The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-27
Review of Admiral Dewey's Life
by Relative.
A Halter OF FALSEHOODS
As Boy. as Well as at the Present
Time, Americas Hero Despised a
Liar and a Cowerd-A Treat
for High School Pupils

yesterday morning when Professor
Leamy introduced to them A. M.
Dewey of Washington, who, in short
address, reviewed briefly the career of
Admiral George Dewey. Mr.. Dewey is
passing through Butte on an official
visit to the cities and town of Idaho,
and consented to remain over a day TO
enlighten the High school pupils re-
garding the man of the hour. Super
intendent Hendricks and reporter for
the Standard were the only persons
present other than the regular attend
ants.
Mr.. Dewey was introduced by Profess
sor Leamy in a few well chosen words
as "a relative of Americas great ad-
miral." This was enough to start the
enthusiasm of the pupils, which was
manifested by generous applause at fire.
quent intervals.
Before proceeding to talk about the
admiral, Mr.. Dewey paid a deserved
compliment to the public schools sys-
tenn of Montana in general and of
Butte in particular. He told the pupils
their chance for liberal education in
all the common branches was as good
in Butte as in any of the older cities
of the eastern states, and urged them
to make the best of their school priv
leges. Speaking of Admiral George
Dewey, the speaker said in part:
Admiral George Dewey was born in
one of the most pleasant villages of
the Green Mountain state, amid sur
roundings calculated to bring out the
best that was in him. He had adj
vantages many another boy does not
possess. His parents We're well to do,
and he was not compelled to leave
school to earn his own livelihood by
labor on a farm or in a mine. He was
what some might call well horn. His
father was a country physician, and,
you know, next to the country editor,
the country doctor is the most import
ant man in his community. His father
was an educated man, and his mother
a refined and educated woman. His
surroundings We're wholesome and
healthful ones, both for the body and
for the mind. The future admiral was
not the bad boy. newspapers delight to
picture him; but he was a misChievous
boy, the sort of boyish boy that makes
a man. Major Pangbcrn of jersey City
boasts that he is the only man living
who ever whipped the admiral. Well.
Pangborn did whip him: but when he
did it, the major was an athlete fresh
from college, and George Dewey was
a lad of less than ~ years, and the
pedagogue admits having used a raw
hide whip and hickory stick with
which to 'subdue his pupil. If Pang-
born is entitled to any credit for that
achievement, he is welcome to IT. There
are many men now living in Mont
pelier, schoolmates of George Dewey
a that time, who assert tnat the teach
er would have been whipped by the
boy in anything like an even-handed
battle. Yet the admiral himself now
says that punishment did him good.
and made a man of him. rs 1t caused
him to stop his foolins in school and
led him to settle down and take up his
school work in earnest-something he
had not done before that time, and
Major Pangborn is to-day one of the
admirars warmest personal friends.
George Dewey as a boy was not
unlike other boys. He played ball,
skated, swan, ran foot races, played
humble the-peg, marbles. lacks swap
ped knives, and, in fact, did jrst what
boys do to-day. But one thing was
noticeable; his kite would fly little
the highest. and a little the best bal
anced: his hand was trif1e steadier at
the game of Jacks, and he was the best
shot in game of marbles, and usually
carried home the marbles of his play
mates, as proof of his skill Whatever
he did was done well-better than it
had been done beforehand the lad rs
boy thus earned his r'~ht to leader
ship among his playmates as he has
earned his right now to leadership
among men. He has ever despised
liar OF a sloven. He had no use for
either as boy. and will not tole rate
either of them about him as man. He
was most chivalrous in his conduct to-
wards the gentler sex: and at 70 wears
OF age he has record of having vaulted
fence and whipped a boy twice his
size for striking a girl: while, as a
youth, he once attacked and soundly
trounced half dozen fellows larger
than he was himself for insulting
young woman whom he had never seen
before. And were the present admiral
10 near any woman, young or old,
signify spoken of, in any company. he
to it.
The character of George Dewey ras
ever neen OF the noblest, ard ever above
reproach. Touch him from whatever
point you will. he is one of the hest all
round men this country has ever pro-
duced. As subordinate IN the navy.
always ready and willing 70 obey ord re
to the letter; as commander. lust as
certain to exact discipline from those
ABOUT MIN. Brave as lion, vet as
gentle as a lamb. In fact, he is the
sort of man Shakespeare had in mind
when he wrote:
His life was gentle. and the ela-
ments so mixed in him that nature
might stand up and say to all the world
this was man."
The speaker told the pupils there
might be another George Dewey in the
school before him. but IL was very
doubtful. and he did not believe in the
spread-eagle practice of assuring every
boy he met that he might some day
become a Lincoln. Grant, Dewey.
But all We're expected to make the very
best use of their opportunities in life,
and initiate the example of George
Dewey in doing whatever came to hand
just little better than 1t had ever been
done before.
BE original-do not become auto
matte imitators. What Is worth doing
at all is worth doing we'll Remember
that always. The occupations of life
are to-day crowded with commonplace
people. There is room for success only
at the top."
Mr.. Dewey left Butte early this morn
ing for Pocatello, Idaho, where he goes
n inv fIrraA n Co.,