Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-11
AT ANNAPOLIS.
Cadet Life In the Naval Academy of the
United States.

SaocC Lie In the Naval Academy OF the
United States.
The academy is separated from Ann
apolis by a tall, yellowish-looking brick
wall. which extends from the river front
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 for
any outdoor drills. On turning to the
right after entering the gate, facing q
broad avenue, is q 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 c%haplain'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-
envy on the 18th of May or the LIST 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 Congressman to order a
competitive examination in the branches
required to enter the Academy, and
then recommend the successful candl-
dates for the appointment, The actual
gresham. 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 VEINS. Having passed both menta.
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 lie has to paw ten
cents.
The cadet life of this young a~spirant
for naval glory has now begun. 1t is
not necessary to make any deposit OF
money, but it is preferred that two hun
dred dollars bo deposited for his ex-
penscs, which are heavy, and this
amount is placed to his 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 a little of the
running" or, rs called by the civil
ians, hazing. He walks around for a
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
ing up and accosting him. The follow
ing dialogue follows:
Third Glass Man-Say, there, you,
Mister What-is-your-name, where arc
you from? Whose place are you in!
Shake it up and give us a general &c.
count of yourself.
Plebe-Jones.
Third Glass Man-Jones what?
Plebe-Jones nothing.
Third Glass Man-Jones, sir; do you
savoy?
Plebe-Yes, sir.
Third Glass Man-You don't want tc
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 a 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 1924 per
month. The mess hall is Il large DON
100 feet long by SO 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 appetites of these
youngsters.-Cor: N Y. San.