Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-06-25
ascHL EYa IS nsLY.0
Ills Family, Old Marylandors, Have Long
Used That Pronunciation.

Used That Pronuncihtlons
There has been good deal of specu.
lation, not only i'll naval circles, but
among the public at large as to tho
origin of Commodore Winfield Scott
Schley's name. BY some it has been as
serted that no is of German descent, and
by others that he is relative of the
doughty old hero of the Mexican war.
a little whilo before Schley became Il
commodore he gave IL Tribune reporter u
talk which will throw light on the mat
ter
"At the time l was q pulling, mewl-
ing baby, without name or much moro
hair OH my head than have now, ;"
said tho gallant officer, playfully brush
ing back the locks which so slkillfully
conceal his bald pate my parents were,
suppose, at their wits end to cudgel
up some name appropriate for tho mar
vel of human excellence they undoubt-
cdly thought me to DO. The matter did
not bother me so much rs it does now,
for 1 wisely rcfrainod from giving an
opinion on the subject, or at least any
that the newspapers would caro- to pub
lish. At that time. which marks an era
in ono life, anyway, General Scott was
in the zenith of his glory and rotundity.
y very great man was Scott at that
time-physically and popularity. He
was great friend of my parents and
frequently called at our house. AZ l
snid my parents were cudSeling their
brains TO find some name good enough
to tack on such morsel of humanity as
myself, and while in the midst of
their councils one day, tho hugo shadow
of Scott darkened tho doorway and cast
its robust shade on mo. That settled it.
The circumstance was regarded as an
suspicious omen, and forthwith it was
decided that was to pass through lifo
as Winfield Scott Schley.
Now, for PHYS sake, don give my
last namc with IL German accent. It's
pronounced Sly-plain, commonplace,
everyday Sly That's the way it has
been pronounced in my family rs long
rs | can remember or ever heard OF. I'm
not much on pedigree searchinS-too
many of my acquaintances have Stun
blcd across horse thieves and pirates to
make me DESTROYS for that kind of rec
reation-bur Schloy is IN old Maryland
family, though why they have stuck on
all those sloppy Dutch consonants |
can't tell, but it's Sly was born, and
it's Sly I'll be till my hair ceases to
come out; then you can call mo Dinnls
if You like. So long as have the proud
distinction of drawing a comb over my
head with purpose l shall most dis
tinctly and positively object to be called
Ptschzlcy or any other foreign twisting
of the name. -
"How do you like the namo of the
famous fighter
Like it," said the gallant sea dog.
"Why, 1 can't say that ever gave 1t
much consideration. can only say that
soon after became full fledgcd naval
officer the old general gave dinner at
the Brcvoort House. III Fifth avenue,
New York at Which he invited all the
young men he could find who had been
nai...t! after him. 1t WAS Il great sight.
There they were, several score strong
and therc Is 10 telling how many moro
might not have been there had they
kli3wn of it. Anyway they have turned
OFT fairly WE'LL ut least one of them
having become Il general in the United
States army. Well, the old general
wound up the dinner i'll one of his most
pompous speeches, such as no one can
appreciate unless he has seen and heard
hii:!. Eo said that he felt highly graft
fed at having his uame left to posterity
in such promising young hands, and
CT course we youngsters believed all he
said. Ut any rate L can't change the
Name and don't believe that I'd want
fn If conid. New York Tribune.