diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.java
index 282ae2078..a5a6fcf81 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/ChatMessage.java
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 //
-// $Id: ChatMessage.java,v 1.1 2002/07/26 20:35:01 ray Exp $
+// $Id: ChatMessage.java,v 1.2 2003/01/21 01:08:10 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.crowd.chat;
 
+import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
+
 /**
  * The abstract base class of all the client-side ChatMessage objects.
  */
@@ -27,4 +29,13 @@ public abstract class ChatMessage
         this.localtype = localtype;
         timestamp = System.currentTimeMillis();
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Generates a string representation of this instance.
+     */
+    public String toString ()
+    {
+        return StringUtil.shortClassName(this) + "[msg=" + message +
+            ", type=" + localtype + ", stamp=" + timestamp + "]";
+    }
 }