The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-14
HART'S STORIES.
The Comedian Tells One About De-
pew and Adam FoTspauga.
Remarkable Resemblance Humorous Han.
penings in PHILADELPHIA.

pens To- strike 2 vein OF story telling, To
, listen 10 him FOR an hour is quite as en-
tcrtaining as anything one may hear at
the theatre. He hos always some fresh
yarn To spin, and It always has point
that requires no map to locate It.; and.
as he talks i'm private with the same
magnetic energy that he does on the
stage, no story ever loses anything By
thc telling. The other afternoon, he
got 10 talking about his popular sketch,
Or. Chauncey" which he produced at
keiths Providence house last winter,
ana of the fact that the title was sug-
gested by Chauncey NJ. Depew,. in re-
Sembl0nce ofwhom the comedian makes
'up IN che sketch; and hc told the fol-
loWlhg story at the expense OF New
Aork's new senator:
You know said Mr.. Hart, that the
resemblance between Depew and ths
late Adam Forepaugh. the circus man,
was very marked, and they were often
mistaken for each other A few years
ago, when Forepaughs circus was in
winter quarters i'm Philadelphia, the
baby elephant was loaned 20 some man
aser for use in a big spectacular pro-
ductiOn; and when that closed the ele-
in charge of the agent of the manager.
who FASTENED to find Mr.. Forepaugh at
the Continental Hotel.
1T happened that Depew was there
at the time, and happened To be stand
ing az the desk as the agent came in;
and the agent. recognizing him as Fore.
paugh, walked up and said: Good
morning, I'm glad 10 see you
Delighted. I'm sure replied De-
pew, With Il decidedly puzzled look on
his face.
" You cot my letter, Of course
'No-yes-well-n L can't say that
did, ana the puzzled look deepencd.
"'Oh We'll, said the agent III makes
no difference. for the baby H. here
'The-baby's-
2" Certainly. Arrived this morning.
What shall | do with it?'
DO with what?'
Why. the baby
Whose baby"
why, hang 1t all, your baby; whose
do YOU SUPPOSE
My baby?' and the puzzled look
became one almost Of CONSERVATION on
Depew's usually placid features.
Why, of course, your baby. It's
come. and | want TO know quick where
you want me to take It,
Take Tiny baby?'
"'Yes. your baby elephant; where
shall l take it?'
"Depew's face beamed as with a sud
den light My dear boy he said,
whom do you take me for?'
Why, for Adam Forepaugh, of
course.
Great Caesar. exclaimed Depew.
as he burst out In a hearty laugh, this
Is the fourth time I've been mistaken
for him since I've been I'm Philadelphia;
and I've had a similar experience else
where | don't know how many times.
No. my dear boy, I'm not Forepaugh.
emily just plain Chauncey Depew.
Then they both smiled, and the
agent went in search OF the real Adam.
And speaking about Philadelphia
continued the comedian, my wife had
a bit OF an experience there. the last
time we played there, in which Irish
Wit Of the bull order was aptly Illus
trated. The street car was awfully
crowded as wet got on, and we had To
elbow our way past "A big good-natured
son of Erin, evidently going home from
his work. standing just inside the door
Every man who was seated tried as
hard as usual to demonstrate how
much he was engrossed with his news
paper; and. of course, no one offered
my wife "A seat. We rode perhaps about
a block with my wife hanging deSper-
ately 10 the strap; and then up spoke
our good Irish friend. addressing her
with the utmost Difference;
Its sorry Oi am, nom, that Oi
have no safe as | can git up and give
yeZ; but all the Imply ones wore took
whn O got aboord.'
MY wife assured him that his kind
ness was appreciated and gave him her
most costly smile; and then seven men
rose up, as IL of one mind lifted their
hats with the precision of Well-train-
ed chorus and offered her their seats.
1T was i'm the Brotherly-love hamlet,
also. that a man entered bookstore,
asked for a translation of 'Cyrano de
Bergerac." looked IL over and inquired:
Is this a free translation to which
the young lady who waited on him re-
Piled: No, 80 cents. please.
1T was an elderly Philadelphia lady,
extremely dear. who hurt my feelings
rather badly when I was somewhat
younger" continued Hart, as he took
a fresh puff at his cigar. "She knew
my grandfather well. and asked: Has
your grandfather quit smoking yet?
Last time l saw him, he said he was
going to-
MY grandfather died last month";
| replied. probably in a rather low tone
OF voice.
." Yes she yelled, has he quit smok-
ing yet?
There's nothing slow about the Phil
adelphia girls. though resumed the
comedian after the laugh had sub
sided. 1T was Philadelphia girl who.
when her best young man pleaded for
only one kiss said: only one" Only
one he repeated. Then she heaved
sigh. and said: Evidently. the modern
young man doesn't know a good thing
when he sees It,
but there. I've knocked Philadel-
ph'a quite enough for one evening. Its
not a bad city at all. I'm fact. / like IL
very much and always make one OF my
biggest hits there but it does no harm
Co toll a good story now and then. even
~ It's ON our best friends--always pro-
Yidcd they are not present OF course"
Mr.. Hart and his clever little wife.
Carrie DeMar. will Ice I'm Providence
again next week. and undoubtedly win
renew the success they made at Keith's
last winter