The New York herald., 1875-07-13
THE SCHOOL SHIP ST. MARYs.


PROGRESS OF THE SYSTEM AND GEN
ERAL ROUTINE.
The nautical school ship st. Marys, at present
anchored OF the Battery and commanded by
Commander X. Phythian, OF the United States
Navy, win start for q practice cruise In the
Sound on the 10th inst. The vessel is now
In excellent trim and tho system adopted
under the auspices or the Board OF Edu-
caton OF training boys for the profession
OF the sea has so lar realized the sanguine ex.
pectations OF those interested in Its successful
operation. Nearly Six months have elapsed since
Ihe ship first received her complement Of stu
dents, and the progress since made in their edu-
cstion and training reflects the highest credit on
the officers intrusted with the task. They are
now tolerably
WELL DRILLED AND DISCIPLINED,
and in view OF the close attention which has been
paid to their instruction In the various branches
o. the profession, show considerable efficiency.
Ind. ed, the experiment may be regarded with
general favor, and although the system is defec-
tive In some respects, time and experience viii
assuredly remedy whatever may at the present
time seem likely TO mar It's perfect working. 1t
must be porne In mind that the institution does
not In the most remote degree partake Of the
character OF reformatory. 1t is entirely vol
uDtary establishment, and has for its sole object
the education OF young men Tor the sea. With
the consent or their parents or guardians they
are at perfect liberty TO leave when they please
but while on board they must conform to the rules
and regulations LAID down Tor their guidance. Row.
ever gratifying this may be to the pupils, it win
readily be perceived that such a system cannot at
all times work satisfactorily, since it does not
afford that control to those in charge which
DEFINITE PERIOD OF sRRvICB,
there has not been hitherto any serious ground Of
complaint, and hopes are entertained that the
method adopted will be found replete with all
the advantages long since predicted for 1t. OF
the 169 boys first received on board the ship 1o3
now remain During the past six months twenty
SIX left voluntarily, two Of them went TO sea in
merchant ships and twenty nine were dismissed
as Woi thless and incorrlg1ble. The boys are kept
Ia excellent order well housed, well led and are
allowed privileges which they could never hope
extended to them once a fortnight and oftener,
1tselI TO the onicer in charge
THE PUNISHMENT INFLICTED
for derelictlon OF duty by no means severe, and
oitentlmes hardly calculated 70 impress the pupils
with a sense OF that strict discipline which their
proper training demands. 1t has been tnJlmated
Ia some quarters that the BOYS were treated
harshy ior trlding offences, but the inquiries OF
HERALD reporter, yesterday, on board the ship
at once d1sslpated any unpleasant idea enter
tained on that point. Several OF the pupils were
imposed, and the unanimous declaration was that
IN case OF infringement OF the regulations they
were not unduly punished, Indeed, what they
regarded as the most severe penalty inflicted IN
the event of dsobedience OF orders was u aeDriya-
tlon OF liberty or as they call 1t, being
''QUARANTIEEDn ON BOARD.
Some OF them are compelled 10 90 extra duty,
ana wnen very unrnly are locked up, but in 10
case Is corporal punishment resorted to- After
ALL incorrgi0le young lad is apt to come TO his
senses when an hour or SO in the ''brlR." and he
cannot 0ut bear in mind that had he behaved him.
Sell PROPERLY he never WOuiQ have
mucn Tor the punishment on board the st.
Mary's.
THE REWARD OF GOOD CONDUCT
There are eight guns crews on board, the first
ana second captains OF each being selected Tor
their good qualities and aptitude for learning
to them is accorded the privileges of extra liberty
as an inducement to the ctbers. The cap.
thor aRd show ny their aS3n eTemDsqv Ul ss se
pertinent what is Is 60 obey orders. attend
TO their Instructions and otherwise manifest an
interest In the calling they have adopted. There
may be some boys on board who desire to leave
but whose parents are anxious they should re-
main. These occasionally resort to little devices
IN the hope that they may be dismissed aud when
such motive IS discovered they are properly SUBJ
jected 70 the slight punishment already alluded
THE PROGRESS MADE.
Under the instruction OF Leutenants De @. w.
DE Long and Jacques. OF the United States Navy,
departments appertaning to the profession
OF seaman. Their method OF teaching
has thus far shown excellent results and the
forthcoming cruise VIII doubtless tend 10 develop
the We y best features OF their Six months train
ing. Even now The pupils are quite expert alOft,
ana apart rom the sound education impaired TO
Them in various other branches, such as geogra-
phyGhritnmetic, English literature and other SIM
liar studies, snow tnAt they nave prohted wen Dy
the assiouous attention which has been paid 70
the main OBJECT Tor which the institution was es-
tablshed. IL Is only In It's infancy, but may yet
resolve Itself into broader and more conpre-
hensive scheme for the furnishing OF good and
trusty seamen to our merchant marine than can
at this stage be expected.
Tue St. Mary's will cruise mostly In the Sound
during the latter part OF July and August and
may then possibly proceed to Newport and Mar
tna's vineyard. The officers are Commander
Pnythian, commanding; Lieutenant Commander,
q. IL. Wadlelgn Executive O11eer, Lieutenant De
Long and Lieutenant Jacques Instructor and
Surgeon Burielgn. The vesse is now a model OF
cleanliness, everything being Ia the compietest
order, Wnlle sue pupils seem to be In the best or
health, cheerful and alive TO their duueg. IL
should be addea tnat there is yet room for about
thirty or Iorty more who Will be received on
board up to the l7th inst. upon application and
presenting the required certificates.