Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1893 — ONE OF DEPEW’S SPEECHES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ONE OF DEPEW’S SPEECHES.

It Was Composed Amid the Rush and Roar of Broadway. The death of Rev. Thomas Edward Vermilye, who for fifty was Chaplain of the St. Nicholas Society, recalls an incident in which a well-known Brooklyn man and Chauncey M. Dopew figured. Dr. Vermilye had for many years spoken to tne toast “Holland” at the annual dinner of the organization named. Some eleven years ago. on the morning of the day set for the banquet, he was taken ill, and notified the dinner committee that he would be unable to make his wonted oration. At 4 o’clook on the same day Depew entered the office of John A. Nichols, of New York; wearing a worried expression and a per-spiration-bedewed forehead. “Nichols," he said, “I’m in a fix, and want you to help me out. These St. Nicholas people have just wired me that in the absence of Dr. Vermilye they look to me to respond to ‘Holland.’ I don’t know the first, thing about the subject, and it’s 4 o’clock." “Well?" said Mr. Nichols. “Now,” went on Depew, “just you take me by the arm and walk me up Broadway to Twenty-third street Don’t talk to me, and don’t expect me to task to you. Just steer me clear of people, mind I don’t get run over at the crossings, and go slow. That’s all I want you to do. ” Mr. Nichols d'd as requested, and tha

pair did not exchange a word until Twenty-third street was reached at 5:15 p. m. “Thankee,” said Depew, as he parted with his friend; “I guess I’m all right.” At 7:30 p. m. the first thing that the eye of Mr. Nichols met as he sat down at the dinner-table was the bland, unruffled, smoothly shaven face of Depew. The speech that he made later is yet a delightful tradition in the annals of the St Nicholas Society. It was chock full of wit, fact, figures and sentiment Nobody but Mr. Nichols dreamed that It had been conceived, shaped, and born amid the riot and roarbf Broadway. Fob extensive ventilation engineer* prefer exhausting to blowing fans, i