New-York tribune., 1896-04-20
SURPRISES FOR DEPEW.
HIS BIRTHDAY DINNER A SUCCESS IN
EVERY WAY.
NEW FEATURES DEVISED BY MEMBERS OF THE
MONTAUK CLUB WHICH MADE THE EVEN
ING FULL OF MERRIMENT-A RUSH
AUTOGRAPHS

FOR AUTOGRAPHS
The Montauk dinner to Chauncey NJ Depew on
Saturday evening will &C on record as one OF the
biggest literary gatherings ever held In the Mon
| tauk clubhouse. The good things followed each
other so rapidly from the first until the final
good nights were said that few Of those present
realized when they started for their homes the
bounteousness OF the provision that had been made
for their enjoyment II ever Mr.. Depew received
cordial welcome from large number OF his ad-
mirers he did Saturday night Surprises OF all
kinds set before him In the most rapid sue
cession and each complete in its way
One Of the first devices brought forward was an
imitation copy Of zone Hundred Years Of American
Commerce" which formed box In which was
served one course OF ices. The book was neatly
bound in morocco and marbled paper with lettering
and edges In gold It contained the first dozen or
more pages from "One Hundred Years OF American
Commerce" including the concluding chapter on
The Next Hundred Years" by Mr.. Depew himself.
while these were being passed around one OF Mr
Depews nearest neighbors conceived the Idea OF
having his book autograph copy. The Idea spread
rapidly and for ten minutes Mr.. Depew was sur
rounded by a group OF Montauks. each trying his
best to get his copy In front of the guest. Mr. De-
pew good odnaturedly took each book as 1t came, and
would doubtless have been kept busy for an hour
had not Charles A. Moore, who was presiding In
terfered.
Before quiet could be restored and before the
. commoton at the end OF the room where small
procession OF Ave had formed and was moving
toward the head table Harry" Price, who led the
little procession dressed in the conventional
locomotive nremans uniform. and carried a typical
railroad lantern. Behind him came four men
In iremen's uniforms. bearing huge birthday
cake consisting Of toy locomotive and tender.
Empire State Express &c., on q green embank-
ment. which rested a base bully yard in dam
eer and decorated with various kinds Of confec-
tions. Mr.. Price, the birthday token had
been placed In front OF Mr.. Depew. read parody
on "Hawatha," written by former Park Commits
sioner Frank Squier for the occasion. In the
Of the reading Mr.. Price was frequently interrupted
by prolonged laughter and cheers
As soon the applause had ceased and quiet
had been partially restored. Mr.. Moore. using
apollinars bottle for a gave. demanded the atten-
ton OF the members for the guest OF the evening.
Mr.. Depews speech, which was published In The
Tribune yesterday. was most cordially and en-
Enthusiastically received. Earlier in the evening,
a small overflow meeting held OF ex-Presdent
Harrison and his warm friendship for him, Mr..
Depew had sooner mentioned the ex-Presidents
name than asked How about Mckin-
ley?" The same question was repeated by another
member later when Mr.. Price reading Mr..
Squier's poem
when Mr Depew closed his speech Mr. Moore
announced that +. F. keating would sing song
which he had written for tire evening The words
sung 10 the tune Of MY Maryland were taken up
by the members and sung with great zest
Mr. Moore. after the song declared an adjourn
ment for one year and said tnat MT. Depew
would meet the members below TO write more OF his
autographs. II all had not already secured them.