New-York tribune., 1879-04-24
GENERAL DIX N PUBLIC LIFE.
INCIDENTS WHICH ILLUSTRATE HIS MARKED TRAIT
OF .HARACrEH HIS sTRONG DEVOTION I

INCIDENTS WHICH ILLUSTRATE HIS MARKED TRAITS
or CHARACrER-H HIS STRONG DEVOTION TO
CLASSICAL LITERATURE.
A gentleman who has known General Dix
Intimately for a great many years gives tIo following
scerccs throwing .ht on certain portions Of his
oubuc career. He said From my intimate acqIaut
lnce with General DIX. I learned many things
o interest about bis habits Of life and puDlic thar
asa not generally known. Mr. ID x Was made General
by Glvaruor Morgan amt almost Immediately received
telegraph dispatch from General Wiudeid scots saying
be had been appointed 20 the commani or rhe army
about Washington. aud asking hin 10 report AT
General DIX shovel this dispatch % me. without de-
lv lc took lis horses ana proceeded 10 Washing -ton
but % Lis surprise not assigned 20 the duty ud
Gated IN General SCott's dispatch. while General SIC
Doyel was he discovered a1terward that the reason
hp was nos igned the command Of the about
Washington was that there had been intrigue among
Ney-Yor. officers against Jim, one OF their arguments
with tg President having been that General DIX could
DO. ride on nor-cbac Af'erw4rd OK The officers,
WHO t was believed had been active in circulating this
report assisted review of troops held at Fortress
Monroe when General d. K IN command there. The
Genera purp0sey gave the officers about him terrible
ride remark ng incidentally ~ the iatisued office.
they iIsmountei, You see I can r.ie.'
can ynuch for the following having heard II rom
the Genera = hps when the Convention thar gave Mr..
Lincoln his second nomination was about TO meet.
Noses II. GrnueI sought An interview with General
DIX luI -l.d he had been authorized by Mr. Lincoln 10
ur.r GraerlI Dix the second place or the ticket.
asked the latter why he had declined the prOered post
Inn and he said. am nov m a place whore feel
tnat 1 am doing my duty, aud dsnl wIsA people ~
lna That am looking out tor personal pgeiesmeut IN
f.e present state Of the country
eli La, been reported that after the war, when be
was u,,srd FOR The Netherlands mission, bis name
was rejected This not true. Know for fact thaJ
lie wAs offered the mission but declined .t. AID Was
.n oif.r.d tu, French mission wlch he accepted. he
once t1.u uc tls curious bit Of history When Pres
dent Percc came into Office be DESIGNATED General Hz
FOR bi- secretary of State. one wing of the party now
over insisted on Governor Marcy being tuIGe -rctD-
state and the pressure brought 10 pear upon ihe
p--i.yf was go -tedt that Dee yic.dei. and General
NC. al reed te French his uu luai,Ll. But TIE
- " ",.',r- v-.ifea moon P-csil-rt Pierce and
.u.inca that thc appointment 70 tnc fr-uch Mission
I,, sf rra 90 them. Iu President a-Piu yi"ilro aud
iob s. Mason g1- assigned % thc place. just before
~4 DIX saving that BE- frii Dee hud treated the lalter
ar, d. DIV m these poIftcaI matters That ne Wani'h I'd
apooGzr ami say mat "n.c lle pressure pi.n-E. 10
bear Was Very great, De ought nos 10 lave }ltui % H
ir once tald me iuIt cut ul a tle pubhc ounces ne
had dl-d. not one had eve ah1riea nlM .HA,t 1t'
r tn uIV hl, expenses lf used 10 ue standing joke
m Di. family 10 7a e ANNOUNCED hl. intention ol
ft.Iue some office: ANY salary ol cUu-ep renee
~. .leu D clu..e Won % take IT, This ia tAo avlce lie
Iue 0i the most successful p"H'iAns thn country mas
ever stick 20 soIr profession ana never nave any
r.Ig fD DO with plGtic- 11e great mistake of my e
caS thgt ~fl tlc bar INTO D0Atcs. lie practlsrd
las only three yrar. al tuOptrstJTh, aud never cud
draw ont " HIN tlr number o cSrei h- tried At tuat
ti,. But hi. experience coudu'. have been great.
General DIX WAS . great lluu -choltir ana Ms
fr.gslaJl1u OF the Dies lue Is well EnOWn Al TO
trne Of the grrAt sanitary Far motto "s .t''e TOT
fbr arms and trophies department, l tblnh, NOiu
I,c,tus The committee already had eight or ten tram
lious from cisl gyuen ana college pro 'Ssoh D1 'ney
.,nt tne motto tO General DIX to translate He tried
Iftv Ways nIaV getting version thai sultcu INN, ana
tAs adopted over ~! tAe otAers " the great .a'