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in alternate terraces and flights of broad granite steps. George Dewey's home when a boy was just across the road from the State House, and it is told of him that one of his favorite pastimes was to see how fast he could run from the State House down to the street, with his eyes shut, and not fall. The second State House endured until 1857, when it was destroyed by fire. It was replaced by the present structure, built, like the last, of Vermont granite. The building is a credit to the State, both as regards its architecture and its adaptation to the purposes for which it was erected.

It is proposed to put a marble statue of Admiral Dewey in the great marble portico of the present State House, as a companion piece to the statue of Ethan Allen, Vermont's Revolutionary hero, already there. The statue of Ethan Allen is of marble, more than life size, It was exe

resided in Montpelier, where they have been connected with the National Life Insurance Company. Dr. Dewey founded this company about 1850, and was its first president. He was succeeded in office in 1877 by his son Charles, who has filled the position ever since. The Admiral's sister has lived away from Montpelier much of her life, but since the death of her husband has returned there to reside. Dr. Dewey's wife died when George was only five years old. From that time until he went away to school the boy's favorite companion was this sister, to whom he was both protector and playmate. The sympathy between them has always been of the most intimate nature, and probably in nothing else. since the battle of Manila has his real character been so truly revealed as in his letters to her. It was in one of them, written a few weeks after the battle, that he

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est motives of her life. they were both quite

One winter, when small children, a book was given to her brother which contained an account of Hannibal crossing the Alps. The boy was strongly impressed with the story, as, in fact, he seems to have been with almost anything pertaining to war. Just back of the State House is a high and very steep hill, at that time probably bare of houses, since even now only a very few have been able to perch upon its slopes. Fitting himself and his sister out with such impedimenta as he thought suitable, and naming the high hill the Alps, young Dewey started out to cross them, he being Hannibal and his sister the army. It was cold, and the ground was covered with deep snow; but the endurance of the army did not give out until she had become so chilled that she was sick in bed for a week afterward as a result.

was provided. It was in this building that Dewey received the now historic thrashing from Principal Pangborn, now Major C. K. Pangborn, of New Jersey.

Dewey as a boy was anxious to go to a military school, and when he was fifteen

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THE HOUSE IN WHICH GEORGE DEWEY WAS BORN

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The house in which Dr. Dewey lived, and in which his children were born, was a comfortable wooden building on State Street, just opposite the State House. few years ago this house was removed to another site farther down the street, where it now stands, and a larger house, now occupied by the Admiral's brother, Mr. Charles Dewey, was erected on the original lot. Just behind the house ripples a shallow little river, which, with its many windings against the Green Mountains as a background, does much to enhance the beauty of the surroundings of Montpelier. When the Admiral was a boy everybody called this Onion River, because so many wild onions grew upon its banks. Since then it has been baptized with a prettier Indian name, "Winooski," said to mean abundance of onions."

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The building in which George Dewey went to school when at Montpelier stands near the State House. It is used now as a dwelling, having been sold by the town when a new and larger school building

years old his father consented to his going to Norwich University. Dr. Dewey himself was a thoroughly educated man, a graduate of the medical department of the University of Vermont. Norwich University was founded in 1819, in the town of Norwich, Vermont, by an old West Point graduate. At that time the school rejoiced in the name of "The American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy." Not many years after it was established the University was removed to Northfield, Vermont, a town about ten miles from Montpelier. Dewey remained at this school about three years, but did not graduate, as he was appointed to Annapolis before he had quite completed the course.

Norwich University has always been a small school, but one which has done excellent work. It is required that the president must always be an active or retired officer of the army or navy. The present president, Commander Allan D. Brown, of the United States Navy, retired, is a very capable man both as instructor and executive. Small as the school has been,

it has had over five hundred graduates or cadets in the army or navy. It has never

had a cent of endowment up to this time, but it looks now as if Admiral Dewey's connection with the school and his interest in it might secure it a good new building, to be known as Dewey Hall, and a fund. Captain Clark, the commander of the Oregon," " who is also a Vermonter, a native of Bradford, on the first visit he made home after his memorable cruise around Cape Horn, attended the founding of Dewey Hall at Norwich, and turned the first shovelful of earth. The following paragraphs are quoted from a statement which President Brown recently made in the "Vermonter" in regard to Admiral Dewey's interest in the project:

"Some time in September last Mr. A. M. Wright, a Vermonter resident in New York, sent a check to the editor of the Vermont Phoenix,' of Brattleboro, to start some sort of a testimonial to Admiral Dewey; but just what form it should take was not clear in his mind.

because he would not live in it; he does not want a statue, because he is not dead. If he were here and could see the situation he would undoubtedly approve of Dewey Hall.'

