Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-11-27

| I'D the stairs bounded the boy and
! when he got 70 the top and straight
| encd up he stood before what seemed
| 10 him TO be the tallest, strangest look
| ing man he ever saw.
But the boy did not look at the man
| lie was so fiustercd he could not speak
at first. and to add TO his embarrass
ment pair Of eyes seemed to be look
ing at him from the presidents feet
| Mr.. Lincoln had on a pair OF embroid
/ cred slippers. and worked In a vamr
/ OF the slippers were beads to represent
| the eyes Of some animal. These eyes
| fascinated the boy and ne could not
| draw his attention from them. Queer
| notions come into ones mind In times
| OF agitation, and the one thing the boy
| thought Of Just then more than any
| thing else was that those were real
| eyes that We're looking at him out OF
the slippers. maybe tiger eyes.
Il WISH THIS DONE"
Then. suddenly, he was reused from
his odd thoughts by the sound Of Mr..
Lincoln's voice.
you have letter for me from
Archbishop Hughes?" inquired the
president The boy handed the let
ter TO him and the president read IT,.
You want 60 go TO Annapolis"
asked tine bIfSlutNlt l0Okilk at tue DUN
with his sad. deep eyes
"Ohl Yes, Mr.. Lincoln" the boy re-
piled.
The president took the prelate's let
ter. placed il against the wall and
wrote on il:
81 wish this done A. LINCOLN"
Take this to the navy department.
my boy he said. placing his hand on
the lads head a moment
Then he turned 90 go back TO the
cabinet meeting.
The boys mind was crowded with
words OF thanks, but somehow he could
not give expression to them. Instead
he said. Mr. President, you'n never
regret what you have done this day"
Mr. Lincoln smiled that sad strange
smile Of his ana before he reached the
/ door OF the cabinet room the boy had
| bounded down the stairs and was rae
| ing toward the navy building. In Is
minutes he had his commission for the
naval academy.
More than IS years OF service Dan
iel Delehanty had given to his country
climbing steadily I'm rank, when one
day he received an intimation that he
would be asked TO take the governor
ship Of Sailors Snug harbor. The navy
has nothing 10 do with the harbor, but
the old salts in the institution had
started TO nutiny and the trustees had
applied to the secretary Of the navy to
help them by letting them have an
officer OF high administrative ability
and well able to handle men. Capt
Delehanty had served in the Asiatic
squadron and the Pacific fleet. the North
Atlantic station and at the naval acad-
envy He had been on the Saranac. the
Independence. the Colorado. the Cats
kill. the Iackawanna. the Adams. the
Wachusett, the Texas and other war
ships. and had been supervisor OF New
York har'bor
APPEALS TO ROOSEVELT
Ordinarily the govornorship Of Sail
or's Snug harbOr would be a pleasaat
berth. but just al that time capt. Dele
hanty did not want IL. His friend,
Theodore Roosevelt. was assistant sec
rotary Of the navy and he went 20 see
him.
Mr.. Secretary" he said. eve are go
ing TO have "a war with Spain. and when
il comes I don't want to be left on the
| beach"
Previously in conversations With the
captain Mr.. Roosevelt had expressed
the opinion that war was certain, but
now ne said that the affair was being
so managed that there would be no
1 rupture OF peace
The captain was not convinced by
4 what Mr.. Roosevelt said and Mr..
Roosevelt jumped up and went IN to
| see the chief. Secy. Long.
Long says 20 take it, he announced
/ when he returned.
| Maybe he saw doubt stil Swallowed
| IN the captains face. Az any rate he
said Captain. there Is no reason
why you shouldn't take Il. In the first
| place there is going TO be no war. and
IN the second place n there Is a war
1 promise you I'm give you ship"
"You promiso?' said Captain Dele
hanty.
Eyes. promise" said Mr. Roosevelt.
"All right; TN 60" said the captain.
To Sailors Snug HarbOr went the
| captain. He hardly had taken charge
there before the Maine was blown up
| in the harbor Of Havana. In a day
| tho nation was anamo. War was In
| the air II was useless for the gov
| ernments Of the two countries directly
| concerned 60 try 20 settle the trouble
| by diplomatic treatings. Millions Of
! persons cried out for vengeance for
| tho hundreds who went 20 death ON the
| Maine. Outwardly protesting that war
| was not intended and would not be- re-
| sorted 20 unless am other efforts failed
both the United States and Spain
! rushed their preparations Tor the con-
4 nict that both knew was inevitable
GETTING READY FOR WAR.
| In Washington the navy department
was straining 90 bring into play its
| most formidable force. Night and day
| the officials studied the problems OF
| equipment. personnel and conocntra-
| ton. Every commander saw ga the
| coming conflict am opportunity 90 win
| Tor himself a high place In his coun-
| try's regard and niche, perhaps, ia the
| temple OF fame. For more than so
years tho nation had been az peace.
| Service In tho navy had been duh and
| offered little reward Men had given
tho best years OF their lives 20 IL and
had grown old and gray without haY-
| ing attained much In the way of rank.
| A year Of war meant more in the way
! Of promotion than decades OF service in
| times OF peace. TO the captain who
had powerful friends Ia Congress there
was the chance OF appointment % COM
mand fleet.
| Captain Delehanty, newly installed iu
| HE once az sailors snug Harbor read
the news day by day, ana every day
he regretted more and more that fate