Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-03-23
4 Training-School for Sailors.

On drenching day. several years ago.
| stood on the great landing stage al
Liverpool, waiting for a steamer then
due in po,t. An English iron clad lay IN
the stream. under sailing orders. and
white wreaths Of vapor arose in the moist
atmosphere from her short. thick tunnel
Her black lines loomed heavily through
the mist. dwarfng the other vessels moor
ed near her. Her form seemed so ponder
Gus. indeed, that il was difficult 10 think
OF her as q floating thing. An active
little tender occasionally ran between her
aud the shore. and a number OF men
sailors in blue jackets aud soldiers in red
were gathered ina 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 q sad iacs
was bidding him good-by. The little
fellow was inclined 10 cry. but between
the tears he looked proudly at the bright
gilt lace on his coal. and smiled as he
saw that some one noticed it.
ptied him in the depths Of my heart.
1t was plain that he had never been 10
sea before. and that his experiences had
always been tempered by his mothers
kindness. lie had come from q1iet
country home. Perhaps he had not even
tasted salt air before; and yet he was
embarking in a profession OF which he
was almost completely ignorant,-a pro-
fesson requiring more endurance than
any other. An hour later he would be
on board the iron.clad. and assigned,
with very little preparation, to trivial
duties, in the intervals Of which he would
be expected to learn the more difficult
ones. and TO qualify himself for higher
position.
lie knew nothing Of the differen, parts
of vessel and their names, nothing
about The science OF navigation. not as
much. in fact, as the small boy who
cleaned the cannon. II his nature was
sensitive, he would be exposed to heart
breaking notifications. His superiors
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 bis way by crude
and slow methods. 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 schools for
training miishipmen. where raw lads are
put through q mil! and brought out fitted
for their future duties As far as practic.
able. they are taught everything that can
make a naval officer efficient and credita.
BILE 10 bis coun,ry.-not 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. II is situated at
Annapolis. In the State Of Maryland, on
the banks of the pretty river Severn.
Candidates for admission to the Acade.
my are nominated by Congressmen. one
from each Congressional district, one
from the District of Columbia. and one
from each Territory. Twice Q year an
examination of candidates TO fill va
cancies is held. They must be between
fourteen and sixteen years Of age; sound
in body and mind. and well versed in
reading. writing. spelling. arithmetic.
geography and English grammar. Those
who pass are appointed as cadet midship.
men, and are repaid the cost of travelling
from their homes to Annapolis. and in.
cluded on the pay roll Of the navy with
$500 year salary to their credit. We
don't think more liberal treatment could
be asked for. Apprentices in other pro.
fessions pay largo sums In he first years
Of their service; the cadets are taught
and paid Tor lesrning.-St. Nicholas.