"During the session of the legislature I received a letter from the Admiral, in which he said: 'In my opinion results have shown the excellent training young men have received at the Norwich University. That the University is well worthy the fostering care of the State goes without saying; and I trust the legislature may see its way clear to vote some substantial assistance. Nothing the State could do for me would give me greater pleasure.)

"After the adjournment of the legislature a full and explicit account of the situation and of the several propositions was written to the Admiral, and he was asked to express by cable his approval or disapproval of the proposed Dewey Hall; to this he has replied expressing his approval. The proposed Dewey Hall now stands, therefore, as having been stated by the Admiral to be acceptable to himself."

It is hoped that $100,000 may be contributed for the project, only a part of which is to be used in the erection of the building. The Admiral's brother's remark about the sword and statue does not appear to have been heeded, since Congress has provided a threethousand-dollar sword to be given him when he reaches here, and, as I have said, steps are being taken to erect his statue in the State House portico.

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THE BUILDING IN WHICH DEWEY WENT TO SCHOOL

As soon as the fact was published the suggestion was taken up by various papers in the State, and different propositions were made, such as a sword, a house in Montpelier, a statue, or a scholarship at this institution. Some one knowing the needs of the University improved upon this latter suggestion by suggesting that a building be erected here to bear the Admiral's name. This appeared to meet with more approval than any of the other suggestions. As the Admiral's brother remarked to me: He does not want a sword, because he has three; he does not want a house in Montpelier,

One who goes to Montpelier to study the history

of the Dewey family cannot but be impressed with the sterling worth and unblemished reputation which its members have borne for generations. That a family so suddenly subjected to the searchlight of intense public interest and curiosity has been able to come through the ordeal so well is something in which not only the family but the American nation may well take a pardonable pride.

MAX BENNETT THRASHER. WESTMORELAND, N.H.

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"W"

MAPLEHURST AND LAKE ROSSEAU

HO are they, I wonder? They are English, evidently. What a saintly face the tall one has!" "Hasn't she? And what a queenly air! Poor thing! she is young to be a widow. I wonder who they can be? Oh, here comes Mrs. Morris; she'll be sure to know." "True. Good morning, Mrs. Morris, who are our newcomers?»

"Oh, I heard all about them last night," said the lady addressed, with a nod, in the way of morning salutation, to each of her friends. "Frank Leighton knows them; he met the men of the party at the wharf as they got off the steamer, and he has just gone in with them to breakfast. Has n't

the young widow a divine face? She's a titled lady-what's this is her name? Mr. Leighton told me. Oh, yes, Lady Isabel Wilton."

"And who is her companion? Not a sister, evidently."

"Oh, no! she is no relation; they are merely travelling together, though they are old friends. She's the wife of the young fellow with the handsome beard, who is, I am told, an English barrister; and the old gentleman is her father. is the Hon. Mr. Lewis, a gentleman of property in the north of Scotland, and Leighton says that he has come out to Canada to buy land in the Northwest for his sons.

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His son-in-law is a Mr. Kinglake, who has also come out to make investments in Canada. Mr. Leighton met the whole party a few weeks ago at Quebec. I can't learn much about Lady Isabel Wilton; but don't you recognize in her the kneeling figure in Leighton's picture of the interior of the French-Cana

dian chapel? I saw the likeness at once; Frank told me that he painted the face from memory, with the aid of a sketch he made at the habitant's wedding. Leighton will make a hit with that painting; the face of the kneeling figure of the widow reminds me of one of the most beautiful Madonnas."

"The Lady Isabel, eh!" observed one of the group addressed by Mrs. Morris. "What a pretty name, and what a lovely face! No wonder your artist friend is smitten by her. Someone told me that Mr. Leighton seems bewitched since he began his new picture, and he has manifestly thrown all his art into the face of his kneeling Madonna."

"Yes, has he not?" was the rejoinder. "I should like to know her history. When Leighton gets to know them better, I'll no doubt find out."

