Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-10-14
Naval Academy Examinations.


nations. In the first place IL is well
known that each member OF Congress Is
entigled 10 make an appointment TO the
Naval Academy every six years. II bis
appointee should fail at any time what
ever, the privilege Of filling the vacancy
caused thereby, Immediately vests in the
member again, the intention Of the law
being that there shall be q Naval cadet
10 the credit of each Congressional dis
tricf at all times There Is an erroneous
idea held by many people that United
States Senators have the appointing priv
ilege also. Members Of Congress only
are entitled 10 make an appointment, the
intention Of the law being 10 distribute
the vacancies throughout the country
and in this manner 10 secure the best
material for the Navy by allowing all
bows in the respective districts TO COM
pete for the place II this intention
we're strictly followed out wide field
would be opened up for recruiting the
naval ranks with excellent material.
However, many Congressman fail TO
open the matter 10 competition and
through friendship or through political
considerations, select boy without re-
gard TO qualifications ana send him 10
Annapolis 10 stand an examination that
il searching 90 say the least OF il. Candf-
dates Tor admission 10 the Naval Acade-
ny must submit to very rigorous mental
and physical examinations, and It IS no
unfrequent thing that they pass the for
mer and fail ANONYMOUSLY on the latter.
In their mental examinations two trials
are given candidates upon each study,
ana in those only in which they fail
must hey be re-examfned. Thus Ii Is
seen that boys have q fair chance 10 en-
ter, the second trial being given TO en-
able them to correct Dad average on
the tirst trial, the result perhaps or ner-
yOusness and excitement. About sixty
per cent. OF those that presented them
selves for admission during the year
were found qualified to become cadets.
OF course there were some among the
failure whose physical condition is not
ND TO the standard, but by far the most
failures were caused by faulty mental
preparation The candidates that came
TO the September examinations, were, as
q class. slightly better than those that
came 10 the May examinations when but
nlty-fve per cent. was found eligible for
entrance. AS cause Tor the large num-
Der OF failures mentally it may be that the
standard for admission Is made higher
each year, and consequently the tests
are harder Certain il is that more is
required for admission now than was
required 4 few years ago.
Formerly the age tor admission was
between fourteen and eighteen years.
while now il Is between nfteen and
twenty. The increase in age no doubt
draws after il an increase in the severity
OF the entrance examinations, but exper-
fence has already shown that the nearer
twenty q boy is the less able il he 10 pass
an examination in the requirements for
admission This is due 20 the fact that
each year, after he is sixteen or seven
teen years old, he recedes farther and
farther from the knowledge appropriate
10 that age and which is required 20 ad-
nit hlm 20 the Naval Acauamy. il is
well-known that the requirements are
not too great for boys, of reasonable
ability, neither are they Of an advanced
nature. But the thoroughness with
which candidates must be prepared in
them IS surprising. IL may be said with
perlect security that IL Is impossible for
candidates 70 be too well prepared and
they should take advantage OF every OPP
portunity that viii enable them 10 &C.
quEre 4 thorough ana complete knowl-
edge Of the subjects of examination,
while those that have the appointing
power should select boys who are wei
equipped mentally and ply sically 10 en-
uure me tests required Of them.
In many cases III failure the fault rests /
with parents, for all Information con-
corning the requirements Tor admission /
is placed In their hands BY the Navy De- /
partment, particularly IS 90 physical re-
requirements. Before sending their sons
Il. -