Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-07-03
NAVAL CADET LIFE.

The naval cadet is examined by the naval
authorities upon his arrival at Annapolis,
and large percentage of candidates fail in
this test and have to return home. Should
he succeed, be has to pass severe surgical
manipulation but if, when the doctors
have pinched him and stethescoped him to
their hearts content, he comes ont sound"
he is deemed fit food for powder and adj
mittcd 10 all the joys and sorrows of the
academy. His friends must not forget that
he must deposit with the epaymaster the sum
of SlG5.32 for clothing and $50 for text
books. From that day he can draw from
Uncle Sans capacious pockets $500 year
nav, together with his travelling expenses
from his native town to Annapolis.
The first thing that the service recognizes
in its recruit is his loose gait-the result
Of schools without drill-masters So they
Immediately proceed TO 'set him up" which
is affected by prodigal use of drills.
Hardly has he learned to walk on dry land
without louting over the whole pavement
than new and worse trouble is before him.
After six weeks setting up' he is sent
to sea for cruise. AS a sailor he has to
begin at the very bottom rung of the ladder.
For the first time in his life he dips his
hands in a tar.b bucket and knows what hard
work means Half the crew Of the ship are
able-bodied seamen, half cadets, and the
Youngest has to do his share of ship duty.
1t must be delicious experience to some OF
our dilletanti young gentlemen. In August
he returns and his academical duties begin
on the 1st of October.
| have before me the annual bill of fare.
1t must be dreadful thing 20 know exactly
what you are to have for dinner for six
months. The breakfasts are good. The
dinners are well supplied as to meats; but
alas, for the honor Of this great pie.eating
country, there is no dessert, except Oh Sun
days, when they have pie, and on Wednes-
days, when they have fruit, or demi-semi-
occasionally, puGdings. Every boy goes
through course of instruction at the
machine shops, and becomes familiar with
the practical work Of an engine.
At 6 n. M, the morning gun.lire and re-
veile. G.45, roll-call in front of ofquarters in
spectior, and on dismissal, breakfast. After
this, prayers, followed by the sick-ca bu-
gle. The academic instructions are given
in three sessions of two hours each At
o'clock the drill-call, etc., begins-single
stick and fencing, foil practice, shooting,
p y
parade at $50 p. m. is the event OF the day,
and always gathers q crowd of visitors. At
7.3O the study hour begins and lasts until
$50, and at 10 they are all in bed. 1t may
be naturally asked, how much time has u
cadet to himself? Well, % minutes in the
afternoon and 80 minutes in the evening.
Add to which the fact that he has no holi-
day on Saturday, and it will be readily seen
Il, IL, of IF In fon
many give up the struggle, and resign all
their golden future, rather than endure such
hard work. In one class of one hundred
and twenty last year thirty gave it up and
went home and fourteen were dropped"
hy the authorities.
There is much hard work to be done. In
addition to the highest studies ofan ordinary
academy must come naval construction,
seamansliip and tactics, ordnance instruc-
,ion, handling howitZers, torpedo-drill, elec-
trical firing. theory and practice OF naviga-
ton, astronomy, steam engineering, physics
and chemistry.
The quarters are very comfortable. The
dining room is Il magnificent apartment,
round which are hung flags, devices in small
arms, and trophies won III sailing orshooting
matches
Over the heads orthe cadets hover a trini-
ty Of avenging fltcs. For common offences
his Nemesis is the superintendent; for false
hood, fraud or obscene language, he will
have the honor of dismissal ut the hands OF
the Secretary of the Navy; while for hazing
Il court-martial will cut short his naval
career.
I had brief chat with one of the cadets
who said that there was 81 feeling of irrita-
ton among the young men, on account OF
some rules depriving them Of certain class
privileges, and the stringent steps the au.
thorities had taken to put 4 stop to hazing !;
but he confessed that he believed there was
never better work done in the institution
than was now being accomplished.