"Oh, don't be too sure of that! Mr. Leighton won't tell you much if, as I suspect, he's in love with her. In that event, Mrs. Morris, he'll give you little of his confidence."

"We shall see, dear," said the latter lady, who prided herself on possessing the artist's friendship, as she moved off to another knot of hotel guests on the now crowded veranda.

Such was the conversation that took place one bright July morning, some summers ago, among three of a group of Toronto ladies assembled after breakfast on the promenade galleries of "Maplehurst." That attractive Muskoka hotel, perched on the fir-clad heights overlooking the gleaming lake and distant village of Rosseau, had seldom gathered a larger or

more fashionable crowd than was to be seen on the morning in question. The throng of visitors consisted chiefly of the fair sex, the goodly matrons and muslined femininity of Toronto and the cities of the south, with a bevy of children and a more than usually large proportion of budding womanhood and young girls just entering their teens. The morning was bright and warm, giving promise of a typical Canadian day; and the human interest in the scene was increased by the animation and high spirits which were depicted on every face, and were emphasized by a buzz of small talk and, ever and anon, by peals of light laughter.

He

Frank Leighton, who was in part the theme of the above conversation, was a well-known figure in Muskoka wateringplaces, and his talent, both as an artist and a littérateur, had of recent years brought him prominently before the intellectual portion, at least, of the Canadian and American public. The young artist moved in good social circles, and he was a general favorite with both sexes. was a Canadian only by adoption, though adoption with him-so much of a patriot was he!—meant a good deal more than birth with the mass of his political partyridden fellow-countrymen. He belonged to a good old family in Westmoreland, and was born and brought up in the vicinity of the English lakes. At an early age he had the misfortune to lose his mother, and in his seventeenth year, his father marrying again, he and his brother left home and set out for British Honduras, where the two young men had relatives. There Frank, the younger of the two, spent but one year, when he parted with his brother and came north to seek his fortune in Canada. He had had a good education, and nature had endowed him with a decided taste, if not genius, for art. For a while, like most newcomers, he roughed it on a farm; but in his twentieth year he gravitated to the city, where he cultivated his talent for painting, eking out the slender allowance he had from his father by giving drawing-lessons and occasionally contributing to the English and American periodical press.

When, at Maplehurst, we make acquaintance with the young artist, ten Canadian summers had flown over his head. In the interval, his industry, as well as his genius, had won for him a high place in native art circles, his special faculty showing it

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self in the delineation of historic scenes from Canadian annals, some of his large canvases finding their way to the London Academy and the Salon at Paris. Not a little of his popularity, however, was due to his admirable social qualities, added to his good looks and cultivated manners. He had a fine mind, and a disposition so generous and genial that he made himself friends wherever he went. He had a charming way with women, whom he treated with pleasing deference, scrupulous honor, and chivalrous courtesy. was there a trace of self-consciousness or affectation in anything he said or did. He was not only kind and tender-hearted, he was always disinterested and unselfish; and in manners no one could be more frank and ingenuous. Deep in his nature was implanted the love of woman; though women he admired with the intellect, not with the passions. Yet in this respect he was neither a pedant nor an anchorite. He had an abiding faith in the essential goodness of his fellow men, and used to say that in the long run the nobler and not the baser characteristics of humanity would prevail.

Nothing, however, so touched Leighton's heart and soul as contact with a good and beautiful woman. Almost indescribable were his emotions when he caught the first glimpse of Lady Isabel Wilton. Hers was the face of his ideal of female beauty. It had pathos as well as loveliness. Round the mouth played the smiles of a sweet, sunny nature; and the large lustrous eyes were lit by the flashing steel of the intellect and emitted sparks from the smouldering fires of love. In appearance Lady Isabel was a little above the medium height, though she was splendidly proportioned, carried herself majestically, and yet had a step as light and graceful as a fawn. By the most indifferent connoisseur of beauty, neither her face nor her figure could be passed unobserved; while her whole person bore the unmistakable marks of distinction.

When Frank Leighton first saw this vision of female loveliness, she had come, with her party, into the little French chapel in the suburbs of Quebec where a peasant's wedding was being celebrated. With what seemed to be more than a conventional respect for the place and the ceremony, the Lady Isabel advanced to the group around the chancel-rail and knelt throughout the performance of the

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