The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-23
Some nexey Hooks.


Lives Of Admiral Dewey or books about
him come under the head of Timely" lit
erature while his fame and popularity are
at their height. He was recently presented
with a scrapbook OF newspaper articles and
clippings concerning himself. The book was
of enormous size. yet IL probably contained
only a small part of what the newspapers
have said about him. There Is an album
dance of other Dewey literature. The Jour-
nal has received three books treating the
subject from different points of view
when Dewey Came TO Manila (Dana.
Estes G. CO., Boston,, by James Otis. lis
a book for boys. The author is an exper-
fenced writer of juvenile stories. and. with
out having been In the Philippines himself.
he has made an interesting story for young
readers in which real events are mingled
with imaginary ones In just about the right
proportions to suit the youthful taste, while
at the same time conveying some historical
instruction. A book of a different charac-
ter is The Hero of Manila" I'D. Appleton
a. Coz This also is a book for boys II pur-
ports TO be a life Of Dewey, ana does con-
tain some biographical matter. but IL IS
value as a biography. Some or the stories
and incidents recall the cherry-tree story
washington such a delightful pack of lies.
However, discarding the rubbish. this book
gives an interesting account of Dewey,s ser
vice during the civil war and at Manila.
BY far the most interesting book of the
three is Admiral Dewey" by Hon John
Barrett, (Harper e. Brothers-) The author
was formerly United States minister 10
Siam and later war correspondent at Manila
from May, 1883 to March, 1893. covering
nearly the whole period of Admiral Dewey's
service there. The present work Is not SO
much a biography as a character sketch 1t
does give a sketch OF Deweys ancestry,
parentage and boyhood. but this Is mainly
for the purpose of showing the effect OF
heredity and environment on his character.
The genealogical tree shows that the adj
miral Is descended in a straight line from
Thomas Dewey, who landed at Boston in
isSS; elghte Rock years Hi sft early shf life .sn snd t5 he
main facts in his professional career and his
family relations as son, husband and father.
are related in a clear, narrative style
Nevertheless, the book is not so much a
Dewey as the world now knows him. Dur
ing his stay at Manila the author saw a
great deal of the admiral and had every OPP
portunity of studying his character and
forming an estimate of the man. His own
familiarity with Oriental character and the
political environments at Manila were also
very useful TO him I'm this regard. The re-
suit Is an interesting book and one that VIII
satisfactorily supplement more elaborate
biographies of the admiral with an intelli-
gent estimate of him as he appeared to a
close observer during the most remarkable
passage of his life. In this book one finds
no apocryphal stories regarding Dewey's
childhoo6 or boyhood and no threadbare an
ecdotes of his professional career. Ii Is an
intelligent study at close quarters of a great
man by one qualified TO weigh his character
and appreciate his motives. 1t Is doubtful
II any more interesting book regarding
Admiral Dewey will be written than this
sketch from life OF him at work and in
repoSe. ,I