Year: 1870

Some Interesting "reminiscences Of the Late Ad
/ Eiral.


In the course of an article on the


late Admiral. contributed to the


Christian Union, the Rev. DIR. 10


seph z. Thompson says:


/ There was not in him one trace


Of vanity-of that egotism which


forever maenifies itself, which keeps


self always first in its own thought,


and eNacts the homage of all


around. And yet the Admiral was


thoroughly appreciative of the good


will of his countrymen. and as sel-


sitive as child to their marks of


opprobation. He was really charm


ing to look upon as he received the
applause of a dinner company; his
manly face beaming with pleasure,
bis tongue confused with the at
tempt to speak, his lips answering
by smiles for words, yet with no
trick or taint OF ostentation-just a
hearty, simple, sympathetic pleasure
with himself and everybody else,
because ne had somehow done some
thing that pleased other ueople
Once at a public dinner, as he saw
the toast TO our Navy" bearing
down upon him like saucv cor
vette and pouring broadsides of
compliments, he whispered, Now
in a minute they'll set me me up in
the main top again, and then l shall
have to speak What shall l say !!
I'd rather go into action" Pres
emily the chairman reached the cul-
minating point of his own eloqueuce
with The hero of Mobile lashing
himself to the maintop and sailing
into the belching fames,' &c. ; and
amid "thunders of applause" the
Admiral rose and bowed, and beam
ed, and beamed forth his contagious
smiles till the whole company felt as
jolly as mess on furlough then
said a few simple, honest, manly
words about the navy, his officers,
and his men, and looked so happy.
as he received the vociferous greet
iDgs of the assembly that the i'm
preston upon all was that of
brave, simple, true man, whose heart
was as open as it was brave.


When he sat down he said to ME
4 can not understand why they
make SO much of my going up into
the main top. 1t was nothing spe-
cial that | did at Mobile, and | was
not lashed there at all When go
ing into action, or in any time of
danger, l always went up there, be-
cause l felt it my duty to be where
| could overlook everything in per
soE and be seen by all the men, and
set them an example of sharing
their risks


At the same dinner, taking in his
hand a glass of wine, he sail to me:


II he wine goes round pretty freely
tonight. | take a glass at my din
ner: but when / am on duty. and
especially when going into action.
never allow myself 10 take drop
Of any kind Of stimulant For when
my country has trusted me with
grave responsibilities. [ could not
bear the thought of doing anything
that might lead me to dlstrust my
self, or might shake the confidence
of officers and men in nv command.
To do my duty I must respect my
self


Upon another occasion, when the
talk turned upon iron and wooden
ships of war, the Admiral said he |
"cOuld never bear the thought ofI
shutting men up in monitor. 1t
took away their spirit to feel that
they were cooped up in a coffin;
sailor loves free fight. Then as
to wood or iron, it doesn't matter;
it is the men that make the ship.
Only give me men that know and |
that know me and I would as lief 90
into battle in wood as l would in
iron" This showed a knowledge |
both of human nature and of the
elements of courage.