Evening star., 1915-01-30
How Fisher Works.

Fisher is seventy-four wears old and
has served in the navy more than fifty
years, during which time he has had
but six months of idleness. He rises
at ) o'clock each morning. and gets to
bed when he can. Those of his subord-
mates who are subject to personal in
quiry from the old man also rise at )
o'clock in the morning and get to bed
when they can. He works his men
harder than any other naval officer
ever dared to. If they break he knows
they Were not fit for the service, and
dismisses them from his mind. If they
stand up to it he compliments them
by giving them more work to do. 1t
is not the way to get popularity. But
it has created II great service.
For Years tradition was circulated
that Fisher was the son of 4 Cingalese
princess and an officer of a Highland
regiment. The latter half of the allie
cation is true. His mother, however,
was an Englishwoman, born i'll Lon
don town. \ certain suavity of maneu-
yer which Fisher can show On occasion
was accredited to his eastern blood
1t must now be accounted for on some
other theory. 1t remains the fact that
when he cannot get what he wants by
force he has often proven himself
fine tactician.
Knows He Isn't Liked.
Fisher knows he isn't liked, and
laughs at the fact. He doesn't believe
that any taskmaster is ever liked. But
it is certain that he is respected and
admired-and obeyed. He does not toll
crate anything short of obedience.
There is a story of one of his cap
tains, who pleaded that it was I'M
possible to go to certain place on
a certain day.
You'll get under way: SAID tlsher'
ION the day I've ordered, or II nave
you towed there.
One of the traditions that died slow
ly in every navy concerned is the rlght
to loot. Fisher never did telleVe IN IT,
When Alexandria was captured he is
sued his orders, but they were widely
disregarded by the AleXandrlans. He
sent firing parties ashore, ana Mandy
wall and ball cartridges put an end to
the native dissipation. Then Fisher
discovered that English officers had
been engaging in the forbidden pas
time.
'.Tll court-martial every thievish man
of you," he swore-
He Stopped ALI Looting.
They thought he wouldn't. They had
infiuence-or some of them had-and
influence is a great thing in any navy.
Perhaps at that time it was especially
great in the British navy. But he did
If every man and woman of title in the
British Isles had gone down on their
knees to him. he would still have court
martialed those erring officers. Loot
ing abruptly passed from favor In the
British navy. 1t will not recur while
Fisher is in power.
Hard as he is, he delights in dancing.
When he commanded Il squadron, he
never made port that he did not con-
trive some sort of an entertainment on
board of the flagship. if that were pos
sible He had a wider acquaintance
among pretty women than any other
seadog since Nelson. He was handy
with pretty speeches. too. HIS BLUM,
rugged, open-eyed face can never be
considered handsome, but 1T has the
charm of courage and straightforward
ness Women always liked him.
Classic Story Retold.
Tie classic story told of Lord John
Fisher of kilvcrstone-thc title dates
from I909-must be retold. He doesn't t
fear any one. or reverence any one
overmuch. He especially does not be-
lieye in naval alliances, or in eXecut-
ing maneuvers with the fleet of a
friendly power, or in any other naval
thing except keeping continually on
guard. So that he wasn't especially
pleased when the late Queen Victoria
asked him to "be very nice to Admiral
Geryais, who was at the moment visit
ing Portsmouth. But Fisher Is well
disciplined. He looked his sovereign
right In the eye:
Madame said he, IF your majesty
wishes I'll kiss him