Evening journal., 1899-09-30
ATALK ABOUT DEWEY
Manners and Habits of Americas
Honored Admiral.
some of the Distinguishing Traits Of
One OF the Most Unique Charnc-
ters In the worlds Ma
val History.

Exacting In the performance of OIL
cial duties, courteous in manner, quiet
in department, immaculate 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 re-
Gently that there was no occasion for
lionlzlng him, and added: "As mat
ter of fact, was nervous from drink
ing poor coffee, just before the battle
of Manila" his old naval friends smiled
admiringly. Their comment was that
it was exactly like Dewey's modesty.
They recalled how difficult It had been
always to induce him to refer TO his
naval exploits in the cos, preferring al
ways to change the topic to anything
of current interest.
In his characteristics the hero of Ma
nila bay differs but little from his broth
er officers. George Dewey might, in
deed, be called a fair type of the Amer
lean naval officer, who, as a rule, is
genial, approachable, fond of the con-
ventional good things of life, and not
at all assertive of his most distinguish
ing trait, which is readiness for duty,
whenever and wherever ii 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. It is a fact that the majority
of them, almost al Of them, are found
to be not only officers of the highest or
der of ability and efficiency. but with
personal qualities most delightful in
public officials. 1t may be that follow
/ ing the sea develops the character and
| broadens n man. Certain il is, as many
people must have observed, that the
average captain of an ocean liner is as
fine a gentleman as can be found in the
4 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 unas-
suming manners.
If 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 a quarter of a
century earlier. He would scarcely be-
lieve that the seeming man of the
world, dressed with faultless taste, had
served as lieutenant on the small steam
sloop 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 high
est commendation for bravery from
his admiral in the west gulf squadron.
And ten years later, at Manila bay, the
slight, courteous gentleman was des-
tined to add new and brighter page
to American history than any Of the
past.
i. Still less would one recognize a man
Of such qualities, seen of an evening in
the coy smolling-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 fayorite 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 OF
p lmeu. His wife, who was daughter OF
II Gov Goodwin. the war governor Of YER
mont died I'm 1875, and much of the adj
mirars home life since then has been
in the clubs When stationed in Wash
ington he had rooms at the Everett, %
modest apartment house, at 1880 ii
, street, within easy reach of the navy de-
partment, the Metropolitan and the
Il 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
bis favorite table in the club, the nook
where he smoked and chatted with
! friends after dinner, and are still more
/ anxious to get a 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 viii come back to them unaffected
by tie 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 cordiality and con-
tentment in his. eyes, to be once more
, in the place he calls honest. Louis
Republic.