The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-14
-SCHLEY" IS "SLY."
The Commodore is az IN o d Mary
land Family.

-
There has been a good deal of speculation,
not only in naval circles, but among the pub
lie at large. as 10 the orr lin Of Commodore
Winfield Scott schley's name. BY some it has
been deserted that no IL Of German descent,
and by othors that he Is relative Of the
doughty old hero Of tho Mexican war. A
little while before schlsy became a commo-
dore he gave a II ibune reporter q talk
which will throw light on the matter.
AT the time / was q pulling, niowling
baby, without q name or much NOE hair on
m head than ! h,vo now" said tho gallant
ofhcer, Iinyfuily brushing back the locks
which 70 s~kilfully conceal his bald patio, tiny
parents were ! srpposc at their Wits end TO
cudgcl up somo name approximate for the
marvel OF human excellence they undonbt.
edly thought me to DO. Tho matter did not
bother me so much as IL docs now, for l
wisely ~refrain from giving on opinion on tie
subject, or at To- st any that the newspapers
would care 20 pullish. AT that time, which
N arks an era In one life, anyway, General
Scott was in the zenith OF his glory and
rotundity. A very great man was Scott ut
TINT tiwe-ahyscally aud. popularity. He
wns a great friend Of my parents. and fire.
qucntly called at our folse. An ! sid, my
parents were cudgeling their hrnins to fnd
some name good enough TO tack ON such o
morscl of hun anity as myself. and whilo in
The midst Of their councils one day. the huge
shadowsof Scott darkened the doorway and
cast is robust shade on me. That settled 1t.
The circumstance. WINS regarded as an aus.
nicious omen. ard forthwith u was decided
that | wns 10 psss through life ps Winfield
Scott kchiey.
Now, for Iity's sake, don't give my last
name with a German accent. It's pro.
rounced Sly. plain, commonplace, everyday
Sly. 1hnt's the. way A. hns been pronounced
ever heard Of. I'm not much on p"ei r sc
scarchinr--too. many OF my ncquaintsnccs
hov. siumhi.d across horse thieves and
ecrcs,ion"su scbisy i" an % old Ma apr
family though why they have strck on ail
those sloppy consoDants can't tell, brt i,'s
tsir cea.e. TO come ont, then you can call ms
Dinris, IL you like. So long rs I have The
proud distinction OF drawing a comb over my
snd ~ ~ siaiv : lp0 q jsci to i b cali i@s' r,s ai ! ~
any 9th or foreign twisting Of the name"
"how do you like the name OF tho famous
Like itf" ssid the gsllan, ga dog. why,
csn't say that ever gave AZ much
contiderntion. can only say that svon after
! bocare q full-hedeed navel officer the old
general gave n dinner az the Brovoort House,
in FIN. avenue, New Yofk, nj which he in
yit.d all tie young men he could find WIN
had been nnmcd otter him. " was n Great
rignt. i1rrc they were. several score strong,
and there. is no telling how many more might
not have been therc had they known Of AZ.
AM way, they turned ont fairly well. NJ least
osss OF them having becnmo u general in the
United sia.es arry. VEL, the old general
vonnd NJ The dinner in one Of fis mort
: omro-s speeches such n no one csr appru
said that be felt hishly grasiAcd NJ having
his name nfs 10 rosterisy IN snch promising
believed al he Sid. Az sry rate I cant
change the. name, and don't believe I'd
want to r. ! could. New York gyibuna,