Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-28
THE RECEPTION OF DEWEY.

among which the alteration OF his adj
mirers is not least. Admiral Dewey
will be in a position this week to fully
appreciate the truth of the above state
ment. 1t is safe to say that when he
lis once out OF the metropolis, and is
again safely EMBODIED by the Vermont
hillsides. he will feel like holding a
day OF thanksgiving all by himself.
10 say nothing of the excessive of an
noyance of being feted and feasted, and
gaped at like the lion in the circus
parade. our good admiral will have
other woes innumerable. His right
arm will ache from the hand-clasps of
the multitude, for shaking hands is a
good old American custom that can
not be kept out of the ceremonies on,
any OCCASION; his ears will be deafened
by the shouts of thousands of we'll
meaning Threats, and the braying OF
many brass bands executing Dewey
marches and Manila cake walks ga
lore.
These, however, are merely minor
troubles. The ever-ready poet of the
times has assailed him, and verses by
the yard, extolling his glory and rails
ing him to immortal fame, are for sale
on the New York streets.
That the reader may fully appreciate
the depth OF the adniiral's misfortune,
some samples are given.
One poet sings: '
"And Gridley, affrighted, unto Dewey
he came,
"our ship is a-sinking, likewise in
flame"
And Dewey he answered, in the height
of his pride; t
ST we can do no better we'll sink
Alongside
Another popular production much
displayed in the neighborhood of the
Bowery is:
When those Yankee warships opened
fire, .
Flames On Spanish cruisers mounted
Aud it t caused every Spanish sailor Ito
81; perspire- ll;i giAsii
Twas a hot time they didn't desire,
At Manila. Il a,
II for naval battles Spain should
How she's fixed for ships we cannot
learn,
But in Manila bay, why she had ships
to burn,
And it's now her Atlantic fleets turn
< 70 burn up.
sspAsbaa asQaay,sperfapsssis. the fellow-
ing, in which poetic license is taken
full Advantage Of:
AL J,a,,a,, an 5ooL bal5 b;s -,,ax q,
check. sl.s15
Every face he knew was in vengeance
set,
Each heart madly throbbed to shed
hot blood
For its own Gagged dead in Havana
flood, it'Ss So
"Fillip, flip, flip"
In battle array he arches his feet,
Near the enemy's guns his gallants
ny swoop, iai'ift q
And loosen red torrents Of well-aimed
fame
Midst the bitter cry, Remember the
+ Maine!
"Fllip, flip, flip" 47
One more quotation is sufficient to
show the desperate character of the
authors:
"A gallant dash, roar, a crash, our
guns spoke faultlessly,
And Dewey, brave, quick orders gave,
which made new history.
At cannon's mouth, our tars did shout,
Is "Avenge the Maine today!"
IAH Spain now weeps, four hundred
sleeps down at Manila bay.
There is one bit of poetry, though,
around which great many memories
now cling. Late in 1897, when Commo-
dore Dewey received his orders to take
command OF the Asiatic squadron,
many friends gave him dinner at the
Metropolitan club in Washington.
When the dining was ended, the wine
glasses passed and Colonel Archibald
Hopkins proposed the Commodore's
, health In rhyme.
In view Of what happened afterward,
the toast is most significant, and its
display now must bring pleasure to the
admiraps mind. The words run:
Fill all your glasses full tonight;
The wind is off the shore.
| And be it feast or be it fight,
We pledge the commodore.
Through days of storm, through
days of calm,
On board Pacific seas;
At anchor off the isle of Palm
Or with the Japanese;
Ashore, afoat, On deck, below,
Or where our bulldogs roar,
| To back a friend OF breast foe,
| We pledge the commodore.
1 We know our hoIor'll be unstained
/ Wher'er his pennant flies;
Our rights respected and maintained
| Whatever power defles.
| And when he takes the homeward
tack,
Beneath an admiral's flag,
Well hail the day that brings him
back
And have another jag.
FOR A SHIP CANAL.
There will be convention at Peoria
next month, on Oct. 10, to discuss 8
large subject, that of the construction
LII l =.