The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-22
MIR. HARRIsoN,s sun.
Adirondack George Tried to BE His
OratOricaI Understudy.
Indianapolis. Dec. 81.
New York Mail and Express.


One August day in the summer of 1895
there was a great gathering at the only
hotel at Old Forge, the best known or the
gateways to the Adirondacks. A pole, a
tall, sturdy piece of timber, was to be
raised and ex-President Benjamin Harrison,
then occupying his cottage on Second lake,
had consented to speak. Campers from the
mountain region from Old Forge, natives OF
the neighboring lumber towns, guides and
woodsmen, mingled in the crowd that wan
dered about the hotel, filling the piazzas.
and seeking shelter in the little parlor
from the drizzling rain and penetrating
mountain air without.
In this lettering crowd was a chore boy
from one of the Fourth Lake camps, a
reckless. irresponsible fellow but of UNI
usual cunning and shrewdness. He had a
greedy appetite, and most of the time was
foolish with drink. On the morning of this
day. where. We were sailing down to Old
half pint OF whisky, as the initiative to
one or his terrible sprees. Later, luck at dice
In the bar room and a commingling with
genial souls had brought him to condi-
ton where his smile never faded and his
step was most uncertain.
The ceremony of the pole-raisng was an
nOunced for o'clock. AT that hour the
ex-President had not arrived at the hotel,
and the people who had gathered there
were nervously moving about, disguised
with the weather and annoyed at the de-
lay. In the interval George, the chore boy,
ventured the remark that If the President
didn't hurry he would get out on the piazzi
and make the speech himself. For this bold
ness he was dragged from the parlor to the
more congenial atmosphere of the bar room.
Finally. the former chief executive ar
rived. The crowd which had formed on
the slope OF the lawn before the hotel, inn
mediately revived and hurrahed and
cheered the noted guest. The formaltieS
of the ceremony were quickly disposed OF
by the long suffering committee and the
chairman took the earliest opportunity to
introduce Mr.. Harrison. The eX-President
rose and stood by his chair which had been
placed some distance back from the piazza
Ant OUT T7nd f1n
low Apparently he was about to speak
when the group that had pressed about the
parlor door opened and George the chore
boy, his trousers tucked into the tops of
his great, coarse boots, his coat sleeves fall
ing over his hands and almost concealing
them. his flannel shirt open at the neck
George with his smile and his stagger
astonished asSemblage and walked quickly
to the railing.
Uncovering with great care his frowsy
head, he laid his broad-brimmed hat on the
gentleman over whose distinguished face
there f1uttered half quizzical, half-amused
look, he turned to the crowd, and with all
the confidence and assurance of a speaker
who is conscious of his power, said
Ladies and Gentlemen-I presume you
came here to hear me speak"
The presumption was too greatly eXag-
gerated to pass unnoticed. Before George
could further indicate the supposed desires
of his audience, he was struggling In the
hands of the irate committeeman, and the
nails in his boot heels were drawing par
allel lines on the boards of the piazzi. His
exit was through the same door that had
marked his triumphant entry, and it was
just inside this opening that he fell in a
heap and his smile collapsed. After thus
fOrcibly dismissing the intruder the MEM
berS of the committee returned to their
seats
And then the President spoke.