The Washington herald., 1921-04-17
William, Atherton Du Puy
49,
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" tttstiHt hkfISFGOH Nu 4 HJ
EDwIN DENNY, now secretary of the
~ navy, was one Of the biggest boots"
that ever came to Paris Island-palmetto-
finged, sand trimmed, sun -blistered train
ing station during the great war.
He was, in fact, six feet one and q half
and weighed go pounds. Likewise he was
forty eight years of age and entirely with
out heritage on his crown. Thus he stood
out among the 10000 other men who were
here converted from raw recruits, from
''boots,'' into the straightest- shooting body
Of soldiers the world has ever known, .
member Of the marine corps and nicknamed
from the collars on their old-time uniforms
''Leathernecks."
Asking and receiving no favors not
granted to other men at the island, most of
whom were not half his age and many Of
whom were not half his weight, this volun-
teer recruit took all the grilling soldier
training that was ofered-hikes, bayonet
drill, target practice, squad duty.
He acquitted himself so well that he be-
came q drill sergeant and took other COM
panies around the loop" administering to
them all that had been handed him.
Then he became master of the marine
chat" that heart to heart talk that is given
the men before they take the oath of the
service; that third degree which is intended
to break the faint hearted and drive out the
unworthy. Here, he told me, he rendered
the service that was the glory Of his life
and the most emotional experience he ever
expects 10 come to him.
To the individual who. has the habit Of
declaiming against the unframed people
who come to responsive posts, I would like
to suggest an examination Of the experience
Of Edwin DENLY, over at the Navy Depart
ment.
MOT many people recognized the name
of DENLY when it was first announced
for this post. He was later identified as
man who had been in Congress some years
back, who had served as a sergeant OF
marines in the late war.
But when went to the Navy Department
b talk to him about the outstanding events
of his life I found that its living was like
n primary, collegiate and post graduate
course in public service. Here, basing judg-
ment on what he has done, ought to be a
. tairs of government
Mr., DENLY himself sketched through the
years for me. The interview took place in
the Office of the secretary Of the navy, the
longest official reception room in Washing
ton, looking out on the executive Offices of
the White House not a hundred feet away.
The walls of this great room are covered
with paintings Of secretaries that have gone
before They overflow into the outer office
and stil there Is not room. Some Of them
have found resting places in an attic above.
Mr.. Daniels one day commented sadly on
the Journey Of the picture of q secretary
from this room to the outer Office and finally
% the garret and murmured philosophically,
s-Such Is fame"
EDwIN DENBY, to bexin with, came o.
II public service stock. His mother,
father was Graham, N. Fitch, one tim
United States senator and the colonel Of
reximent in the Civil War. His father wa
likewise a colonel in that great adventure
Both were Of Revolutionary families and o
British blood The elder DENLY was yir
ginian BY birth. ..
''My father became minister to Chin
when I was fifteen" said Mr.. DENLY, IAN,
I went along. That was in 1885. tn
world has forgotten the attitude Of China h
those days to the foreigner. We lived Il
Peking but IS a people apart. To the uppe
class Chinaman, whose women folk nevel
showed themselves, the conduct of ou
ladies was unthinkable. Their appearance
On the street, particularly their practice o
dancing, disgraced them so unforgivably
according to Oriental standards, that the
we're socially banned.
''Not long ago / attended dinner h
Detroit and Chinese woman appeared an
made a speech. This was the concret
demonstration Of the change in the Chimes
view in my time.
eat the age Of seventeen I went 10 vor
for the Chinese Imperial Maritime Custom
Service and remained there for ten years
This service was administered By q coop
grafton Of many nations. Ny associate
we're from many parts Of the world, spoil
many languages. In my mess there nigh
b Eve men from Eve different countrie