The evening times., 1899-11-22

| The third chapter of the history of ths
Dewey Home. was written this morning
when Mildred Mclean Dewey, and her hus.
| band. George Dewey, put on record deed
transferring the premises known as No
| 1747 Rhode Island Avenue, to George G.
| Dewey, a son Of Admiral Dewey.
The deed of conveyance, however, con-
tains the following reservation, which is
| written as marginal note: Subject, how
ever, to this express reservation, that the
parties Of the first part do hereby express
ly reserve to themselves and to each of
them, during, and for the period of their
natural lives, respectively, life interest in
and TO the premises herein described, such
life interest in case of the death Of either
of the parties of the first part to revert to
the other"
The consideration named is SO, but the
documents bear $50 worth Of internal
revenue stamps.
In an interview with reporter last
night which was printed in this morning s
Times Admiral Dewey expressed the keenest
regret. Indignation, sorrow, and resent
ment at the manner in which the informa-
tion that he had decided his home to his
wife had been received by the American
people. He said he had never experienced
such trying time as the present one, and
that he did not believe it was possible
that the American people should so misun-
derstand and ill-treat him. At times his
voice grew husky, his words became
scarcely distinguishable, and he was so
nervous that he frequently rose and paced
the floor.
The Admirably Statement.
I
wife" he said, Il thought l was doing the
most gracious act that an American gentle
man could do. thought the people had
given me this house for me to dispose CT
as l chose. Ii seems that l was mistaken.
! would never have sold it. nor given it,
nor willed it, nor disposed Of 1t in any man
ner whatsoever outside of my own family.
But did believe / had the right to give it
to my wife or my son il / chose to do so.
1T pains me very deeply to feel that
am compelled to lay open the secrets OF my
domestic life, but in view of the insults
which | have received at the hands Of
writers of letters which have been pub
lished, | feel justified in somewhat over
stepping the bounds of propriety and say
ing that Mrs. Dewey understood better
than | did the feelings of the people, and
at first declined TO permit the house to be
transferred 10 her. She did consent only
after an arrangement had been effected
whereby not only the house, which was tie
gift to me from the American people, but
her entire personal fortune. which. as you
are aware. is considerable was TO ultimate
ly go TO my son, George. Thus he had alb
solutely pothing TO lose by my conveying
my house to my wife, but, on the con-
trary, was great gamer thereby.
The relations between my son and my
Salf have aluays heaD the kindly
and between Mrs. Dewey and my son the
most pleasant. She thinks a great deal of
him and he OF her, and he was to be her
heir as well as mine. This arrangement is
not in the least affected by the clamor
which has arisen within the last two days,
nor by the fact that Mrs Dewey will trans
fer to my son tomorrow this house. This
agitation has hurt my son even more than
il has me. He is Eow twenty-siS years OF
age, and never in his life has he asked me
for dollar. When he was at st. Johns
School, and afterward at Princeton, | kept
him supplied with money far in advance,
and he would frequently say that he had
no use for so much money. l told him if
he did not want to spend il TO put it in
bank. 1t is unlikely that l would neglect
his interests now.
Surprised mt Changed Feeling.
nave DtltNtu II pOs-
sible,'' Admiral Dewey continued, that the
American people. who lately applauded me
could so suddenly turn upon me as to fill
columns of the newspapers with the worst
sort of abuse. When l landed in New
York / was told that was a hero, the idol
of the nation. | was told that nothing was
too good for me; that anything that could
ask was mine. l asked no idolatry: l asked
no applause. | had merely done my duty
and was ready to do it again. But, l did
ask one thing, and that was to be let
alone, to conduct my personal and domes-
tic affairs as l saw fit, and this one simple
privilege which / asked from the American
people has been denied me. Where l was
a hero two months ago | am now reduced
to such position that certain people can
not say things too villainous. too scurrilous
about me; and no one defends me. II
was SO much of hero then, and the Ameri-
can people thought well enough of me to
give me this house. why do not some OF
these people defend me now? If / had
known how much trouble, how much abuse
was to come upon me as the result of ac-
cepting this house. / would never have
taken it at the hands of the American peo-
pie. When l sailed into Manila Bay, over
dangerous ground, with death and even
worse in front of me, little thought that
turned to my native land the Ameri-
can people would countenance such mon
strous attacks upon me because 1 was doing
what / considered to be the most gracious
thing 1 could do, to present my home to
my bride.
ST do not intend to arraign the entire
American people for the acts Of few. But
I am hurt am cut to the quick. 1 never
have felt so badly in all my life. l want
the American people to know it. I want
them to know that If 1 could would re-
turn to the contributors to the fund the
house purchased with it. l would never In
the world have accepted it il had known
what it would cost me. If l should feel
tomorrow as 1 feel tonight / would cut il
all, throw up everything. go on the retired
list, and go abroad. In fact, feel so dis
so worn out tonight that scarce
!y know what will do. l hardly feel like
living in country where can be attacked
in such an outrageous manner without be-
ing defended by anyone. When the Amer
ican people wanted me to command a feet |
and to sail into Manila Harbor did my
duty as saw 1t. and as believe soldier |
should. And il they want me now, or at |