The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-25

ed to provide the proper fare. Menu
pIlls must go to him for approval. and
letter.
Looked After Comfort of Men.
1t must not be thought, however,
that because he gave so much attention
TO the little details that make so much
LOT the comfort of a crew, that he lost
signe OF the main object for which the
huge armament he commanded was
created He worked his men unmer-
cifully hard. When he relieved Ad-
mlral Barker of the command of the
North Atlantic fleet, he found it in a
plt1ably inefficient condition. There was
no coordination; they could not work
together smoothly as a unit In this
connection, remember the remark
passed by junior officer, as he watch
ed the second English cruiser squad
ron swing superbly up North river and
come to anchor in such exact align
ment that you could have stretched a
line from the first ship of the squad
ron to the last and 1t would have
touched the bow of every ship in the
squadron. 81 wish we could handle our
ships like that" said the young Off
Ger. We can-now.
Admiral Evans brought order out of
chaos, efficiency out of ineffciency
and he did it by eternally drilling, ma
neuvering, shooting. And while he did
not spare his men he did not spare
himself. Hour after hour he spent on
the bridge directing some evolution
when he should have been in his cabin
protecting himself from the damp that
many times made his malady painful,
almost beyond the point of being borne
remember on one occasion, an officer
suggested that the maneuvers be post
poned on account of the disagreeable-
ness of the weather. This said the
admiral lis just the weather ROjest-
vensky had" The officer was left to
draw his own inference from this re-
mark. But why mention his devotion
to duty when he has. since early youth
put duty before everything else. be-
cause he felt genuine affection for
his country.
Some have spoken rather slightingly
of the admiraPs religious beliefs. AS
to his views along this line I cannot
at least one place in his autobiography
he calls himself a Christian. But
whatever his views concerning the
Fatherhood of God; he certainly be-
lieves in the brotherhood of man What
is more he believes his religion as Lin
coin did.
Does he swear?" asks the prim lady.
I never heard him, at least, not profane-
ly. Perhaps you will see the point of
view from the following story, which
will also serve to illustrate his an
tipathy to snobbery and vulgar display.
Going one day to Trinity church, in
civilian attire. he seated himself, in
the absence of the usher, in an unoc-
cupied pew. Soon afterward a gentle
man and two ladies came and advanced
to the same pew. The admiral arose
and allowed them to seat themselves
on the other side of himself The gem
tleman of the party, just arrived,
frowned and stared at the admiral for
what he no doubt, considered an un-
warranted intrusion. But the admiral
was not so easily disposed of. The man,
at last exasperated. tore leaf from his
notebook and wrote, Il pay $4,000 a year
for this pew" He handed this the adj
miral. who after carefully reading it,
took out a pencil and wrote beneath,
after which he handed the note back
to the man. That worthy gentleman
glanced then stared apparently grew
INDIGNANT but said nothing. The an
swer read, You pay too d much"
c. E. ELY,
Fx-Ouartermaster Z. S. N.