The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-05
THE REAL CHAUNCEY DEPEW.
NOT THE WITTY. SpEECH-MAKING
DEPEW. But THE SOLID, ST.
RIOUS-MINDED DEPEN.

"A TvDicaI American PrOduct-AS
SchooIboy lie Loved to speak
Pieces--First Ambition ia BE
Demonstrations circumstance of
His First Speech-Depew a. SOL
dfer-GiVes His Reason for Telling
Storjes-A tremendously Industrt-
ous WorLer-His Strongest Points
First Meeting with Com Wander
hiIt and What Came of It-His
Uniaue Political Record.
New York. Feb. s.-For many years the
fame OF Hon. Chauncey Mitchell Depew
a. wit. a story-tellor speechmaker has
bsan so continuously spread broadcast IN
the public prints and by those persons
who have come in contact with him only
or public and social occasions that his
more solid qualities have been almost lost
sight of by a large proportion of his fel-
low citizens.
Yet in the view Of those who know him
best-his business associates, those who
have co-operated with him in politics ana
the hundreds of working newspaper men
who have had occasion often to meet him
an circumstances when the stress of af-
fairs has been exacting-Mr. Depew's char
acterisdcs as an acute, deeply cultivated,
Eerious-minded. tremendously industrious
man have seemed Overwhelmingly in the
ascendancy. There is no doubt that he has
been vastly helped by his faculty for say
ing the right thing In the right place, by
his ability to amuse and by his power of
oratory, but these things have only sup
plemented those which he has made most
helpful in his journey through life.
Most Valuable Qualities.
In the opinion of one who has been in
timately associated with Mr. Depew for
more than score of years, his most val
liable qualities have been the power of
rapid and thorough absorption and reten-
ton of facts and the ability to correlate
them properly-to master the true mean
ing of the whole. All the ambitions of
Mr.. Depew's early manhood ran along
legal and political lines, yet when, at As,
after long service as general counsel for
the Vanderbilt lines, he was called to the
executive department as second vice presi-
dent of the New York Central in 1882, ne
speedily transformed himself into so prac-
teal railroad man that three years later
he was made chief of the line, which posi-
y
during its period of greatest progress, and
then was promoted 90 the chairmanshi2
of all the Vanderbilt lines
Typical American Product.
Chauncey Mitchell Depew is a typical
American product, if ever there was one.
He has now been in active life about -
years. He began with ability and will
ingness TO work as his main resources.
and he is rounding out his career as
member of the most important legislative
body in the world. and as the highest
grade railroad employe-for he delights to
be termed railroad employe-in the Unit
sd States, the land where railroading has
undergone its grea test developments.
Those who believe that the composite
race which is being evolved out of many
nationalites in this country will furnish
a remarkable new type of humanity, can
find much support for their theory in the
personality of Mr. Depew. In his veins
flows the blood of those Huguenots who
came to America when driven from France
and settled the beautiful town of New Ro-
chelle; Of the sturdy Old Dutchmen who
founded that New Amsterdam which has
become the Greater New York; of the
hardy EnSlishmen who fed from old world
Intolerance 90 New England's rOck-bound
coast, The Pilgrim strain in Mr.. Depew
comes from the Sherman family, whose
most eminent representative was Roger
Sherman, a signer of the Declaration of
Independence. His mother Martha Mitch
ell, was Il granddaughter of Rev. Josiah
Sherman, the brother of Roger and her
father, Chauncey r. Mitchell was a law
Yer of unusual attachments, whose career
was cut short by an early death.
Capt. Isaac Depew, Chauncey Depew's
father, was a rugged old chap of mas
sive physique, who lived in PeekskiH. He
owned sloops that sailed up and down the
Hudson, country stores at various points
along the river, farms scattered here and
there, and was interested in many things
beside The late James w. Hustled, per
maps the closest lifelong friend of the
captains son, once told the writer that
Capt. Depew was more like Commodore
Vanderbilt than any other man he ever
Knew. The captain was possessed of an
iron will and a rough exterior. but be-
hind the iron will and under the rough ex-
terror there We're generous impulses and
a kindly heart Mis-. Depew the mother
OF Chauncey, was one of the cleverest
most lovable, most tactful of women. The
elder Derew ruled everything about him
but she ruled him. and their home life
was perfect. From the father Chauncey
learned that the mOnosylable no" was
sometimes a good word 10 use; from the
mother he learned to say yes"
Could "Speak Pieces"
Young Depew got his early schooling
and his fitting for college in PeekskiiI.
He stood fairly well in his classes but he
was exceptionally brilliant in one direc-
ton only. He could speak pieces better
than any of his school fellows and his
selections used to delight his blum old
father. Daniel Webster's reply to Hayne
Patrick Henry's famous addresses, or that
one of John Adams. which began, Sink
or SWIM live or die, survive or PERISH
were among them.
1t was not a part of his boyish plan of
life TO 90 TO college He liked to be out
doors and he wanted to be farmer. The
Oh captain did not like the boys plan,
but had tact enough not to make any d.
rect opposition. Instead. as the senator
elect sometimes delights to tell. the cap
tain seemed to fan in with the youth s
design and allowed him TO go to work on
one Of the family farms. But the man
IN charge was instructed TO see to it that
the boy should be allowed to find out
just how laborous farm work may be the
instructions were thoroupb1v ft,I6tIa1