St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-10-20

~ AW9US,G GttO0-M00y Ot0oE
Trying Experiences.
This Is an at:empt to detail the early
experience of an Annapolis 'plebe. IS
Naval officers who write magazine ar
alc'es all agree that hazing has been
abolished. 1t has. in name only. One
never hears of hazing now; but no one
who has ever been ''plebe" can truth
fully deny that jumping" and run
ming have not yet fallen into a decrepit
old age.
Let US first imagine the ..plebe" who
arrives in September at the Naval
Academy. He is a green-looking chap.
Men from all quarters of the country
come tumbling into town. in all sorts of
clothing, and with all sorts of airs. The
new man is Immediately sent on board
the Santee. His first struggle is with
his hammock. He doesn't sleep in the
hammock first night. Most OF his time
Is spent in learning how to get into it.
and after he gets in. to stay in. He goes
In 0D one side and goes out on the other,
with bedding and pillows following
him. Finally, after he has spent three
hours in learning how to stay in the
hammock. he finds that he hasn't a
birth in what might truthfully be called
aparadise anyway. Perhaps some MAY
plebe" has poured salt in the hammock;
or perhaps three or four short hairs
have been placed in it where they will
do the most good. and the poor .'plebe"
Is in agony all night. Or, If nothing
OF this sort has come about, the man
could never sleep in q hammock
stretched like half-moon. anyway, and
the newcomer always hangs his ham,
mock tina: way. The next night il has
less of a curve; still less the next; and
finally he gets it stretched on a level.
Then he sleeps.
The next morning, at bugle call, the
cadet tumbles out and gets down in
some shape to inspection. This is a
fearful ordeal. There he stands, with
thumbs turned out and toes turned in,
trying to look veteran. when the In
spector hurries along, glarcs at him.
and pointing at his cap, shouts: Haul
little on the starboard lift" The ca
dct opens his mouth, and says: "Ah-h,"
and then opens his eyes and says:
''How." and finally learns that his cap
has not been set squarely on his head.
He has been spotted"
As he grows older he learns that there
are many things for which a man may
be spotted. Gap not properly squared"
''Trousers not brushed" '.ShOestrings
hanging" Button of blouse" Not
properly shaved" 1t is marvellous
what little things catch the eagle eye Of
the inspector.
f, Somehow the cadet manages to get
to breakfast, and nops in the first seat.
Perhaps grace has been usually said at
home to slow and measured tones. ANY,
way he waits q moment, and soon finds
that everybody has made dive at the
food and that there is none left for him.
Then some more comes on, and he
dives too. The scene that follows is in
discribable.
But it is not always 30. When the
upper class men return from their cruise
no man dares reach half an inch over
his side of the table for food, or he will
be terribly Jumped. And. by the way,
the jumping soon begins for our plebe.
As Re wanders down for a breakfast a
x.vnvr1 ~ oho,,% Ef%1oc vrov, ov>v>xc.ch
him, their caps cooked at an angle of
forty-five degrees over their left eyes,
and they demand: Whats your name?"
in fierce tone. where do you come
from?" ALBANY. n. Y" "Eh, what
State?" '.New York" "Any more
like you there?" "Ye-s-s." Great
guns" "Yes-s." Say SIR" "Yes-s-
SIR" Stand on your head" And the
poor plcbe gets on and of his head till
he is dizzy.
Then all fifteen men demand at once:
s.Who's the savez' man here?" who's
the handsOmest?' "WhO's the wooden
man?" And whichever way he answers
the plebe offends fourteen Of the fifteen
StsuluS tlsC consequences AASh
one man orders him to do something,
and another orders him not to. ''If you
don't I'll jump you" says one. IF you
do I'll run you." shouts the other.
The plebe Obeys the first and is
Jumper BY the second. and then. to
his utter disgust, the first man says:
Guess I'll jump you anyhow. just for
the fun Of it." And again he stands on
his head.
Perhaps the plebe has now flagrantly
violated some Of the rights Of the upper
classmen, and If so, he is made to ''eat
soap or fight" II he fights and gets
whipped he eats soap. II he fights and
wins he eats a double dose. So it does no
particular good to fight.
By October l the cadet leaves the
Santee and goes to quarters There
bis 6Est experience Il as buRle call He