The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1900-05-02

Since the notable date, May LIST 1898.
when, as every child in the land knows,
George Dewey of Vermont won his
lauzels and became the naval hero oil
the world, the name Dewey has been
Anonymous with brass bands, trium-
phal arches, endless PROFESSIONS and
newspaper copy. At one time or another
every newspaper in Christendom has con-
tanned detailed account Of his life
and victory and even sheets OF small pre-
tensions have exhibited to the public
gaze his uniformed likeness on their
patent backs. Thus does fame serve a
man.
Morris II he alone whose every act, every
costume and every ancestor is inspiration
to paragraph and editorial grinders but
every one who bears his name or shares
his home or in any way partakes OF the
atmosphere of glory that surrounds him
is given bis full share of interest and
newspaper space.
Just now the name Of Mrp. Mildred
Mclean Dewey is brought prom nently
before the people. Her husbands dis
tinction and her own ambition have
: made her an easy mark for distracted
news gatherers and it is with feeling Of
pride that we chronicle bit Of her moth.
er's early life and romance. 1t is to the
excl lent memory CT Mr.. John E. Keith
OF this place that we are indebted for
the facts OF the wooing Of Mary Darnell
by Alexander Mclean for he was but a
boy Of seven years when he eat on his
, grandmothers lap and witnessed the GER
pemony which united the parents OF John
r. and Mildred Mclean.
1t was in 1874 in the springtime that
the story begins. A steamboat, the Far
mer, was sunk at Rock Haven, Meade
county, as she was backing out into the
river. A wrecking boat was sent from
Cincinnati to raise her and on this boat
was the young and handsome captain,
Alexander Mclean. Many hands were
needed in this undertaking and youths
from the vicinity FASTENED 70 assist. Lee
Darnell from Garnettsville was one OF
the foremost to offer his services which
were Immediately accepted. On Sum
day a party OF young people drove to
the river to see the unusual operations
being conducted there and Of this party
was Mary Darnell, the beauty and belle
of the community, with her faithful
swain, John MEG hee, now the father OF
June McGhee, OF Brandenburg Toe
party was invited on the boat where
they were introduced to the gallant cap
tain by Lee DarnellS
The soft dark eyes and the glow Of red
in the brown hair OF this handsome cour-
ttry girl attracted the admiration Of Mr..
Mclean and his attentions to her on that
first afternoon were but a promise Of the
ardent wooing that was to follow.
Alexander Mclean returned again
and again during the summer. A fine
shot, good fisherman and tireless
deer hunter, he won the friendship of
all the young men OF that section, es-
pecially OF the Darnell boys whose guest
he became. From his home in Cincinnati
he brought the most modern firearms and
expensive fishing tackle and he was the
(. first man 70 introduce cane fishing rods
in the county. He was man OF much
magnetism and 1t was no surprise to her
friends when 1t was learned that he had
persuaded Mary Darnell to become his
wife.
But the most successful card played
by this lucky young man, who seemed
TO hold handful Of trumps, was the con-
sent TO his suit and the cooperation OF
Mrs. Darnell, the ruling spirit of the
family. So generally was It known that
this lady was the head of her house,
hold, the stronger member Of the mar
rad iirm and the kind but firm. control
Ter Of her children's destinies that in
CON mon parlance the name Darnell was
chapeed to. Darneal in evidence that
Miss Neal had preserved her maiden
name as well as her strong chaiacteris-
tics In uniting her fortunes with those
OF the amiable but unambitious Mr..
DarneIl. Whatever Of force, whatever