New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-10
A MERCHANT PRINCE IN FAYAL.
CONSUL DABNEY-HIs CHARITIES AND HIS PoPu-
LARiTY.


LARiTY.
From Boston advertiser. . d.,
II has only once been within the writer's
experience TO he among the escort OF travelling prince
That was ON spring morning in the Island of Fayal
when ne rode with Consul Dabpey and his tamly-se
family, fdmihG, as they are called all over the island
on DAYS excursion TO the superb prOmontory OF Cas-
tello Branco. So constant were MI Danneys cosulh!
beyond the town of Horta everybody knew in advance
when he was going the news Travelled rom Nluaso ~
village like the Fiery Cross in Scotland and that oyey
April sunday became than commonly {estsday,
il seemed as the whole population OF me lsI!u 49,
ont beside the seaside road meet him. the picturesque
fishermen the buerobed women, the graceful, eaen
eyed boys, the old crones who seenef TO nave QUIZ S
everything but love for him.. As we rode along WIN n
dashng surf OF the blue one side TINS SURF Oh
human emotion seemed TO swell. and beat, ana nuruI
On the other AT every curve IN the ROAD new ed
sprang up from their eXpectant watlngi the peSeu
forward to grasp Mr. Dabneys hand 70 Kiss H. TO hSs
his stirrup; while he with his gTaceiul nor n, is
turned from TO another he rode ana hee aIWays
hat in hand for the humblest. He remembered every
by name, and made the sweet Portuguese accen's
sound sweeter from those kindly lips. - , "a
Since then have ridden with the stan oi puu,ea REQ
have never beheld another scene like that. Anayet
the recipient OF all this homage was simple Alnerlfan
merchant dwelling on foreign island WINCH h ~
governor and military governor ana WhQe poas i al
king He so monopolized the energy the eourage he
the satesmanshlp OF that little community tDa. n
seemed to constitute its force; his sway was b
than that OF Raiah Brooke in BOrneo, because MT
neys weapons were those OF peace II he seele only
fcnda lord IL the feudalsm Of love- we ea eau
think OF him as The Consul, IL Is because his n
dignity and dcmeanor elevated that title. usually ~ II
ii
seoued as il he be of Roman STAND
nifty who had somehow fingered on tins io PTcdent OF
the United States. His relation 70 Ie Sy his direct
charities alone, great these were mi yard from
rain shine, there came together 70 1in mi aged peope
ali parts of the island quaint collection ~ as ~
lame balt and blind 10 receive his weekly donation ol
Ten cents each This was the o,y FDainey nj least
A. o ~, PS" nt count this for nothing; he had the
wisest dislike to direct d 1 reac6 For the able
boded men and women he adopted devices less eaS! 10
,srry ont Lei me give an instance: -,
me most lucrative branch OF industry on the lstnu
was till lately and suppose Sun Is; Tue Ia.SS ~
which touch at Faya for that purpose ms frame MaSS
in process Of creation when was III Fdyal IN 1900 anu
81 Was fostercd by this remarkable method Inc timd
peasants could not be induced 10 raise the Vegetables
and take the risk OF the whaeshps not coming OF OF
ourse mat must come from Nr. Dabney. lie placed in
lis extensive courtyard series OF compartments ~ TO
lold of pottoes had compartment assigned to him, and
credited with their value at the market l5e on be
Dabncys risk He and his sons transacted tne business
With the whac-ships when they came, gratutO9sy'
The lots were sold the order OF theirrecept possible
II the selling price exceeded the original price te whoe
profit gwen to the peasant tney we're sCa az n
RI cvfrIordirarV system Of commerce was pursued
unfl tine trade Was thoroughly established, greatly to
advantage of the whaling Meet, OF the peasants anu
uinlateiy no doubt OF Mr. Dabncys private business.
T,i the man WHO couId even conceive Of an operation
daring had the qualities both OF phIanthropiSt anu
To stranger who met Mr Dabney, the first impression
made was OF personal dignity which commanded, united
with kindness ana sweetness that laeed one at ease.
can no more conceive OF being afraid Of him than OF taking
liberty with him. Long intercourse with the coarty
ana formal Portuguese had taught him 10 overcome them
AT their own weapons; and he had beyond all compar
son the finest manners on the island He had the superb
courtesy that an American still expects TO ma IN the
highest circles Europe though travelling princes and
10 AMER
ica With him il Ingrain-age, sex, rank made no
difference have seen him lit his hat 10 nttle SIX
yearold ge-bOy who had midy tugged of his blue
fap 10 him. Tire vast mutitudes of lnyalds who first
and last visited tayaii tAe arm! o. sAlP"ItEAcu OF us
eased runaway sailors stranded there VIII All testify
alike the Tue XhaustiDeness OF his kIndness Nleh
Can't Edmund Burke of Mr.. DdDnel's bark tfedonlh
Throw overheard his whole cargo to distressed
vessel he did from his kind hcaTU what Mr.
Dabucy probably have casiered him FOR not DONG
MIR 1suey intellect the administrative rather
than the medtatiye Order and had been trained by Ill
fercJur,e with OF all nations rather than by books
ready for subjects and new thoughts. 4 tlk ne
the rsh OF narIUWncss IA that insuldr lie, ana he
constantly tried TO meet his numerous guests ON |
their ground, instead OF limiting them 10 MS |
Even the genial autOcTat may Cypress us mentally,
unless takes care; bus Consul DaDuey TOOK care re-
member that once when he had been narI&tng to us
suspee led the hrst, enthusiastic ddy buisl upon
him with Tie question, ON, NJ D.DAey TtIe y9ueyer
forget the look of gUOdhunOTed delight with which he
BIppcd her alteration in the nud Win the answer MY
dear M dam, 2OCJO tines" II was MI DdDLcl IdlI!
lot dwell IN patrLrchal way, Win married Clil-
drrn and with grandchildren beneath MS ROOF Inc
same gracious charm the same dsincrestedness, tne
same fIiuucss peryaded all his home relations; ana III
flavor Of sweet and tender courtesy, heautu 10 reeul-
ber After her departure lis lie 70 NE must nave seemed
broken. ana since death OF LIS son ana name
sake, well known among us as the AAerJor OF many
OF ls Inc QUANTITIES nc is said ylsDly 10 nave aAed We
shall see hiu more; Dut the memory OF his stately
beauty VIII be preserved, IN part by N4ldlh lIuhl
P0G-. while tao record OF ms gracious A4n"lu,S WIN
Iafyiye in many thousand hearts. 1"'h