The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-10
PROPOSED TO DEPEw
she Was POOR, hut Would Make Him
an rnt>ssectuai wife and He Could
FURNISH the Money.


California. who has taken advantages VI eae
leap-year privilege OF her sex A reporter
called yesterday TO learn the history OF the
Interesting event.
s<Ir Deoew isn't IN" said one OF the
clerks IN the outer Office, but you can see
Mr. DuvaI IL you like"
The reporter was about to turn away. for
this was his fourth unsuccessful attempt 70
see the president OF the New York Central
Just then cneery voice exclaimed: Why
I'm in. IL it's any one to see me. show him
an"
Then Nr. Depew. the owner OF the pleas
ant voice. stepped 10 the door and cordially
invited the reporter 20 enter. Then he said:
DIR. Recorder. have read your paper
with ever-incrsasing interest from the day
OF its first issue. Each New York paper has
larger circulation than each other New
York paper. but the Recorder goes merrily
along. fighting for the Republican party.
and never making impossible claims. What
troubles you now?''
The famous railroad president as
cheerful as II he were presiding at Fourth
OF July celebration in mid-ocean, although
ne was up 10 his ears IN work.
i would like TO know, Mr.. Depew,'' be-
gan the reporter. how matters would ap-
pear 10 you IL you were 10 stop all work
and tyy 10 merely Kill time by idling?'
MY boy, he answered, time would kill
fne. and before the lapse Of six months you
would be. giving me a fine sendon in your
obituary columns. You are cycling that cor
respondence very closely, / See If you could
but see the whole OF it; If you could but
see half of II; IL you could but see one-quar-
ter OF it." He toyed with a letter which
appeared to be in e feminine hand. and
wheeling around in his chair, said to his
stenographer: +"Wheu did this Gomez Be
fore there was time for reply he resumed:
Il am asked by persons in all corners of
the world to solve all manner OF problems, to
extend all manner OF assistance to those who
are in want, and then TO tell whether there
was really any asp at all in question when
Cleopatra killed herself. BY and by they
will deny the existence of Cleopatra herself;
i mean her OF the ancient time. but they
cannot deny the existence of the modern
Cleopatra, who dwells in the West, and
whose assurances OF devotion are embodied
IN these lines" Again he tOyed With the
letter with as genuine an air OF enjoyment
a. TIE great Gladstone himself shows
when watching the play OF his little grand
porter.
GUILELESS MIR. DEPEw.
II know you well. and trust you in all
particulars as a man of honor. but this
really is asking too much" There was
such an air of coyness and mock gravity in
the way in which these words were spoken
as made it evident that the stage lost an
actor of no mean excellence when Chauncey
turned his attention to the railroad business
upon leaving school.
well. what does it centain?'' queried
the reporter with stony-hearted persist
snce.
''whisper." Mr.. Depew said TITS a pro-
posalF'
N.Mr. Depew," said the reporter, unable to
anything wonderful in that n in
your position must be inundated with such
things every day in the year | have no
pretensions to any prominence. still scarce
~ a day passes that some crank OF fellow
doesn't try to"
softly" interposed the railroad presi-
dent. as the spirit of fun settled down upon
his face, and he laid his arm upon the re-
porses's arm: you don't UNDERSTAND"
But you said a proposal, Mr.. Depew?
quite true; but | mean IL is a proposal
Of marriage"
s.Ah. now: this is too good" said the re-
porter. Wont you show ii to me?''
manner took the knight of the pencil into
his confidence and iet him see the letter.
The communication had the stamp of GOOD
faith The young woman gave her name and
address and spoke OF her qualifications quite
California. There was s an air of Simplicity
about the opening sentence. 1t was:
II saw By an advertisement in the papers
that you intend to get married again." Then
e went on: You must have many propos-
ais. OF marriage from women who are ricn
tellectual, and as for money, or rather the
want or Ii, feel quite certain, Mar. Depew,
,naf yoTr generous nea p f ana p,etaoTlG purse
The writer referred TO the marriage OF ex-
President Harrison in glowing terms, and
closed with request for full and early
II really must keep that" said Mr. Depew.
as he folded the letter and put IT away in
Irrx.s hat n trk IF
he asked, after pause.
ut is pleasant reading" replied the re-
porter. timidly
A MATRIMONIAL AGENT
at know" answered Mr.. Depew; "but
dent you think IL that sort of thing were
20 be encouraged they would be making a
matrimonial bureau Of me In short time
sort OF uptown Castle Garden, so to
speakr'
1T might reach indefinite proportions
1Ir. Depew, 1t is true" remarked the re-
porter; ''but it would soon be discovered
that there was not enough OF you to go
around
"Quite right. quite right" he exclaimed
'Stin ], think can beat this experience In
the life Of a busy man and railroad presi-
dent Whisper
he was within earshot OF the long-distance
telephone, over which Mr.. Depew paused
IN his narrative to exchange words with a
big railroad magnate in the Chicago Audi
torium- Yes. / beat that a strange
looking individual came In here yesterday
TO ask for a pass"
Now, Mr.. Depew." broke in the reporter,
isn't that quite common
Not so fast. must admit that such de-
mands have been made upon me before, hut
this man called for a pass TO Oklahoma"
'.And back. didn't hep
He did"
Then, Mr. Depew, win venture guess"
0aid the reporter boldly.
"Guess them" he said
He was going out there to get divorce"
well, we'll well; but you have just struck
e. Yes, indeed Now, did you ever hear
anything like that? What will they connect
me with next / wonder? Whenever / lave
toasted the ladies / have always preached
the availability OF the marriage tie as con-
sistently as I've advocated the cause OF pro-
lection. although I read an account last
week OF where a nan on the east side struck
down his wife with q huge picture frame
that hung over the bed, on one end Of which
was carved in large raised letters the touch
ing inscription: God Bless Our Home A
curious detail IN connection with the man
who wanted the pass was that he was an
1rishman. Irisnmen rarely apply for ei-
vorces. but they do for passes. He told me
that he had been at one time In the Brit