The Arizona sentinel., 1886-06-12
AT ANNAPOLIS.
Cadet Life in the Naval Academy of the
 United States


 United States
 The academy is separated from Ann apolis by tall, yellowish-looking bricl wall, which extends from the river iron across the city to the grounds of St Johns College, thus completely cutting off any intercourse with Annapolis The yard consists of fifty acres of beau tifully laid-out grounds, the greater part of which is devoted to parade grounds for the infantry and artillery drills which take place in the fall and spring, as in winter it is too cold fol any outdoor drills. On turning to the tight after entering the gate, facing g broad avenue, is a long row of houses, which are occupied by officers attached to the academy, and further on the chapel, where the cadets attend service regularly every Sunday morning to listen to the chaplain's sermons.
 Next to the chapel is Captain Ram sey's office, where the poor plebe re- ports for his entrance examination. A young man who wishes to enter the Naval Academy has to be recommended by the Congressman in whose district he resides to the Secretary of the Navy, who gives him a permit to present him. self to the Superintendent of the Acad- emy on the 18th of May or the 1st of September, as the case may be, for ex- animation as to his qualifications for be- coming a naval cadet. The custom has been of late for Congressmen to order a competitive examination in the branches required to enter the Academy, and then recommend the successful candI- dates for the appointment, The actual appointment is not made by the Con- gressman, but by the Secretary of the Navy, and this is not given until after the cadet has been duly sworn in as a naval cadet in the United States Navy. On receiving the permit the candidate, as he is then called, re- ports to the superintendent as specified in the permit. His name, age, place of residence and birth are then regis tered in a large book, and he is given blanks to fill in stating what progress he has made in his studies and the text books he used, these blanks to be hand ed in the next day at his mental exam ination.
 Four days are given to the mental ex- animation, two in English and two in mathematics. If a candidate fails on the first two he is given a re-eXamina- ton in the branches he has failed in, and if he then fails that is the last of it. After the mental test is over comes the physical examination, which is very rigid. The principal defects in candi- dates are in the eyes, ears and in vari- cose velns. Having passed both mental and physical examinations, the candi- date is given papers to sign, binding himself to the navy for eight years, un- less sooner discharged. Then he is sworn in, for which he has to pay ten cents.
 The cadet life of this young aspirant for naval glory has now begun. It is not necessary to make any deposit of money, but it is preferred that two hun dred dollars be deposited for his ex- penses, which are heavy, and this amount is placed to hls credit in drawing his pay. He then takes his mattress and bed-clothes on his back, and marches down to the Santee, where he is to remain until the ship starts on her practice cruise in June
 When the new naval cadet goes to his first meal he then catches little of the running" or, as called by the civil ians, hazing. He walks around for 8 few minutes with his cap stuck on the side of his head as big as any first class man, when his dignity is suddenly in- fringed by some third class man com nd ho foll ing dialogue follows:
 Third Class Man-Say, there, you, Mister What-is-your-name, where are you from? Whose place are you inr Shake it up and give us general ac. count of yourself.
 Plebe-Jones.
 Third Class Man-Jones what?
 Plebe-Jones nothing.
 Third Class Man-Jones, sir; do you savey?
 Plebe-Yes, sir.
 Third Class Man-You don't want to forget that little word, or YOU might get into trouble.
 Plebe-Yes, sir.
 While this conversation is going on the third class man has evidently for gotten to remind the plebe that he is standing in a very unmilitary manner, and informs him in this manner:
 ''Say, you, mister, brace up and have some style about you. Put your feet together, fins out, and raise that chin a little; stomach in and breast out. What the deuce did you come here for, any way-the glory of your country; the five hundred dollars year or the educa- tion?" And whatever answer the plebe gives he is sure to be taken up on it.
 After having received his first dose of hazing he is told to skip, and be quick about it, or he will stand him on his head to give him an appetite for his breakfast
 The cadets are provided with excellent food, for which they have to pay SPA per month. The mess hall is large room 120 feet long by 50 broad, and has eight tables, around which the cadets sit, the cadet officers taking the heads of the ta- bleS. The tables are well stocked with wholesome food, there being always two kinds of meat for dinner. Forty min- utes are given for dinner and thirty for breakfast and supper, which is not any too much time for the capacities of these youngsters. ~. !. Sua
 SQUARING CIRCLES.