Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1903 — Paul Ford’s Courtesy. [ARTICLE]

Paul Ford’s Courtesy.

No other anecdote concerning the late Paul Leicester Ford shows better his innate courtesy and self-possession than the following. r. It was at a literary reception In Brooklyn. A number of “lions” of greater or less magnitude were there, among them a clergyman whose somewhat arrogant manner made him unduly conspicuous. As he came forward, blinking nearsightedly, to greet his hostess, he noticed a short, slight figure standing at her side. Without looking more closely at this second person, whom he supposed to be one of the boys of the neighborhood, the clergyman slapped him familiarly on the shoulder saying: “Well, and how are you, my little man?” “Very well, thank you,” replied the other, politely, amid a general gasp from those around them. “Fine lad! Who is he?” queried the clergyman, turning to his hostess. “It is Mr. Paul Leicester Ford, the guest of honor this evening,” she answered.