The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-02
THE NAVAL CADETS.
Middies Deep in Examination Papers and
Naval Love.
The Sham Nght-Young "Freshies" Looking
Anxiously for June 5-company Win
the Annual Drill Prize-Personnel Of
the Board Of visitors-0ficers Of
the Constellation on the
Summer Cruise.

w.
Among these Spring festivities prominent feature
Is the sham fight. / believe the programme this
year, however, exhibits two sham fights one OF
which took place on Monday last and was rather
an unequal combat, even for ''sham," since it was
waged between 200 mdshipmen on one side and
forty marines on the other. And vet the marines
''icked'' them. The midshipmen were led by Lieu
tenant Commander A. p Cook, gentleman from
New England, whose excess OF weight Is balanced
by protuDerant side whskers and the marines were
commanded by Lieutenant Robinson, corpulent
gentleman. shall not go into details; suffice 1t to
say that the ordinary quantity OF window glass was
smashed and the ordinary number OF midshpmen's
eyebrows slnged. The mdshipmen were outgen
eralled most abominably.
The annual examinations are now in progress
and consequently many hearts in the Academy
palpitate violently. The examinations are, OF
course, very rigorous, and the preparations for
them as rigorous.
The examination OF candidates for admission
commences on the 5th OF June, and will this year
be more severe 1t is said. than ever before; but
this assertion il made every year the statement
may be received with q mental reservation.
Already knots OF anxious "freshies''-that is can
dates, may be seen every afternoon stroling about
the Academy grounds with reverent though appre-
hensive looks. These, not yet examined, and ac-
cordingly not yet admitted, may be distinguished
by their civilian dress-a source Of much pain to
.hou,so,nos ga :, ,oron do,,ont 80 tha ,,nicorr,a
O'eo''o on" " o uone'o " S0 "iiioi my"
and brass-buttoned middies, who lose no opportu-
nifty Of vigorously evlnclng their contempt for the
new ones'' ana oil keeping them IN their places"
This afternoon we had the annual competitive
drill. It was participated in by the Jour companies
A, i, ana u, comprising the battalion OF CADETS
The prize was large blue silk nag irlnged with
gold, and bearing the inscription, Excelsior"
or course, large crowd, composed OF the female
and other friends OF the cadets, assembled on the
shaven plot OF grass near Admiral Worden's resi-.
dence to witness the AFFAIR. The Committee OF
Decision was composed OF Captain A. T. Cook
and Lieutenant Solely, United States Navy,
and Lieutenant Robinson, United States Ma
rine Corps, who, alter long and tedi-
Gus drill by the four companies, without
music, awarded the prize to Company B, Captain
Fowler, who bears the reputation among the ladies
OF being the handsomest and dearest" young
man in the "Yard.o The banner was presented
most gracefully by MISS Ludlow, ana General J. }.
Reynolds, OF the United States Army, made neat
and appropriate little speech, in winch lie babe the
cadets remember their country do their DUTY"
and other things. The Japanese Prince Azmera,
yers, are both members OF this company, and both
drilled excellently, especially Conyers.
The graduating class this year numbers twenty
mates will be allowed short leave They will
then be shipped for the customary years cruise.
The other classes Will also go upon O summer
OF June. The officers OF the Constellation this year
are Lieutenant Commander A. r. Cook, Captain;
Lieutenant Commander Q. A. Bachelor, Executive
officer; Lieutenant Commander ). w. Coffin, Navl-
Lieutenant Commander 4. I. Chadwick Lieutenant
L. A. Lyons Lieutenant j. Il. Craig and Lieutenant
NJ. X. S. Mackenzie.
The Board of Visitors to attend the annual eX-
aminations, which have commenced, have already
arrived and are:-Hon. Alvah Sabin, Vermont;
General J. J. Reynolds, United States Army; Pro-