Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-11-16

these years l learned to revere Admira
DeWey's character. He was my preu,
chevaier. His generosity, his pur
patriotism, his gentleness and fairness
his love OF JUSTICE knew and hon
ored all these traits, and when he wen
TO Manila we felt, as family, that W.
had lost the daily association of on,
who was very dear to us. While tn,
admiral; who was commodore then
commanded the Olympia you may b,
sure we were vitality interested i,
everything that went on away owe,
there in the east. We correspondet
constantly, and after the battle O.
Manila we felt as though one of Il.
was the hero of that great engagement
Mamma and l sent the first despatch n
congratulation that Commodore Dewey
received after the victory of Manila
When he was made an admiral we sem
MIN the cablegram that gave him the
news Of his promotion. Secretary
Longs message, you may hoist the
admirals flag, Dewey" was several
hours later than ours. We knew q,
MS promotion in less than five minutes
after 1t happened, and we instanuy
cabled:
Dewey, Manila: You are an adj
miral. God bless you. (Signed)
Mary M'Lean and Mildred Hazen.
And the answer came:
10 NaT
ington:-Thanks and thanks,
and yet again thanks.-George Dewey
1t sounds like a beautiful story
and you look just like the portraits of
Dolly Madison" I volunteered, with
feminine irrelevancy.
Just here Mrs. Mclean, the stately
and beautiful chatelaine of the superb
mansion, came to join us, and for a
lew moments we talked of common
place topics. The servant presently
announced Mrs. Ludlow, Mrs. Hazen's
sister, one Of the wittiest and most
brilliant of women, and we talked
photographs, for Mrs. Hazen had prom
ised to pose especially for a picture for
the World. Mother and sister i'm
plored the dearest woman" not to
pose in sombre black, and at last Mrs.
Hazen consented to wear the simple
white gown in which her portrait was
taken.
While we were waiting for the art s.
to arrange the Photographic parapher-
MALTA Mrs. Hazen suddenly said to me:
"Oh, by the bye, | want you to join q
society we are all much interested in
mamma, sister and l are members
It's the society for never saying a hurt
full thing about another woman. Will
you join?"
What are the fees and things?" I
frugally inquired, with a memory for
yearly dues that seem to be always
clamOring for consideration from GER
tain clubs upon whose books I have the
honor to be enrolled.
''No fees at ALL" said Mrs. Hazen,
and just one article in the creed. You
promise here, in the presence of NAM
ma and sister, never to say a word
that will injure the moral reputat
of woman. No matter what her pa
has been, you promise never by a syll-
able to add to the injury done her repu-
tation by herself or any one else. Hold
up your hand!"
And [ obeyed like one hypnotized,
and, and before | knew it l was full
fiedged member of the society, and
rather frightened at the prospect
Cant l even tell jokes-little jokes,
you know-about women?" | asked
feebly.
Not if they hurt" said Mrs. Hazen
with decision. You see,' she con-
tinued, I'VE women have go to help
each other. We must stand by each
other. Never mind what has happen
ed, we will help by words as we'll as
deeds. ''Of course she added, cit
does take a good deal of the spice out
of life and contributes rather to the
dulness than the gayety of nations, and
it's about all we can do to resist. I al
most choke sometimes in the effort.
But as Uncle Remus would say, You
done jined into this society and you's
'bleeged to bide by de laws"
A servant now announced that Ad-
miral Dewey presented his compli-
ments and wished to know how Mrs.
Hazen was this morning, and 'the
dearest woman" blushed and fed to a
telephone in the next room. When she
returned we went to the mushroom
where Mrs. Hazen allowed me to pose
her. AS she sat at the piano with an
unstudied and absolutely unaffected
desire to give me the picture which I
particularly fancied, l could not help
rejecting how much of fine ideals, deli
cate sensibility, gentle sympathy and
purity of character Mrs. Hazen typi-
fed
After the portraits were successfully
taken Mrs Hazen said she had not yet
thought of her wedding fnery. "My
happiness" she said, 'is only a few
days old, and | don't really know when
we are to be married. We haven't
quite decided. Then, too, since my
darling boy died | have cared so little
about my gowns. They have been
black-just black, and all alike ]
never expected to wear anything else.
But now, of course, | think it would
be selfish to take my crepe into Ad-
miral Dewey's life. You see, it is his
life that is all important. Mine will
be merged into his. l have no desire
the very humblest, saIu Mrs. Hazen. 81