Evening journal., 1898-06-23
coMMoDoRE gcHIEY's NAME.

COMMODORE sCHIJEY's NAME.
There has been good deal Of specu-
lation, not only in naval circles, but
among The public at large as to the
origin Of Commodore Winfield Scott
schley's Name. by some it has been
asserted that he is Of German descent,
and by others that he is a relative OF
the doughty old hero Of the Mexican
war. A little while before schley be-
came a commodore he gave a reporter
a talk, which will throw light on the
matter.
"At the time when l was a pulling,
mewling baby, without name, or
much more hair on my head than
have now" said tine gallant officer
playfully brushing back the locks
which so slSilfully conceal his bald
pate, my parents were, l suppose, at
their wits ends to cudgel up some
name appropriate for tine marvel Of hui
man excellence they undoubtedly
Thought me to be. Tha matter did not
bother me SO much ais it does now, for
/ wisely refrained from giving an opin-
ion on the subject, or at least amy that
the newspapers would care to publish.
At that time, which marks. an era in
one life anyway, General Scott was in
the zenith OF his glory and rotundity.
A very great man was Scott at that
time-physlcally and popularity. He
was a great friend Of my parents, and
frequently called ait our house.
"As l said, my parents were cudgel-
ing their brains to find some name
good enough to tack ON such a morsel
Of humanity as myself, and while in
the midst of their counsel one day, tine
huge shadow of Scott darkenad the
doorway and cast it's robust shade or
me- That settled it, The circua.
stance was regarded ais an ausplcicua
omen, and forthwith it was decided
That l was to pass through life as Win
field Scott scadey.
'Now, for PHYS sake don't give my
last name with a German accent It's
pronounced Sly, plain, commonplace
everyday SLY. That's the way 1t ha.
been pronounced in my family ais long
as L can remember or ever heard Of
I'm not much ON pedigree searching
too many of my acquaintance hayl
stumbled across horse thieves and pi
rates TO make me Sesirous for that kind
Of recreation-but Schiey is an OIL
Maryland family, though why They
have stuck on all those sloppy DlItcl
consonants I can't ten. But it's Sly
was born, and it's SLY I'll be tin m.
hair ceases to come out; then you can
call me Dinnis, If you like. So lond
as j have THE proud distinction O
drawing a comb over my head with
purpose shall most distinctly ami
positively object to being caller
Ptschzley, or any other foreign twist
ing Of the Name"
How do you like the name of th
famous flghter?"
like it?' said the gallant sea dca
why, can't say THAT 1 ever gave j
much consideration. can only sa
that soon after became a full-aedge
naval officsr the old general gave
dinner at the Brevoort House, on Fi1u
avenue, New York, at whlch he ir
vited all THE youne. men he could fin
who HAD been named after him. 1t wa
a great sight. There they were, sev
eral score strong, and there is no tell
ing how many more might not hay
been thene had they known of it. Ans
way they have turred out fairly wei
at least one of them having become
general in the United States Army.
'Wegl. the Old gene ral wound up tn
DINNER in one of hist most pompot
speeches-such as no one can apprec
ate unless he has seen and heal
him. He said that HE felt Gighly graf
ned at having mis- lRme left to pc
terity In such promising; young hand
and Of course we young gters believe
all Die said. AT amy rate, i can't chanc
the n. anne, and I don't lbt lieve that I
WANT 10 il could. Ne W York Tt
bune.