New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06
NOTES FROM LONDON.
CAPTAIN MAHAN's BOOK. SEA POWER
IN HISTORY" AND CAPTAIN MAaAN-
THE PROOF READERS AND MR..
MACMILLAN-MR- THOMAS
RJJRT. NJ. Il.
BURT. NJ. p.

London. April q.
Not long ago we had a report that Mr.. CLAD
stone REGARDED Captain Mahan's Sea Power IN
History" as the greatest Of modern DOCKS rio'
ably the Old Parliamentary Hand SAID one oi '"e
greatest Now comes Mr.. Stead whose aSSo''-
nent of information is as miscellaneous DIS "''s
body's with another piece of testimony ne ""'
how Mr. Cecil Rhodes, the great oouVh Niii0"''
onoo asred him to choose $500 worth of books.
and send them out to the Cape MT 0'eAU'
whose modesty comes Unexpectedly to the sur
face took advice He asked. among Others an
Admiral OF the Fleet wish he had given US
.ha Adnoral.s name. and as he gives Mr.. Glad
stones. I do not see why he should not. Inc
hook vo,, ought 10 send TO Capctown." wrote the
unnamed Admiral to the editor Of "The Review
of Reviews" as Mahan's Sea Power In History.
7 think YOU could not do better than spehu inc
whole Of the hundred pounds in buying copies u
that book" Now that Admiral has something
more than the courage Of his opinions lie 10
yeritable enthusiast, and OF such-'h l'AIV-"'e
the Kingdom Of Heaven; especially in THESE inou-
ern DAYS when enthusiasm seems fast dying out
It was I think in connection with this inter-
es,inC little anecdote. that some Briton th'ushl
proper TO censure the Navy Department az WASH
ington and its respected Secretary why
asked the irTste Briton. should Captain Mahan
be taken from the Naval School at AhhapoiiS'
where ne was the right man In the rlsh' pi"0e'
and where he had leisure TO write these mastery
hooks which have given him an immense fame
IN Europe and which have made the American
Navy considerably more respected than it was?
Why should he be taken from important ana
most valuable work which only he can do ana
assigned TO duties which score of officers can
do equally well? The question would be peril
nent IL CAPTAIN Mahan were to be permanently
separated from the Naval School and from his
literary work l suppose 1t is permissible 10
hope that he will not be. Meantime. it Is con-
ceivable that his duties as naval commander on
active service leave him time for his studies and
for those pursuits of authorship which connect
themselves so closely with the profession
The sending Of Captain Mahan to Europe had
at least one good effect 1t made MIN known
personally to men who knew him by his books
He was seen in London and was greatly liked
Never was there a man of distinction VINO hau
less pretence It is true that men of distinction
are usually free from those preteniions which men
In search of distinction are sometimes SO Ill ad-
vised as to display. Captain Mahan was per-
fectly free from them. and, 50 far as one could
Judge free from self-consciousness. which is
more difficult. He in very distinguished
company. and the interest in him and the atten-
of respect and Of something more, did not dis
turb his self-possession in the least. He might
have been in his Naval School. or on the quar-
ter deck of his ship: albeit, his demeanor had abb
solutely nothing in II of what is sometimes
known as the quarter deck manner.
1t seems beside the mark 10 speak in connec-
ton with Captain Mahan of such qualities as
modesty and simplicity To anybody who knew
him it would be superfuous They seemed 70 be
a part of his nature. But they are not paris of
every nature There have been distinguished
foreigners in this country who made a very dif-
ferent impression on the natives Of the country.
Perhaps that is why they were SD much struck
by the repose and genuineness of this naval Off
GERS department. 1t is. will allow myself the
pleasure Of adding. frequent trait among naval
officers, and among American naval officers at
least as frequently, and in at least as high de-
gree. among any others The French, on
the other hand. are apt to be a little self-asser-
tive.
The Americans who witnessed the little scene
of which Captain Mahan was the central figure
were delighted with him. and with the whole In
cident in which he took this admirable part
London had quite lately come to the knowledge
OF his two books, and it's knowledge of their au-
thor but few hours old. SO much of the
best Of London as was gathered in these rooms
rooms which reflected in a measure the refine
ment and elegance of the hostess-behed a man
not much above middle height. with prevailing
tint Of yellowsh bronze, of good features not
very strongly marked with steel blue eyes. keen
CHANGING yet subdued to the general tone Of
things He of the most compact Of hui
man beings; nothing wasted nothing out Of
place. nothing out Of proportion; everything, as
an artist would say we'll in the picture. But
in his bearing which, though individual to him.
is often typical of the naval officer at his best.
He had his eye on the barometer. You were
quite sure no storm would burst suddenly
enough to find him unready. One sometimes
fances that. especially in an unfamiliar capital,
social exgences are the most trying Of ALL For
them also he was prepared. He had the gift-t
is not universal even with Americans-of meet
ing royal parsonage even terms. He struck
the right note at In talking with the par
ticular royalty whom he met on this occasion;
and with the group Of brilliant women whose re-
nown has long filled London. 1t with an OBJ
vious reluctance that he spoke either Of himself
or his books. but If he saw that you really cared
his eye lighted and the manner grew friendly,
and the clear cut sentences flowed in an easy
strsam. He had talked extremely well on other
subjects. but when. by perseverance, you
had finally got him on his own. the fulness and
force OF his conversation We're extraordinary
1t Is pleasure to find a man equal to his
fame, and especially TO find man who has writ
ten books not inferior TO his books. Dlsappont-
ments are sadly frequent. In Captain Mahans
case the pleasure was the greater because he
was an American in a country not his own and
not. think. familiar to him, His visit to Lon
don was not long one, but he left behind him
memory in which his countrymen took pride
Every company or body of men In England
organized together for purpose. is sure to vim
dictate Its title 10 existence or to public recopni-
ton by dinner. given or held at least once a
year. The latest OF these festivals Is that of
the London Association Of Correctors OF the