The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-09-20
A Talk About Dewey.

Exacting in the performance of Off
cial duties, courteous in manner, quiet
in department, immacu ate in his attire
and fond of society and club life, were
the leading traits with which Admiral
Dewey impressed his associates during
his years Of shore duty in Washington.
When Admiral Dewey remarked Te-
Gently that there was no occasion for
lionizing him, and added: "As a mat
ter OF fact, was nervous from drink
ing poor coffee, just before the battle
Of Manila" his old naval friends smil-
ed admiringly. Their comment was
that it was exactly like Dewey's mod
esty. They recalled how difficult il
had been always to induce him to refer
to his naval exploits in the COS. prefer
ring always to change the topic to any
thing of current interest.
In his characteristics the hero Of Ma
Mia bay differs but little from his
brother officers. George Dewey might
indeed, be called fair type of the
American naval officer, who, as a rule,
is genial, approaehable, fond of the
conventional good things Of life, and
not at all sssertive OF his most distin-
gushing trait, which is readiness for
duty, whenever and wherever it may
be.
Nowhere is the naval officer seen to
more pleasing advantage than in Wash
ingtOn. Here, after years of sea duty,
for promotion he is stationed for Pc
riod as head of an important bureau
of the navy department. Men with
rank of rear admiral, commodore, or
captain serve here as bureau chiefs,
and here their characteristics are best
made known. 1t is fact that the ma
jority Of them, almost all of them, are
found to be not only officers Of the
highest order of ability and efficiency,
but with personal qualities most de-
lightful in public officials. 1t may be
that following the sea develops the
character and broadens man. Ger
tain it is, as many people must have
observed, that the average captain of
an ocean liner is as fine gentleman as
can be found in the world. OF much
the same mold are the American naval
officers. They are men Of whom the
country cannot be too proud, not only
for the manner in which they uphold
the honor of their country in every
portion Of the world, but for their great
modesty and unassuming manners.
Ii one were to visit the bureau of
equipment in the navy department dur
ing the time Commodore Dewey pre-
sided over it, he would find nothing in
the genial face of the slight man in the
chiefs office to suggest service of the
most hazardous kind Of quarter of
century earlier. He would scarcely be-
lieve that the seeming man Of the
world, dressed with faultless taste, had
served a lieutenant on the small steam
sIoop Mississippi until her destruction
by the confederate batteries, or that
he was the man selected to force the
passage up the Mississippi ahead Of
Farragut, running so close TO shore in
the work that the curses of Union and
Confederate gunners rang in each 9TH
er's ears. But it was the same man,
and quite as alert as when he won the
highest commendatiOn for bravery
from his admiral in the west gulfsquad
ron. And thirty years later, at Manila
bay, the slight, courteous gentleman
was destined to add ne and brighter
page to American history than any of
the past.
Still less would one recognize man
of such qualities, seen of an evening in
the coy smoking room of the Metro
politan club, but stones throw from
the navy department, where Dewey
was fond of going to chat with his
friends after the duties of the day, and
where he will be seen again, quite as
modest in his favorite evening dress,
after he returns to the capital, hOnored
as few men have been in any country
or time.
In social affairs Admiral Dewey is the
most delightful and companionable o.
men. His wife, who was a daughter of
Gov. Goodwin, the war governor Of
xr.-..,,.,t Hid Il, 1877 aud f,,u.b Of
the admiral's home life since then has
been in the clubs. When stationed in
Washington he had rooms at the Ever
EFT, modest apartment house, at 1880
II street, within easy reach of the navy
department, the Metropolitan and the
Army and Navy clubs.
So great now is the fame of the ad-
miral that travellers to the capital ask
generally to see these former resorts of
their hero. They ask to be shown his
favOrite table in the club, the nook
where he smoked and chatted wit h
friends after dinner, and are still more
anxious TO get glimpse of his den and
bedroom in the Everett.
But his old associates in the club
long to see the admiral himself. They
know he will come back to them unaf-
feeted by the honOrs showered upon
him, his genial face brighter at sight
once more Of the old familiar places
where he used to love to rest, with
cordiaIity and contentment in his eyes,
to be once more in the place he calls
honest. Louis Republic.