The National tribune., 1888-07-12
ENJOYING LIFE.


One of the jolliest most good-humored men
that ever lived is Chief Engineer Montgomery
Fletcher u. S. Navy, who left here last Friday
after three weeks visit, TO sail very soon for
a trip around the world
This is not trip on duty, for years ago he
completed his full term of sea service aud is
not now subject to orders for service afoat I'M
less he should absolutely demand it or war
should break ont.
don't think there is a man living that more
thoroughly enjoys life than he does Entering
the service in 1885, he was a Chief Engineer
two years before the rebellion broke out and
now, nearly 30 years later, he is next to the
head Of his corps, and ranks with q Captain in
the line or Colonel in the army He is very
well-to-do in this worlds goods, and while he
lives generously. fancy that his professional
income Of $4,000 year viii fully cover his
expenses.
Years ago-I don't dare sag how many-he
was sent on duty to the Mare Island Navy Yard
at Vallejo Cal, about 20 miles up the bay from
San Francisco He looked upon it then almost
as an exile but like all officers ever stationed
on the Pacific Coast, he became infatuated with
the climate and people, and now calls it his
home. 1t is remarkable how California affects
officers who have once served out there When
they are ordered on cruises they 20 as cheer
fully as anyone but the moment the cruise is
ended, they at once begin clamoring for orders
10 mare ISlduu VI odH Il IduCibCOs anu IN many
cases, when unable to get orders, they go out
and take up residence in San Francisco or
Oakland or sonae other beautiful ueighboring
towns around San Francisco Bay
That mania struck Chief Fletcher during his
first tour of duty out there, and now he has
adjusted his life and service tours to a fixed
rule, viz two years at Mare Island or San
/ Francisco, or on some board. and then one
! years leave, with permission to go abroad He
goes abroad, Tambles over Europe for the
/ allotted time, then comes straight to Washing
| ton, specifies the orders he wants, gets them,
and goes back to Frisco for two years more to
| de capo the matter.
don't believe there is nook or corner in
| Europe or Great Britain where Dad /" Fetch
| er's Jolly face, plump figure aud handsome gray
! mustache are not well known And languagesl
| he could pass ciyil-service examination any
! where as a teacher of modern languages, for
J believe that he not only knows every language
of Europe intimately, but the dialects as well,
| like the Bulgarian, Hungarian and Suabian.
/ 1t is music to hear him tackle gang of men
! at navy yard whose work does not suit
| him. He thinks profanity is rather UNI
| gentlemanly, but he'll tackle them in mod
ern Greek or the broken -st0ne tongue Of the
| Suabians, and It sounds like such dreadful bias
phemy that it will frighten a gang into fits
almost. ! have fancy that few remarks
| from him in some Of the foreign tongues at his
| command would make team of army mules
snake hesvy-loaded army wagon out of a
four-foot deep mudhole and then tremble.
Fletcher is loved in the Navy, but in San
| Francisco they adore him-men and women
| young and old. He has never married. He
| told me the day he left that he couldn't get
married, because he cared so much for all the
sex that he could never make choice while he
was young enough to marry, and now he is too
Old 70 try new game. He is the leader in
| Frisco is almost everything that takes place in
| bis circle. He organized the swell Union Club
there 4 satI u cousin Of the Union League of
Ne@ York aud Pniladeiphia), superintendent
the baildiHg aud furnishing of the palace the