Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-25
Forgotten Story of Dewey

They say George Dewey was Yankee He
was born at Montpelier VT, 1887, his father being
physician. One branch was English stock,
tracing their lineage back to Alfred the Great
The combination of the strength OF the old Green
Mountain state of Vermont and the English
stock Of Alfred the Great made good back
ground for his naval victories. His grim courage
never wavered nor did his modesty.
Admiral Dewey was nearly 90 years OF age
before he had passed muster-gone through the
different grades of apprenticeship before +, the
American public recognized his ability. The
French word-all the war-stricken countries, and
some Americans, will be recognizing another
hero who has fought unrecogniZed until nearly
the age OF 90, Dr. Barthe de Sandfort inventor
of ambrne, someone has called his unexpected
discovery ia plus importante trouvaille'"
A curious coincidence surrounds the entering
Of George Dewey as a cadet at the Naval academy,
from which he graduated with honor in 1883. His
appointment was that Of alternate to another
Montpelier, VT, boy, son of a Vermont phys-
gether and fought many sham battles side by side
in the little old, red school house George the |
received the naval appointment, but for family
reasons decided to enter the ministry, and the
vacancy was taken by the alternate, George
Dewey, who was ready for any fight on land or
sea, as he many times proved in the little Mont
peer school house. Did it not prove so when he
became captain, commodore and rear admiral, and
finally admiral, and the greatest honors of the
navy and country were showered upon him;
aduations, one might say, which modest hero,
in his heart shrinks from. No one remembers
in Boston, October IA, 1890, when Admiral
Dewey was the hero of the hour. Congratula-
tons were telegraphed from the old playmate,
George, OF Montpelier days: Bully for you,
George. Have you ceased swearing as you did
in the old boyhood days? | could not have fought
l.AAI r. IL L,,t
mon | preached on it last Sunday in my SYRIA
cuse church" The reply came
George, | may have fought like a bulldog,
and may still swear at times, but could not
have preached that sermon.-Georgc Dewey
A few years later Admiral Dewey married a
widow, and for some reason known only to him
self decided the home given him by the nation to
his bride. The superficial, tickle public did not
forgive the faux pas, and for years Admiral Dewey
suffered in silence the result Of his act. The old
Montpelier playmate was still loyal and wrote
to Washington, extending his sympathy and be-
lief in him as the hero Of Manila and the true
sea-dog that he knew him to be, having followed
closely through many years Admiral Dewey's
successes. The reply to this letter came back in
a few brief words poignant with meaning and
showed what the modest hero was suffering be-
meath the surface, unknown to the carping world
outside; Dear George, / am under cloud, but
it will lift in time, let US hope. Approximately
George Dewey 1t has lifted, and the clouds
have rolled away. The whole nation honors him
today; the flags were hung at half mast and his
body was buried at Arlington, the nations rest
ing place. Buddha says: THE greatest prayer is
patience. Patience is genius" John Maseheld
writes in one OF his sea poems:
And then he bit his lips, clinehing his mind,
And staggered out to muster beating back
The coward frozen self Of him that whined.
Come what cards might, he meant to play the
pack