The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-24
DEWEY AND PATTI.
How the Admiral Came to Hear Her
Sinq in MarseilIes in 1866.

sing in MarSeilleS IN IoOO'
George w. Van Horne was one of
Abraham Lincoln's cousins in Europe.
He was in Marseilles, France, from 1851
to 1886. He was perhaps the youngest
man in the consular service being only
27 His wife tells the following story OF
a visit by Admiral Dewey, then leuten-
ant commander, in that port. 80
''In the month of January, 1866, the
booming of cannon in the otf1ng told OF
the arrival of some foreign man-ot-WaI
In the course of couple of hours group
of naval officers entered the consulate,
the spokesman introducing hlmselI as
Lieut. George Dewey, stating that me
Kearsarge was in port, that ne ana ms
companions had come to pay tnelr re-
spects to Uncle Sans representative, and
that others of the ships officers would
follow.
lieutenant Commander Dewey was
then a man of some rs years. Energy
was shown in every movement. He had
kind smile, but for the most part was
grave and serious / liked him from the
first, he looked so good, so trustworthy
His extreme neatness, too, Impressed me.
He was natty from head to foot.
1.-THE Kearsarge's officers We're mostly
young fellows of p and %, full of life, and
delighted at being on shore. Lieut.
Dewey was like an elder brother to them
in everything and they looked up to MIN
accordingly.
the places being pointed out where the
vessel had been torn by shot and shell
from the Alabama. But it was necessary
to hurry home from the luncheon In
question, for many of the ships company
were to dine with us, and go in the eve
ming to hear Adelina Patti in the ever
popular Barber of Seville
This, indeed, was no ordinary event
Patti had been booked for the first time
(and for one night only in Marseilles ter
days before the arrival of the Kearsarge
and all the seats to the utmost limit Of
the opera house had been sold. The
claimed her as an American, but admis
sion without seats could not be obtained
What was to be done? Patti, the divine
arrived In the city. Mr.. Van Horne anC
| myself went to call on the famous diva
| at the hotel. She seemed so glad to see
US, and was most cordial and demonstra
| tive. When she heard of our dilemma
she turned to her manager and brother
| in-law, Strakosch, and told him that ht
must make room for the officers of the
Kearsarge. He replied that 1t was sim
ply impossible, and emphasized his words
with shrugs. Patti remarked: No seats
| no opera And she meant it, too It was
| finally arranged by Patti herself that the
party from the ship were to have seat:
bidding her adieu she thanked us effu
sively for the privilege of comforting g
| favor on our sailor boys, and gave me {
warm kiss and her photograph, both OF
| which l dearly prize.
Mrs. Morse, the. vice consul and my.
| self went to see the mayor, a persona
| friend, to try and procure a seat fol
| Dewey in the mayors box. As a great
| favor he let us have two for that eve.
ming. II fell to me to do the most talk.
| ing, as Dewey (modest then as ever did
not seem inclined to air his French We
looked from the box, which was in the
second tier above the stage and waved
our hands to the boys below us, and heard
and saw Patti at her best