Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-05-04
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I WHEN DEWEY X
! X WAS A BOY.
} Incidents of the Youthful Days of
the Hero Of Manila.


fessional training by teaching school
in Vermont acquired habits of economy
which chung 30 him through life
After his marriage and establishment
in Montpelier, a large family connec-
ton living in his native town, Berlin,
four miles distant, fell into a way when
business called them to the capital of
stopping with their teams at his house.
The doctor stood it for time in ST.
lence, but on u certain market day his
patience suddenly gave way and meet
ing his guests at the gate he directed
them to u hotel in an adjacent square,
where he assured them they would find
better accommodations than he could
furnish and at current rates"
From this incident, which he fire.
quently related, he dated his prosper
ity. He had always high sense of his
religious obligations, however, and was,
indeed, the founder of Christ Prot
estant Episcopal church in Montpelier,
where his distinguished son was bap-
tized, attended Sunday school and was
confirmed, and which became the eccle-
siNstical home of the family. The house
which he occupied, and in which all of
hic children were born, was originally
exceedingly small, but was several
times added to.
Within the last two or three years,
wishing to replace this modest struc-
ture with a handsomer, more modern
edifice, Edward Dewey, the second son,
sold the dwelling and barn (retaining
the grounds) for $3.50. Three days aft
erwards the buildings were resold for
$l0O, the last purchaser, who paid the
cost of removal, placing them on lot
on State street.
Since the battle of Manila this house,
as the birthplace and early home of its
hero, has been an object of interest to
tourists and relic hunters. The latter,
indeed, have threatened to carry it
away pieccmeal, souvenir fiend in one
instance wrenching off silver-plated
faucet, and leaving the water running
in the bathroom with the pressure of
the full system of 1853 pounds
Of characteristic stories of Dewey
many are preserved in the mental ar
chives of those who were his compan-
ions in the boyish escapades of which
he was the instigator and in which he
always played prominent part.
An incident in his earliest boyhood,
graphically portrayed by one of these,
brings wildly before us Il delightful
tragi-comedy, with the dramatis per-
sonae and stage setting of front yard
and vine-clad cottage.
As the two children were at play one
morning n lady, with the indubitable
toothache symptoms of swollen face
and hand pressed to cheek, aighted
from vehicle before the gate and asked
to see the doctor Deciding to apply
the only infallble remedy, and wishing
to get the best light upon Ills patient,
that gentleman asked that she would
take her seat in the front doorway,
resting her feet on the upper step. But
here new difficulty arose. The inn
provised dental chair provided no sup
port for the head, and summoning the
little visitor the operator directed him
to stand behind her, put his hands on
either side of her face, and let her brace |
herself against his shoulder.
81 did as l was told" continued the
narrator, but at the first twist of the |
old-fashioned turnkey the patient ut
tered yell which, never having heard |
an Indian war-whoop, thrilled me with |
horror, and, deserving my post, fed |
in dismay. In an instant George was in |
my place, and / can see now the set look |
of determination upon his face and the
resolute pose of his sturdy little figure,
as with the lady's head pillowed upon
his breast he grasped an ear firmly with
either small hand.
when the tooth was out and we were
again alone he endeavored to convince
me that a woman's screams couldn't
hurt but L had my opinion on the sub
ject, which logic failed to alter"
On another occasion when the two
boys had come into possession of bot
tie of maple sirup they agreed to go to
the schoolhouse, where fire still burned
in the stove and sugar it,"
Upon their arrival they happened to
try the door leading to an upper room,
and finding it fast, although there was
no lock upon it, they concluded that it
was being held by some intruder, who,
intent upon mischief, had concealed
himself within. They called several
times, and, receiving no answer, retired
to convenient distance and held a
council of war, when George, as tacitly
organizer, decided that
they would get into the upper window
by climbing upon shed roof, and dis
lodge the enemy.
"You get a club from the woodpile,"
he said, land l." unclasping it, and
slipping it into the breast pocket of his
little spencer, twill take my knife.
Let me go first, and if there are two of
them you can club one while 1 finish
The other"
"All this was as real to us then" said
nv informant, "as was the battle at
Manila afterward to him. We made
our way stealthily to the upper win
low, opening it with the utmost eau
ton, lest our prey, appraised of our ap-
should escape us, but upon en-
tering the room there was not a creature
% be seen. On examining the door we
. Il. L. |