OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20378, 9 April 1928, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW. AMERICA’S LEADING ORATOR. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) NEW YORK, April 5. The death is announced of Mr Chaunccy M. Depew.—Australian Press Association. Chauncey Mitchell Depow was bom in New York State on April 23, 1834. Mr Dcpew took an active part in State and Federal politics during his long ’ career. He was a member of the Senate, 1809 1905 and 1905-11. In 1905 he received 99 votes at the Republican Convention for the Presidential nomination. He wat a director of numerous banking, railway, and other corporations. Recently a press correspondent had the following to say about him: —“ Mr Chauncey Depow, America’s greatest after-dinner speaker, who was the nation’s orator at the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty, tthc centennial celebration of the inauguration of George Washington, and many other notable occasions, such as the Chicago Exposition, has still the same bright, cheery, optimistic outlook on the world and its people, although he has now passed his ninety-third birthday. Interviewers found him in excellent health and spirits, Mr Depew’s rare wit flashed at its brightest when he replied to a question, couched in the vernacular of the smoking room, * Are you on the water wagon?’ ‘No,’ he fairly roared, but his eyes twinkled merrily. ‘ I drink little more and little less than ever I did, but before they get any liquor into me I must know the history of it and where it comes from.’ He grew serious at the next question, and remarked that he thought the prospect of psotting prohibition was very remote. ' This old world is getting better every day,’ Mr Depew said. ‘ The phrase “ the good old days ” is pure fiction. The only trouble is that all your playmates are gone. If a man has lived carefully and preserved his health he is just as anxious for playmates at 93 as he is at 23. Rut I find a peculiar advantage in being in the nineties. There are no “ strings ” tied to expressions of goodwill. Nobody is jealous of you. Everybody knows yon don’t want anyone’s job, „nd that you couldn’t take it if you did.’ Mr Depew hesitated when the incstion was put to him, but on reflection observed that he hoped and believed President Coolidge w r ould be renominated and re-elected The veteran did not affect to understand what was meant by the expression ‘ the restlessness of modern youth.’ He did not think youth had changed much from his own early years. ‘ Eat and drink what you want and when you like; my opinion on that has never changed,’ he said when asked for a longevity recipe. ‘ The emancipation of woman is written plainly in the skies,’ was his comment. ‘No political party dare overlook her needs.’ ” BRIGADIER FREDERICK COX. A LEADING SALVATIONIST. LONDON. April 7. (Received April 8, at 5.5 p.m.) The death is announced of the Salvationist, Brigadier Frederick Richard Cox, j secretary to the late General Booth, with ( whom he toured the world.—Australian j Press Association.