Then ignoring
my friend who married. he turned 20 me
and said grave,y: And az for you. you Will be mar
ried within a year-uness you stop It, That daz~d
right up date. and then TO have this dire predic-
ton thrust upon So this year OF my life seems
| 10 be in which must dodge females and 50
| il Is perhaps the most important year OF my lie.
Mr. DeI,ew asked II there any possibility
OF his marrying during the year. He replied laugh
| ingly as he shifted at huge bunch Of Beauty
roses:
| flying danger signals and burning red lights but no
| one tell. and some one may run me down and
telescope me before the is ended ] taking
all precautions within the power Of human agency
| but account for wrecks until after they
| have happened.