The number of small men in high places is far greater than of large men
in low places. The latter do not remain long in cramped conditions.
The Hon. William E. Chandler, Secretary of the Navy under President
Arthur, relates this incident of Assistant Surgeon Ver Mulen. The
story, as printed in _Harper’s Weekly_, runs as follows:
That officer was 6 feet 4 inches in height, a fact that
occasioned him much discomfort when he was serving on the old
_Penobscot_, the height of the vessel between decks being
only 5 feet and 8 inches. As Surgeon Ver Mulen considered the
matter, he remembered that long letters to the Navy Department
were not always given that prompt attention he thought should be
afforded in the present instance, so he determined to approach
the authorities in a manner novel enough to impress them with
the gravity of the situation. So he addrest his superior officer
in this wise:
“The Honorable the Secretary of the Navy.
“Sir: Length of surgeon, 6 feet 4 inches; height of wardroom, 5
feet 8 inches.
“Respectfully,
“E. C. VER MULEN,
“Assistant Surgeon, U.S.N.”
Shortly after, the Navy Department detached Ver Mulen “until
such time as a more suitable ship could be found for his
assignment.”
(798)
* * * * *
Artists have a good many queer customers, and they have
advantages for observing what vague ideas it is possible for a
man to entertain respecting art and nature, too. An ex-soldier
went to the studio of D. J. Gue, of Brooklyn, one day, to
inspect a picture of Lookout Mountain that the artist had been
painting. The picture pleased him, and he evidently had thoughts
of purchase, but he was suddenly struck with a brilliant idea
that he communicated thus: “I was in that fight, mister, and
I’d like you to paint my picture on that. Let’s see. You could
paint me right here in this field, facing front, with my left
hand resting on top of the mountain.” The man was in thorough
earnest. He did not see that if drawn to scale his finger would
be about 5,000 feet high, and that he would have a reach of arm
that would enable him to grasp at an object six or seven miles
away. Mr. Gue precipitately declined the commission.--Brooklyn
_Eagle_.
(799)