Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-03-04
A TRAlNING-SCHOOL FOR
SAILORS.

On a drenchlng day, several years
ago, stood on the great landings stage
at Liverpool, waiting for a steamer
lay in the stream, under sailing orders,
and white wreaths of vapor arose in
the moist atmosphere from her short,
thick funnel. Her black lines lcomed
heavily through the mist, dwarfing the
other vessels moored near her. Her
form seemed so ponderous, indeed,
that it was difficult to think of her as a
floating thing. An active little tender
occasionally ran between her and the
shore, and a number of men-sailors in
blue jackets and soldiers in red-were
gathered in knot, waiting to be taken
on board. Among them was slender
lad, not older than fourteen years,
dressed in the brand new uniform of an
English MILDLY. A lady with a sad
face was bidding him good-by. The
little fellow was inclined to cry, but
between the tears he looked proudly at
the bright gilt lace on his coat, and
smiled as he saw that some one noticed
it.
1 pitied him in the depths of my
heart. 1t was plain that he had never
been to sea before, and that his expert
ences had always been tempered by
his mothers kindness. He had come
from quiet country home. Perhaps
he had not even tasted salt air before;
and yet he was embarking in profess
sion of which he was almost completely
ignorant,-a profession requiring more
endurance than any other. An hour
LAT hn ho
clad, and assigned, with very little
preparation, to trivial duties, in the in
tervalS of which he would be expected
to learn the more difficult ones, and to
qualify himself for a higher position.
He knew nothing of the different
parts of a vessel and their names, moth
ing about the science of navigation, not
as much, in fact, as tie small boy who
cleaned the cannon. If his nature was
sensitive, he would be exposed to
rt-breaking notifications. His su-
periors would order him to do things
which he could not understand, and
when he failed he would be punished.
Starting out in life, he knew nothing
of the path before him, and could only
find his way by crude and slow meth
DDS. What wonder if he stumbled and
broke down, sick and weary hearted !?
: This is one Of the things we do better
in America. Here we have school
for training midshipmen, where raw
lads are put through.a a mill and brought
out fitted for their future duties. AS
far as practicable, they are taught ev-
erythiDg that can make a naval officer
efficient and creditable to his country,
mot only those duties that he must
do himself, but also those to be done by
the men who are under him. The,
school is called the Naval Academy of
The United States. It is situated at
Annapolis, in the State of Maryland,
OH the banks of the pretty river Sew
ern.
Candidates for admission to the
Academy are nominated by Congress
men, one from each Congressional dis
trict, one from the District of Columbia,
and one from each Territory. Twice
a year an examination of candidates to
fill vacancies is held. They must be
between fourteen and sixteen years of
age; sound in body and mind, and
well versed in reading, writing, SPELL
ing, arithmetic, geography and English
grammar. Those who pass are appoint
ed as et-midshipmen, and are repaid
the cost of travelling from their home.
to Annapolis, and included on the pay
roll of the navy with $500 year salary
to their credit. We don't think more