Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-10-09
WITH DEWEY At MANILA.

Dewey's service in the Philippines is
furnished by correspondent of the
Boston Transcript:
The first time I met the admiral was
upon the notable occasion of the din
ner of the Loyal Legion at Manila last
November. I was standing at the
head of the stairs in the ante room,
when the signal to present arms was
given to the marine guard in the
corridor below, and an instant after
ward I caught sight of the bluff sailor
as he mounted the steps with the easy
swing which none but sailor can
lend to his gait. In few minutes he
was chatting with me as easily as with
an old acquaintance, and with that
indescribable winning courtesy which
comes from and goes to the heart.
At the dinner which followed, pre-
sided over by Gen Anderson, it was
delightful to note how completely this
winsome quality of the man neutral
lied the petty envyings and jealousie s
which are the bane of army and navy
circles. Everybody united in kindly
tribute to the admiral, and that
tribute was manifestly as spontaneous
and genuine as any ever given. In
response was the added and captivat-
ing charm of modesty, reminding one
very strongly of his great prototype,
Gen. Grant. It was not his victory,
nor was credit due to him alone, but
rather to every officer and man of the
splendid feet. Dewey, like Grant at
the outset of his public career, is no
speech maker, and yet very seldom
have I listened to so eloquent a
speech. Though somewhat aside
from the subject, my memory of the
occasion impels me to say that among
the formal addresses made, that of
Gen. Macarthur, who has since made
so brilliant record as a soldier and
has won the heart of every man under
his command, was by far the most
grasp of the situation and its high
literary quality, it indicated a mind
which made one regret that the reins
of power in the Philippines had not
been intrusted to man like him in
stead Of to the honest and faithful
blunderer who has SO long held them
to the country's injury.
Seated at the table where l could
have close and unobstructed view
of the chief guest, a characteristic
contrast at once attracted my at
tention. Near to him was placed
political brigadier. tt e breast of his
coat was covered with decorations.
The admiral wore the simple button
of the Loyal Legion.
A personal reference may perhaps
be pardoned should it serve TO point
the courtesy and thoroughly dem
ocratic spirit of the man. My ac-
quaintance with him during my first
visit to Manila was confined to meet
ing him on this occasion and to
visit on board the flag ship to pay MIN
my respects. 1t was therefore what
might be called the merest casual
acquaintance. Two or three days
after my return in the spring, before
I had time to call upon him, was
sitting upon the Luneta at the hour
of the great evening gathering there
when the admiral drove up in his
carriage with Capt. Barker of the
Oregon, and stopped just opposite
me on the other side of the road. In
few minutes. happening to turn and
recognize me, [ started across the
road to speak to him, when he at
once left his carriage to meet me half
way.
But while thus eminently and de-
lightfully approachable, his apprecia-
position is none the less marked.
just before the war, when he was in
Yokohama on the Olympia as COM
modore, a young man was casually
introduced to him at the Grand Hotel.
In course of conversation, the former,
slightly under the influence of liquor,
and perhaps deceived by the affa-
bility of his interlocutor, ventured to
point joke by tapping the commo-
dore on his back. The by ISLANDERS
say that that young fellow will never
to his dying day forget the steely CLINT
that instantly flashed from the COM
modore's eyes. Completely broken
up, the youth was silent for the rest
of the evening. The other day had
the story direct from him, with the
4 l. L.
those eyes will ever remain, an IN
forgetable experience.
Of the German incident, 80 widely