The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-11

TO provide for an increase in his pay.
He recently died, therefore, as a rear
admiral, but drawing pay as a cap
tain. Such blunders In legislation,
however, are common the world over.
Accuracy is not cherished virtue.
Gen. Joe Wheeler Camp, United
Spanish War Veterans" has been or
ganized in Santa Rosa, Cal. with Col.
Fred 5. Lafferty as commander. "Old
Joe Wheeler, he's all right" is a pop
ular song from the rocky hills of
Maine to the golden shores of Califor-
mia. Just now the old soldier is being
dined and wined and honored over In
the Capital of Mexico. *ss A bad
out" in my last letter made me saw /
had known Jefferson" long before the
war. Intelligent readers, OF course,
knew that it should have been Jeffer-
son Davis. whom l became acquainted
with in my early journalistic career.
And now comes the venerable
Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle. published at
his birth place, and calls him Gen.
Joseph A. Wheeler, U. S. A." 1 can
not understand why newspapers per-
slst in giving LongStreet and Wheeler
middle names. They are, and always
have been, plain James and Joseph, no
A. and no H. in their names 80 .
Capt. Manly B. Curry, paymaster U.
5. A., (son-in-law of Senator A. o.
Bacon). has sailed for Manila, his new
post OF duty, on the transport Logan
from San Francisco. -" Several old
naval vessels that have "outlived their
usefulness" in active service, are to be
given new names and assigned to 9TH
er duties. The venerable New Hamp-
shire becomes the Granite State" the
st. Louis changes to the keystone
State" the once noted sloop of war
Dale on which my brother served in
the Mexico and California campaigns,
becomes the "Oriole," and goes to the
Maryland naval militia, and the Gran
lite State and the keystone State go to
the New Hampshire and Pennsylvania
naval militia. The cruiser Iroquois
goes to the Marine Hospital Service
as the Tonic" - The proposed
new term. American consul" cannot
be used in legal documents in place of
Consul of the United States" which
is the universally recognized title in
legal matters.
And so dear old Mrs. Geo. H. Gil
bert has closed in sudden death her
pong and honorable career on the
stage. 1 am glad she passed away
so quietly, so full of life and happi-
ness. Dear old woman how every
body loved her, and she loved every
body. Unlike so many famous ac-
tresses she escaped a lingering illness
and poverty. When l think of the
many actresses, who fingered in power
ty and sickness dying as objects of
charity. 1 am gratified that Granny"
Gilbert had so sudden and painless
an exit" from the stage OF life.
count it a great thing that in my ear
ly journalistic career, l formed the
acquaintance Of Forrest Burton, Les
ter Wallack, Sol Smith, VIM. Warren.
Mrs Barrett, Julia Dean, Mr.. and Mrs.
Gilbert. and Mr.. and Mrs. Humphry
Bland and other noted stage characters.
Mrs Gilbert was the last OF that
class, of her sex, but Joe Jefferson,
so like her In social life. still remains.
In my early days In New York, there
were no great opera houses or thea
tiers, the Broadway being the best,
and, later, Niblo's. or all the old
comedians I am sure that Burton was
I'm inimitablo Mrs. Barrett and War
rem, OF the old Boston Museum. were
universal favorites both on and Off
the stage. Forrest had his spells"
and was not always a companionable
man, yet he and John Van Buren,
were devoted TO each other. being
Prince" John and Ned" well re-
member FORESTS first appearance az
the Broadway after his divorce suit.
The theater was literally packed from
pit 20 dome, and when he responded
20 the call before the curtain. and
said who steals my purse" etc. the
ovation was iudoacrlbable. without
doubt Dc was our greatest tragodian.
The poem, Watching Cor Santa
Claus" in Last TueHdayH Morning
News. appear 10 me ~ be rather Sec