The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-10-13
A CHAT ABOUT ADMIRAL FAR
RAGUT.
From the Christian Union a..

macy with Admiral Farragut, yet on pub
/ lie and social occasions it was often my
privilege to have him for my seat-1nate
or my gSS-G.0ss at table, and in long and
varied conversations to draw out the quail
tiles of his mind and heart. Some of his
unconscious revelations of himself at such
upon record for che admiration of all
who know how to prize what is noble
and good in human character
One could not be long in company with
Admiral Farragut without being charm-
ed with his simplicity. At seventy, the
hero Of recent naval warfare, the head of
the navy of his country, the first in an
Office created expressly for his promotion,
the honorcd and fattered guest of the
civilized world, he yet retained the fresh
ness and simplicity of character with
which he entered the service fifty years
ago. s~.s
There is not in him one trace of vani
ty-of that egotism that forever magni-
fes itself. which keeps self first in its
owp thought, and exacts h 6uage from all
around. And yet the Admiral was
thoroughly appreciative of the good will
Of his countrymen, and sensitive as a child
to their, marks OF appreciation. lie was
really charming to look upon as he re
ceived the applause of a dinner company ;
his manly face, beaming with pleasure,
his tongue confused with the attempt to
speak, his lips answering with smiles for
words, vet with no trick or faint of o.
tentation-just a hearty, simple, sympa-
thetic pleasure with himself and every
body else, because he had somehow done
something that pleased other people.
Once at public dinner, as he. saw the
toast, To Our Navy" bearing down
upon him like o saucy corvette and pour
| ing broadsides of compliments, he whis
pered, g now in a minute they will set
me up in the main top again, and then |
shall have.to speak. What shall say
I'd rather go into action. Presently the
chairman reached the eliminating point
of his own eloquence, with "The hero OF
Mobile flashing himself to the main top
and sailing into the belching flames" etc,
etc, and amid /" thunders of applause >
the Admiral rose and bowed, and beamed
forth his contagious smiles until the
whole company felt as jolly as mess on
| Through then said few honest, simple
words about the navy, his officers, and
his men, and looked so happy as he re-
ceived the yociferous greetings OF the as
senbly that. the impression upon all was
that of brave, simple; true man, whose
heart was as open as it was brave.
When he sat down he said to me, 81
cannot understand why they make so
much of my going up into the main top
1t was, nothing special that did at Mo-
| bile, and / was not dashed there at all
When going into action or IN any time OF
danger, i always went up there, because
l felt it my duty to be where | could
overlook everything in person, and be
seen by all the men, and set them an ex-
ample of sharing their risks" How much
more impressive does the incident at Mo
bile become, from the fact that this now
| immortal act was not theI done for any
special effect, but as a common incident
of what a brave man regarded as his duty.
So he who quietly does his duty, year by
year, at the post of responsibility and
danger, may one day find that his accus'
toned obedience to the summons of prov
idence has lifted him up before the ma
tions as an example and a hero.
Admiral Farragut had that thorough
honesty which made duty with him i'm
perative 1t was this that held him true
to the flag of his country, when his per-
sonal associations would have drawn him
to the South; and it was this that ena-
bled him to win for that flag an almost
miraculous renowp. As man of true
honor and integrity he was above all
shams.
At that same dinner, taking in his
hand glass of wine, he said to me, The
wine goes round pretty freely tonight.
take a.glass with my dinner; but when
am on duty, and especially when going
into action, I never allow myself to take
drop of any kind of stimulant. Fol
when my country has trusted me with
grave responsibilities, could not bear
the thought of doing anything that might
lead me TO distrust myself, or might shake
the confidence of officers and men in my
command. To do my duty, mast respect
myself" aa1
Upon another occasion, when the talk
turned upon iron and wooden ships OF
war, the Admiral said, " he could never
bear the thought of shutting men up in a
monitor 1t took away their spirit to feel
that they were oooped up in coffin; a
sailor loves free fight. Then, as TO
wood and iron, it doesn't matter; it's the
men that make the ship; only give me
men that know and that know me, and
would as lief go into battle in wood DIS
I would in iron" This showed knowl-
edge both of human nature, and of the
elements of courage.
I It is not claimed that Admiral Farra-
gut was great man, or a man of genius
| as those epithets go-but as his coffin
is borne through our city toits last resting
place, would faiu lay upon it this tribute
to the worth Of noble, brave, honest,
L n N III