The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1899-10-07
on, while old oceans breast
Bears white sail
And Gods soft stars to rest
Guide through the gale,
Men will Him ne'er forget.
Old heart of oak
FarrlgllI Farragllt-
y 7 q = Y y T q 7 q s q =
Thunderbolt stroke

According to his own statement, Far.
ragut was very loose in his morals in
early manhood and practiced all kinds
of sin. One day he was called into the
cabin of his father, who was a shipmas-
ter. His father said David, what are
you going to be, anyhow?" He an
swered: ~ am going TO follow the
sea-" Follow the sea, said his father,
"and be kicked about the world and
die in a foreign hospital?" No. said
David, Il am going to command, like
you" "No," said the father; "a boy
of your habits will never command any
thing" And his father burst into tears
and left the cabin. From that day David
FarTIgut started on a new life.
We hail with thanks the new gem
Grafton of naval heroes, those of the
year 1898. We are too near their mar
velous deeds to fully appreciate them.
A century from now poetry and sculp-
ture and painting and history VIII do
them better justice than we can do
them now. A defeat at Manila would
have been an infinite disaster. Foreign
nations not over-fond of our American
institutions would have joined the
other side, and the war so many months
past would have been raging still, and
perhaps a hundred thousand graves
would have opened to take down our
slain soldiers and sailors 1t took this
country three years to get over the dis
aster at Bull Run at the opening of the
civil war. How many years it would
have required to recover from a defeat
at Manila in the opening of the Span
ish war | cannot say. God ayerted the
calamity by giving triumph to our navy
under Admiral Dewey, whose coming
up through the Narrows of New York
harbor day before yesterday was greet
ed by the nation whose welcoming
cheers will not cease to resound until
tomorrow, and next day in the capital
of the nation the ieweled sword voted
by congress shall be presented amid
booming cannonade and embannered
hosts,
Especially let the country boys of
America join in these greetings to the
returned heroes of Manila. 1t is their
work. The chief character in all the |
scene is the once country lad, George |
Dewey. Let the Nermonters come down |
md find him older, but the same mod
est, unassuming, almost bashful person |
that they went to school with and with |
whom they sported on the playground. |
The hOnOrs of all the world cannot |
spoil him. A few weeks ago at a ban
luet in England some of the titled |
noblemen were affronted because our
American minister plenipotentiarv as
sociated the name of Dewey with that
Of Lord Nelson. As well might we be
ltfronted because the name of Nelson
associated with that of our most re-
lowned admiral. The one man in all
he coming ages will stand as high as
he other. So this day, sympathizing
With all the festivities and celebrations
If the past week and with all the fes-
ivities and celebrations to come this
week, let us anew thank God and those
heroes of the American navy who have
lone such great things for our beloved
and. Come aboard the old ship Zion.
re sailors and soldiers, whether still in
he active service or honorably dis
harged and at home having resumed
citizenship. And We men of the past.
our last battle on the seas fought, take
rom me, in Gods name, salutatiop and
'ood cheer. For the few remaining
ghts with sin and death and hell make
eady. Strip your vessel for the fray.
lang the sheet chains over the side,
end down the topgallant masts. Bar
lcade the wheel. Rig in the flying lib
Dom. Steer straight for the shining
hore, and hear the shout of the great
commander of earth and Heaven as
lie cries from the shrouds: TO him
hat overcometh will I give to eat of
ne tree of life which is in the midst OF
he paradise of Goo Hosanna! Ho
lnnal