Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
DEWEY At TRIESTE.
4 United States Consul Writes Inter
estingIy OF Hi- Visit There.

From the Kansas City Mo- Journal.
An interesting account of the recent visit
of Admiral Dewey to Trieste is given in a
letter sent to the Clinton Herald by Col F.
W. Mahin consul to Reichenberg, Austria.
Col. Mahin, who one Of the American
Official reception committee states that an
i"Wan-Consul Hossfeld of Trieste. former
secretary Of GOV. Larrahee-was the first
person to grasp the admirals hand in Eu-
r"peah waters, he having boarded the
olympia three hours before the official
party called to pay its respects.
After mentioning the presence of Con-
gresham George e. Fnss of Chicago in the
welcoming party, Col. Mahin gives the fol-
lowing incident:
While were aboard the Olympia the
German consul general at Trieste called on
the admiral. Official etiquette. we under
stood. did not demand this call. and there
fore. in view of the unplea saEt German in
cldent at Manila considered it Very
significant. Both the admiral and the con-
sui general evidently enjoyed the meeting"
COL Mahin writes very entcrt&ininSly of
Admiral Dewey's health and his PERSONAL
lty, stating among other things:
- ooIiSh and untrue reports We're teie-
graphed to European papers-perhaps also
To America-that the admirals health was
a wreck. that he must go to Carlsbad for
treatment and so He seemed to in
perfect health, and his own statement cor
Ip''pI dltt appearances lie ldI gained
eight pounds in weight-a pound a week
since leaving Manila, and declared himself
sound and vigorous in every respect. He
was also in high spirits, evidently enjoy
ing, as only so warm and lively a tempera
ment as his could enjoy, the well-earned
high hcnors which the whole world was
showerng upon him.
LAS Admiral Dewey appeared to us-and
better post Of observation could not be
had-he is quick. nervous and impulsive.
If deficient in courage and mental balance
he would constantly blunder in speech and
action But his mental poise is such as to
be an admirable complement to his tenn
permanent. Like a fash he reaches the
right conclusion, says the right thing and
does the right thing.
He is lively and interesting In CONVERSE
ton. but says he cannot make Il speech.
He has dreaded the homecoming especial
ly on that account. The fear that he would
be expected to respond to toasts has sat on
him like nightmare. But he was assured
that his fellow-countrymen would he fully
satisfied merely to gaze on their Idol, mani
festly 70 his relief and qualification.
Twice before, years ago. Admiral Dewey
had been at Trieste. and he had a liking
for the place. He said besides he
pleased with the strict neutrality observed
by the Austrian flag in the east. Certainly
there is now very kindly feeling toward
the admiral in this empire. 1t is reflected
in the press and heard everywhere in con-
versatior. Reichenberg paper, hitherto
rather unfriendly toward the United States,
Inc so th1t 1 WAS OlteH On Ine
point of stopping IT, now goes to the
! length of making an invidious comparison
between Austrian and American naval Of
ficers. no
"It relates that just before Admiral
Dewey arrived at Trieste Admiral Spaun Of
the Austrian navy was on his flagship.
Several American correspondents went out
to the ship in a boat and respectfully ask
ed the officer in charge If they could see
Admiral Spaun. telling who they were. The
officer was evidently astonished at their as
sumption. and told them emphatically that
the admiral did not 7see reporters. They
then asked very respectfully if the officer
would give their cards to the admiral. To
! this he vouchsafed only 'Nein, so de-
Cided that the correspondents LEFT.
1.-The next day Admiral Dewey arrived.
A party of Italian reporters rowed to the
Olympia. Presenting their cards to the OF, :.
fcer at the gangway, they were received
with cordialty and invited aboard Asking
if they could see Admiral Dewey. they
were told certainly An orderly was sent
! to the admiral, who at once appeared,
grasped them warmly by the hand, and in
vted them into his cabin. Then he told
the Italian reporters, Make yourselves at
home My cabin is yours.
Il did not hear of this while at Trieste,
but the incident well describes Admiral
Dewey that II probably occurred. His COM
ing to Trieste was fine stroke or policy,
though apparently he did not intend II as
such. Whatever antagonism has hitherto
existed in Austria toward the United States
is no longer in evidence. The incident
| noted above shows that although Admiral
| Dewey is great fighter, he is also kindly
| and considerate.
He is, besides, artistic. He loves music
During the dinner on the Olympia the
| ships band played, as II does every day at
| that hour No nearer so keenly enjoy ed
the dulcet straino did the admiral. Many
times he called attention to some parsicu-