The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-18
DEWEY ANDPArTI.


How the Admired Came 20 Hear HeI
Sing IN MarseilIes in 1885.
Mr.. George w. Van Horn was one o.
Abraham LIncoln's consuls in Europe
He was in Marseilles, France. from 1856
to 1866. He was perhaps the youngest
man In the consular service, being onlS
q. His wife tells the following story Of
visit by AdmFal Dewey. then lieuten-
ant commander. in that port;
,"1n the month OF November, 1865. thI
booming Of cannon In the otting told o.
the arrival Of some foreign man-of'
war. In the course Of couple OF hours
a group OF naval officers entered the
consulate, the spokesman introducing
himself as Lieutenant George Dewey
stating that the Kearsarge was In port;
that he and his companions had come q
pay their respects to Uncle Sans rep
rsentatiVe, and that others OF the ship
officers would follow.
"Lieutenant Commander Dewey was
then a man OF some twenty-elght years
Energy was shown In every movement
He had a kind smile, but for the most
part was grave and serious. liked him
from the first, he looked 50 good, 50
trustworthy. His extreme neatness, too
impressed one. He was natty from
head to foot,
1.-THE Kearsarge's officers were mostly
young fellows Of twenty-five and TWEEN.
ty-three, full of life and delighted ut
being on shore. Lieutenant Dewey was
like an elder brother to them in every
thing, and they looked up to him &c
cOrdingly.
eve iunched one day aboard the
ship, the places being pointed out where
the vessel had been torn by shot and
shell from the Alabama. But 1t was
necessary to hurry home from the
luncheon in question. for many Of the
ships company were to dine with US
and go in the evening to hear Adelina
Patti, in the ever popular Barber OF
Seville
This Indeed was no ordinary event
Patti had been booked for the first time
(and for one night only in Marsellles
ten days before the arrival Of the Rear-
sarge, and all the seats to the utmost
limit Of the opera house had heen sold.
The boys were wild to hear Patti, for
we claimed her as an American, but ad-
mission without seats could not be OBJ
tained What was to be done? Patti.
the divine. arrived In the city. Mr.. Van
Horne and myself went to call on the
famous diva at the hotel. She seemed
so glad to see US and was most cordial
and demonstratiVe. When she heard OF
our dilemma she turned to her man
ager and brother-in-law, Strakosch, and
told him that he must make room for
the officers Of the Kearsarge. He re-
piled that 1t was simply impossible, and
emphasized his words with shrugs.
Patti remarked, No seats, no OPERA
And she meant 1t, too. II was finally
arranged by Patti herself thnt the par
ty from the ship were to have seats on
the stage behind the scenes. on our
bidding her adieu she thanked us eff
fusIveiy for the privilege OF comforting
favor on our sailor boys, and gave
me warm kiss and her photograph.
both OF which dearly prize.
Mrs Morse, the vice consul and my
self went TO gee the mayor, n personal
friend, to try and procure seat for
Dewey in the mayors box. As II great
favor he let US have two for that even
ing. 1t fell to me to do the most talk
ing, as Dewey (modest then as ever)
did not seem inclined to air his French.
We looked from the box, which was In
the second tier above the stage, and
waved our hands to the boys below US
and haard and saw Patti Mt her best"