The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-15
THE FREE SCHOOLSHIPS.
THE NAUTICAL school. ALREADY opENrD-rH1

THE NAUTICAL SCHOOL ALREADY oPENED-rH
MERcURY's ANNUAL WINTER CRUISE.
The nautical school on board the st. Mary's, the
United States sailing sloop.of-war detailed oy the
President Tor the service, has at last been fairly
opened aud the work OF training boys to be good
seamen begun There are already sixty boys ON
the st. Mary's, ana Mr.. Wetmore, the chairman OF
the Nautical School Committee OF the Board OF
Education, is daily receiving large number OF
applications from boys who nave an inclination
for sea lie. The maximum number OF pupils Is
600; but it VIII probably be time before this
Will be reached great care has to be used all ap
plications from boys VINO are not fitted, from any
cause, to become good seamen being rejected.
Every applicant Is nrst examined by Mr.. Wet.
more. who satisfies himself that he has attended
school before and can read and write. This is all
that is expected OF the boys as 1t is not intended
to make profound scaolars OF them,
BUT GOOD, EFFICIENT SEAMEN.
The boy has then to take out certain preliminary
papers, and the father or guardian gives his con.
sent In writing. The latter Is also required "a
state whether the boy has had the whoopina
cough, smallpox. measles or other contagious dis
eases, which should be known by the examining
surgeon, DR.. d. b. Burleigh United states Navy.
When the written consent OF The parents has been
fled the boy Is sent to Dr.. Burlegh, on board the
st. Mary's, who examines him as to his physical
fitness. II he passes this examination he reports
on the appointed day 10 the commander, r. l.
Phythian (who was for five years an instructor ct
the Naval Academy at Annapolis), and has to de-
posit $50 Tor ais outfit. This is the only charge
made by the committee board and education
being free. Yesterday the boys were measured
for their uniforms. for which they are looking with
great curiosity aud delight. his uniform Will be
plain but neat. and undoubtedly imbue them with
proper esprit de corps. 1T VIII consist OF navy
shirt with the usual anchor on the collar, round
CLOTH cap (bue) and blue pantaloOns The boys
are allowed to furnish their own underwear.
THE DAILY ROUTINE
OF school lie has. OF course not been quite settled,
us the school Is scarcely yet In thorough working
order. The boys, however, are already being in
structed IN sne various branches set forth IN the
prospectus. The teachers, besides Commander
Pnytnian are Lieutenant Commander George w.
Wadeigh, United states Navy, who IS the execu.
United States Navy; Lieutenant William H.
Jacques. United States Navy, ana DR.. D. B. Bur.
leigh Assistant Surgeon United States Navy. IL
is the intention OF the committee to divide the
boys into messes OF fifteen each TO be graded &C.
scholars. One mess may have 10 be instructed in
branches in which others are already sufficiently
advanced. The boys on board the st. Mary's are
between the ages OF fifteen and nineteen. They
sleep IN hammocks on the berth deck. The fare 10
PLAIN, substantial and wholesome. Bread, milk.
tea, coffee, heel, mutton and ordinary vegetables
are furnished IN abundance.
SAILORS AS TEACHERS
One OF the curious features or this novel school
is that the sailors are all teachers KnOtting and
splicing heaving the Lead handling of boats un.
der oar and under sail; all these things and many
other Of the rudimentS OF sea,nanShip can be
taught by some plain old tar AS Wen as Oy scien.
tiic officer OF the navy. me crew OF the ST. Mary's
Is composed OF fifteen experienced men, who
were shipped with this view OF teaching the boys.
BY ana Dy one OF the superintendentS OF the
schools Will visit the snip aud test the pupils IN
their proficiency English, to that their
Ordinary education Is not neglected While train.
ing Tor sea lie. IL Is an important fact that he
boys are to become sailors first OF all, and not
officers, aud that this is u primary school for
nautical education. Alter the boys lave served q
term OF eighteen months or Two years on some
ship and have made satisfactory progress pains
Will be taken to send tnem TO higher schools,
where they can qualify themselves Tor promotion
through the various grades OF mate up to master.
THE SCHOOI-sHIP MEROUGY.
The recent excitement on BOARD the schOOlShtp
Mercury has already died out and everything goes
on as usnaL Captain Gregory. the commander,
Is making preparations Tor the annual winter
cruise TO the West Indies on which he expects to
start some day next week. This cruise Is gener.
ally beneficial to the health OF the boys, and also
designed Is a saving to the Charity Commission.
ers. as iC relieves them Of the necessity OF pro-
WONG warm winter clothing for the young repro
bates. This viii be astounding ne VS. 10 those VINO
have suffered most bitterly from the cold not.
outstanding their 1annes and fnrs; but 1t Is,
nevertheless true, that these boys have been moss
insuficiently clad during the last terrible spell OF
cold weather. There are now about 200 boys on
board the Mercury. and they are looking forward
to the cruise with great cagerness. The salaries
OF the officers IN charge OF the vessel have re.
Gently been reduced by the Commissioners.