Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-04-12
A Shattered Idol.

HObsOn kissed himself from fam
into oblivion in a single week TIT
3. descent Of Admiral George Dewe,
from his high pinnacle has been equal
iy rapid. Ifhe has not reached obliv
ion yet, it is because he had further tC
fall than Hobson did.
Truly, this hero business has It's
|perils, and the worst peril of all is the
/ dear ladies. Where, six months ago,
/ the country rang with enthusiasm over
the deeds of Dewey, now his name is
mentioned with curled lip. Where
then it was freely said that if our gal
liant admiral would but say the word
he could win the presidency by accla-
nation, now he would find it difficult
to be chosen fence-viewer in almost
any New England town.
Why all this change, so sudden and
abrupt? Well, there are more reasons
than one, but one principal reason can
be assigned. Though it will be agreed
that the Dewey craze was oyerdone
last year and that many people became
heartily tired OF it, so that a revulsion
of feeling-a cUidness-was bound to
ensue, yet this alone will not explain
the present disgust over our erstwhile
hero.
admiral George Dewey never made |
a mistake until he got married; since
then he has done nothing but make |
mistakes" said Congressman the
other day As a general proposition,
he spoke the truth Where. up to the
time Of his marriage last fall, every act
in Dewey's career, both official and
private, had marked him as the very
of wisdom and sagacity.
even at times when mistakes would
have been easy and natural, since then
he has scarcely done a thing or spoken
a word but has provoked criticism.
As whole, the American public was
not oyeuoyed at Dewey's marriage
when it occurred 1t appeared to
hem as if a designing society woman !
If Washington had succeeded in her {
purpose Of rising TO the top in the
ocial struggle, rather than that the i
dmiral had wooed and won the woman
# his heart, just as he would have {
lone had he returned from the East as /
comparatively inconspicuous as when c
e left. Admiral Dewey may. and 7
does, think that it is none of O
he American public's business who he a
married. or under what circumstances. !
nat he is mistaken. In honoring him h
5 it did in excessive adulation at his t,
aet; it acquired a relation toward him h
bat he did not understandable right S
D censor his every act, public and pri-
ate. He owed it to the American V
eople to select a wife satisfactory to \
lem as much as the Prince of Wales II
id when he took the gracious Danish
rincess Tor his bride. This is one of :
ne penalties of fame and position.
Mrs. Dewey was a widow, the sister
T that artful politician, John r. Nc
can, Of Ohio. As to her character and )
lorals, there has been OF course no I
reath OF suspicion. She has ALWAYS
loved in the aristocratic social circles
Washington and her ideas seem to !
oniorm exclusively to that set. The
lct that she is a Roman Catholic ought i;
OF to prejudice opinion against her !
ut as the wife Of Admiral Dewey. I
laring with him honor and position. 4
certainly does. in many quarters. &?
First, after the marriage, came the .;
ewey Home unpIeasantnes,. Admit ;
II Dewey. in his post-nuptial trans (;
ort, decided to his wife the home that &!
ad been subscribed for him bv 4
rateiul people. He had a legal right !
do this, for the home was his own. Z
use as he saw fit, but it was mighty :
Dor Judgment. 1t was the gift oil :
any people to Admiral Dewey him I
III and those who made it had reason I
complain when, almost As soon as Z
secured the deed, he passed it on 20 ?
lofher in whom the contributors in :
rest was at most secondary. There :
ever appeared to be any reason for it. I
Their. Admiral and Mrs. Dewey !
'uld have enjoyed it as well under !
5 oMnershin rs nnder hon LIS fnal- 3