The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-01-12
Especial Correspondence


Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Jan. TN the spacious
parlors of the new Army and Navy club
house, which has just been opened in
the aristocratic section of the city,
navy friend of mine called attention to
q dozen old fellows who were playing
whist near by, and asked if l knew who
they were. did not know, and ne
proceeded to enlighten me. "Old adj
mirals on the retired list" said he; "old
heroes, too, good many OF them. DO
you see the old man who appears to be
rather stiff in his joints-the one with
the Tong white whiskers and black
ened forehead? That is Admiral Wor-
den, the hero Of the Monitor.
.sJust at this time, when all the young
men of the navy are eager for war with
Chill, because of the opportunities they
will get for winning distinction and pro-
motion, the old admiral is an unusually
interesting figure. There is link be-
tween the past and the present. There
lis the man who commanded the worlds
first ironclad turreted vessel in its first
engagement. That weak, shaky old gen.
2feman was commander Of Ericsson's
Monitor when she steamed into Hampton
Roads and attacked the terrible Merri-
mac, which had been destroying every
thing before her. You remember the
story-how the Monitor excited the de-
fision of the enemy, how they dubbed
her the Yankee cheesebox, how the lit
He craft bore the awful cannonading of
her adversary without apparent injury,
how the brave men on the Confederate
tam suddenly awoke to a realization Of
the fact that at last they had foe
Worthy their proves, and how the
Merrimac was finally compelled to
run away to Norfolk; you doubt
less remember, also, how the COM
mander of the Monitor was injured
BIZ the conclusion of shot which struck
the turret with terrific force near where
he was peering through the sight hole.
the flying particles of iron binding his
eyes and blackening his forehead; how
he was found by Lieutenant Wise after
the engagement lying on his back, tenn
Iperarily blind, and how his first ques-
ton was, Have saved the Minnesota?
yves, and whipped the Merrimac, was
the reply Then | don't care what be
comes of me- said Worden. You re-
member how the fate of the republic
appeared to hang in the balance during
this engagement; how the intrepid cap
tain of the Monitor was made popular
hero, and how the Yankee cheesebox
instituted revolution in naval con-
struction and naval warfare"
~ sYes," said [, 81 remember it all.
Who could forget this naval epic?"
Newell" continued my friend, 81 want
10 tell you a little story about this man
who sits before us quietly playing whist,
with his face still bearing the marks Of
that memorable confict-a story of
hero that is tender and pathetic. Worden
served gallantly throughout the war,
iWas made an admiral, and five years
ago was retired on the highest pay of
this grade, as if still on sea duty, by
special act of congress. He had been
}ffty-five years in the service, and was
entitled to this distinction and reward if
eyer any man was. But what do you
suppose this old hero is doing now?
What is his aim in life? All, lieuten-
ant said he to me the other day, go to
Chill if you get chance, and distin-
guish yourself in the service of your
country if opportunity offers: AS for
me'-and here the veterans eye kindled
with thought of conflict, and he gave a
sigh as if realizing that his fighting days
were over-1 am simply a "Reminiscences.
/ am living simply to live. My only
aim in life is to cultivate longevity. AS
long as live my pay as retired officer
keeps my good wife from want, and we
are able to do little something for
others. My health is not good, but l
hope to live as long as my wife does for
her sake. When she goes l hope to go
with her. 1t is my desire to outlive her
but day. She is stronger than l ain,
but that l may if possible remain
as long as she remains, you ought
to see how take care of myself. My
sole occupation, say, is tho cultivation
of longevity. | study hygiene, dietetics,
every law OF gule of health. For two
years have not been to dinner. | DO
not go out nights. My entire time and
energies are devoted to taking care Of
myself-not for myself, understand, hat
for tho 1880 year which the govern
ment allows me during my lifetime. My
good wife needs this as long as she lives,
and that is what am living for
''This was the old hero's story" con
tinued the lieutenant, "and sweet,
pretty story it is too. Do you not think
so?"
eyes; but who are the other old men
at the whist tables?"
81 do not know them all. The twf
partners at the first table are Admiral$
Selfridge and Jenkins. Selfridge is
older than Gladstone, having entered
the service in 1918. His first voyage 81
a MILDLY was made in the old sloop-of-
war Natchez, which captured half a
dozen pirate schooners in the West LTi-
dies. He and his present whist partner
were midshipmen chums together ontha
Natchez sixty-fve years ago. That
is going back good ways in tbs
history of the navy, isn't it? While
a young man Admiral Jenkins COM
o1fsh