The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-27
STORIES TOLD OF DEWEY.
TIE <DMIRAL's TRAITS As SEEN M
FELLOW OFFICERS

| an Admiral-A Fine swordsman-Lovs
| of Mischief When n Schoolboy-Snaks
Trick Played Him BY Sailor
WASHINGTON. Aug. 26-Ii you should hap
| pen 70 Join group OF retired naval officers al
| the club alter they got talking about Admiral
George Dewey. you would hear some very inter
osting things concerning him Ono feature OF
the talk cannot but attract attention. There is
not the slightest disposition 10 carp at his good
fortune, or talk about some people always being
lucky. While some OF them may think that they
| would have done Just as Dewey did under similar
| conditions mono OF them say 30. They are con-
tent 70 praise him, and keep silent as 10 the what
| / would have done"
While Dewey has always been well liked by
those In and out OF the service who knew him WELL
| he has always possessed sort OF reticenco. that
has prevented him from being very popular. as
| the term is generally understood He Is cool,
rather taciturn, especially when in a company
whero he is not very well acquainted. And then,
| he is ia5tidious TO q degree While he may
swear to tho extent OF big big d., he never
uses tho form OF obiurgaton which involves
| the sacred name And Tor obscenity. he
| detests II with loathing that cannot be ex-
| pressed In words He always Many
years ago while he was a watch officer, he
| happened TO be serving under ad-
miral who was distinguished In his profession Tor
| his bull dog courage and his rough language.
He was OF class that is known "a iacky officer"
meaning one whose manners SAVIOR more OF the
| Iorecasue than the quarter deck One day tho
old man." as the chief Is known In sailor parlance
| became upset about something, and turned loose
upon everything In sight in his characteristic
| way. Well Dewey was In sight, and alter stand
ing It q few minutes, he walked up to the raging
| commander OF the feet and saluting said
| Admiral - will not allow you or any
man living to address mo in the language you
are using"
The captain OF the flagship and nearly all his
officers were present and heard the conversation.
Tho old admiral turned red, and then purple
He did not utter word tor some minutes Mean
time Dewey had lett the group and returned to
whatever It was he had in hand.
Tell Mr.. Dewey wish to speak to him. said
the Admiral 10 an ensign.
"Dewcys going TO catch Il now whispered the
officers who heard the order.
In moment up came Lieut. Dewey.
you sent Tor me, srr' said he saluting.
yes, l did, sir, the other answered Il wanted
10 say TO you that was not addressing you In my
remarks a few minutes ago. That is all. sir. 4"
And the old terror OF tho resumed his prone
made
And so the incident ended. But Il was noticed
that Admiral - treated the quiet lieutenant
with unusual respect and courtesy all the rest OF
the cruise
II has been charged against Dewey that he was
q bowling swell In so lar that may mean ono
who has the best that money can buy among his
personal belongings the expression is true. He
is the most carefully tailored officer In the United
States Navy. II is really an object lesson In the
art OF dressing well 10 observe Dewey's daily me-
thod ashore
While Admiral Dewey always maintains well
flled sideboard and sometimes takes a drink when
he wants ono, he Is not tippler. II he could have
his way. when in command OF a ship he would
never have officers who habitually drank sent to
servo under him Anything but drunkard"
said he passionately once when he and
some others were talking OF a captain
who had Just been put on pledge
You can never tell what harm a drunken
man will do would much rather be compelled
TO be shipmate with lunatic Him could re-
strain, but not the drunkard. II had my way
no officer in either army or navy who had been
court martaled and dismissed the service
for drunkenness should be restored to the
active list unless his reformation was absolutely
sure"
Dewey Is perhaps the best small swordsman
among the senior officers OF the navy indeed the
best in the service excepting possibly Lieutenant
Commander Lucien Young, whose skill with the
three cornored duelling sword is a matter OF note
all through the service. Standing about 8 icct
o., or 10, 1.-THE. and with catlike quickness. the
American Admiral would be a dangerous antago-
mist with the glittering blade in his hand ii he
meant business. lie has liking Tor the sword 1T
has been the weapon par excellence OF the knight
and the gentleman tor a thousand years." he once
| said, talking OF tho drne blanche to a comrade
with II, kings bestowed the accolade 1t is the
| knightliest and noblest OF weapons. With its
| record OF ehivalry, the white comes down
| through tho ages, the last legacy OF the dead
| days OF romance and beauty to the twentieth
| century,
The early life OF men Of force and mark Is gen
| orally interesting. Admiral Dewey spent his
younger days at Norwich, VT All the old residents
OF that placid New England village remember the
American Admiral. Some interesting reminis-
cences Of Dewey a boy arc related by the old
inhabitanta As a lad Dewey had a most con-
genial companion in his sister, who Is now Mrs
Greeley. They were fine, vigorous children, with
a largo amount OF courage and imagination In
their play the realistic very much in evidence.
They particularly delighted In dangerous adven-
lures. They were fond OF making believe that the
boy was some mythical warrior and the girl
forlorn princess about to be devoured by a sea
monster. They put into their play some very
realistic action. A neighbor who watched the
scene said y saw Mary wade out into the river
where tho water was up to her knees and then
George. with a wild yell. dashed out after her,
brandishing big stick with which he beat the
water In every direction. He threw his left arm
around her and escorted her TO the shore When
they came up the bank asked what tho matter
was and the little girl with charming lisp said:
II was being rescued from ferocious allig ator by
my brother George, who came just in time TO save
me-"
In his earliest school days, Dewey displayed no
great precocity, nor any marked tendency toward
scholarship He was mover bad boy but often
a very mischievous ono His mischief took the
direction Of playing tricks on anybody who gave a
fair opening. He had q school teacher who was
apt TO become irrtated easily This teacher was
very neat and precise. He particularly delighted
In clean pens and well filled inkstandA Young
Dewey for awhile kept this mans nerves constant
ly twitchng One OF the tricks he played upon his
schoolmaster 10 put bits Of tin foil in the writ
ing ink. In second II turned the fluid from a
deep black into shabby reddish brown. The
diacoloTatIon WAS onlv temnoraTv and In forty-