The landlord of the hotel was named Boyden.

Jefferson arrived at the hotel alone and with no servants. Jefferson walked into a barroom that was doing a brisk business to see about getting a room.

Boyden looked Jefferson up and down and surmised that he was a lowly farmer and would not be a credit to the establishment he ran.

In a curt voice Boyden said, "We have no room for you sir."

Jefferson appeared not to have heard what the hotel keeper said and asked again about acquiring a room.

The hotel keeper repeated what he had said before. Jefferson turned around, called for his horse and departed.

Just after Jefferson had gone, a very wealthy man came to the hotel and informed Boyden that the man had been Thomas Jefferson, the vice-president of the United States.

Boyden was amazed and appalled that he had turned away the vice-president.

"He is the greatest man alive," declared the wealthy gentleman.

"What have I done, what have I done," lamented Boyden. He called for his helpers and he said, "Run and tell that gentleman that he many have forty rooms if he wished. Tell him to come back. He can have my wife's bedroom - my own - what have I done! Here, Harriet, Mary, Julie - clear everything: he shall have the best of everything!"

Jefferson by that time had already reached the Globe Hotel when Boyden's servants caught up with him and delivered their master's message.

Jefferson replies, "Tell him I have engaged a room. Tell Boyden that I value his good intentions highly, but if he has no room for a dirty farmer, he shall have none for the vice-president."

~Adapted from: A Treasury of American Anecdotes, edited by B.A. Botkin