Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-12-22

is certainly a good Christian gentle
whom all manly men may admire on
that account.
Gen. Miles is also worthy of the hon
ors which have come to him for the
same reason. He would rather go home
to lunch or to supper with his wife
than to attend any of the grand ban
quets which are bestowed upon him..
His home life is beautiful, and his wife
loves him for his unblemished life and
character. He is never away from
home at night, unless accompanied by
his wife, or unless public duties or pub
lie receptions require him to be without
her.
Admiral Schley has always been a
home body, and he loves no society as
he loves the society of his wife. After
his return from Cuba, when hundreds
of letters were pouring in upon him
from every section of the country, Ad-
miral Schley quietly lived here in re.
tirement, his wife by his side, and all of
the letters which came were opened and
read by her. She smiled one day and
said to the writer: This experience
would make a good private secretary,
for 1 am debating answers to many of
these letters"
One day recently, while writing an
Endorsement upon a small check in n
bank, l heard a voice near me saying:
"Will you kindly cash this check and
give an old man some money for it?"
Looking up l saw Admiral Schley
standing by me, smiling as he handed 4
check to the paying teller, who said:
'Why, admiral, you are not an old man
yet, by a great deal"
Admiral Schley replied: "Well, on
board ship the boys call me old man.
They always call the commanding of
fcer the old man. no matter what his
age may be. l remember when l was in
command of the New York heard some
sailors swearing, and sent word tC
them they were violating the regula.
tions, and were offending high heaven
by the use of such language. The
next morning, just as L awakened,
heard sailor start n sentence with an
oath, when another said: BE careful
the old man will hear YOU"
After the admiral received cash for
his check, l told him that an old school
mate of his had said to me that many
years ago the admiral had said that
many men lost fame and fortune by
failing to take advantage of opportuni'
ties. and he replied:
THAT is true. During the civil war n
young captain in the navy had an op'
portunity to win fame by sinking boat
of the enemy, but hesitated few min
utes, and the opportunity was gone.
have often said that if ever had an op'
portunity for distinction, would take
advantage of it. Well, when the battle
of Santiago was beginning l mentally
said to myself: Here is your oppor
tunity,' and hastened TO take advan'
tage of it. Any captain in the fleet could
have done as we'll as did on that occa
sion; but it was my opportunity
to be temporarily in command, and
took advantage of that opportunity
and got into the fight without delay
Opportunity comes to every man a
least once in lifetime, but many
men neglect their opportunities"
How true that is. Young men ant
women who read those words of tn,
great admiral will do well to remember
them, and be ready for the opportunity
to win success, when opportunit!
comes. II will be well also to remembe
that the men who achieve in this worlt
are those who love their homes, ant
who turn their backs upon the world
follies and wiclfedness.
SMITH d. FRY.
The Words nnd the Air