The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-10
YoungDewey
Knew Father
Would Win

Of all the proud citizens Of the United
Etates the proudest is young George
Goodwin Dewey. SON and only child Of
the acting and active rear admiral who
smashed the Spanish feet at Manila.
Young Dewey literally worships the
deck his father walks on. And besides
bis natural pride in bis gallant fathers
achievements, the young man has the
most delightful confidence in his parent.
the kind Of supreme confidence You see
when very small boy clasps his IA
theirs hand and, full Of love for him
and trust in him. toddles along by his
side.
when heard the feet had sailed
for the Philippines, said young Dewey
the other night. ~ knew my father
would win. knew before the battle be
would win. know him 20 we'll, you
know--his determination. OF course
I'm delighted and proud that he did
win, but IL doesn't astonish me-"
This young Dewey who so believes
in his father Is perhaps 20 years old.
He H. we'll set up fellow Of medium
height, with fine white teeth. an aqui-
line nose and JET black hair and mus
taohe. He has q piercing eye that looks
straight ut you-an eye like his ia
ther's, of which the old Vermonter said,
Would look through stun post.
1t was only Dewsy's proud affection
that overoame his natural reticence the
other night and induced him to talk Of
his father Understand that the young
mans mother died when he was very
young. and of course he has not seen as
much Of his father a. have other young
men. But separation has only endeared
him.
1.-The last time / saw my father"
said young Dewey, twas last year,
when he was president Of the board Of
inspection and survey Of the navy. He
was made one of the board to 60 on the
trial trip Of the Iowa, and he was away
on her for 4S hours. He had then al
ready been put in command of the
Asiatio squadron, and when he went
away from New York we shook hands
ct the depot, and said:
"'Goodby. father. You know hope
you will have most successful cruise
He said: 'Oh, yes, George, think I
will. You know, I'll be the first COM
modors to command the Asiatic squad
ron inoe Perry. There ought TO be
something in that. And be laughed,
shook hands with me again and went
away ON his train" Then young Dew
ey laughed frankly. happily, and said
"You know, admirals have commanded
the Asiatio squadron since Perry r,ade
rs acquainted with the japanese. Well,
father left the United States from San
Francisco on Dec. last and sailed to
Nsgasaki, where be hoisted his Gag ON
the Olympia on Jan. l.. got . letter
from him in which he said he had been
presented to the emperor of Japan and
afterward to the empress. He said he'd
had long interview with the emperor.
He's very fond Of Japanese, and in his
letter he praised their enterprise and
progressiveness. He greatly admired
the efficiency Of their navy, and he told
me he would write me longer letter
about them. But the next letter got
from him was mighty short. He said
he was very busy
Every busyp' The Spaniards now
know why Dewey was "very busy"
III there is any one man who believes
in the navy, IL is my father, ! tell you.
He knows the men, and he knows the
ships. and he thinks there is none bet
ter of either. He is strict disciplinari-
an too. A man can't disobey him with
out being punished for IL. But, on the
other hand, II he is wrong he is very
quick to say so. I have heard q great
many nice things about my father, and
must say have never heard him say
q bad thing about any man in the
navy"
Young Dewey was getting warmed
up to his subject. was forgetting his reti-
oenoe. II must tell you" he went ON.
his fine teeth showing in smile, 'that
fathers mighty proud Of his state, YER
mont. IL any glory or credit comes to
him, he will want Vermont to share It,
wouldn't be surprised IL Lieutenant
William Winder would share it too. /
hope 30. Lieutenant Winder 10 my
cousin, my aunt's son. He's navigator
Of the Raleigh, Of fathers feet. Father
thinks him good officer and skillful
navigator.
"And you want to know something
about father ON shore, eh? Well, the
one thing he loves to do on shore is to
ride horseback. He always has . saddle
horse. For long time he had marc
named Nancy. She had blue grass
pedigree, and father was very fond Of
her. But he is fond Of all animals.
Don't let him zee you beat horse or
whip dog. He'd never let old Nancy
60 faster than walk over asphalt or
cobblestvnes. Nancy got so old that he
couldn't ride her any moro and man
wanted 10 buy her. No, won't sell
her, said father. She has done me
good service and won't sell her, So
Nancy IL at pasture now, and she will
be till she dies.
Father finds good deal Of pleasure
at his clubs too. He chooses his friends