Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-19

been abandoned for hospital purposes, tht
educational idea has been retained anG
Greenwich is a school for the education
officers for the navy, the same as our academy
ct Annapolis. Thus across the street from
each other, with only roadway separating
them, the sons of rich and influential people
are being prepared for officers, while the
| poorer lads are taught to do the roughel
work on vessel at sea.
| THE PARSONS FAVORED SON.
The preacher, fnd-or a parson. as they
call him-has big pull in this country.
This class furnish q very large percentage OF
the young men who are being educated at
the public's expense as midshipmen. The
sons of officers who are now in commission
or have rendered meritorious services, take
| precedence in the scramble for a place on
England's naval roll, but the parsons son
is power and the influence of the spiritual
advisor comes next, while the tradesman' s
son is last in the race. Although the high
toned school is really part of Greenwich
Hospital, it has no connection whatever
with the institution where the boys are
being prepared, because the association of
the two might be rated as menace to the
rule OF caste, which, by the way, is weaken
ing every day.
The fower-beds which dot the grounds in
side the iron fence where the boys are
schooled are we'll watered every morning.
As walked among them first met round
faced, bright-eyed lad, dressed in sailors
uniform, picking few geraniums, and asked
him something of his life. He touched his
cap respectfully and we strolled along the
walk together toward the big structures,
which, he said, were the study and practice
rooms, when he said:
SATISFIED WITH HIS LOT.
"They work us pretty hard here, they do.
L have been here three years and have got
two more to stay. My father was killed at
sea, and 1 came here when 1 was II years
old. They won't take boys any younger,
and they won't take them over IA. No mat
ter when you come in, you have got to stay
hve years De, ore you 60 10 sea. We are well
fed, well clothed and taught everything
sailor needs to know. We get meat every
day and plum pudding on Sunday. No,
we don't get any pay until after we go to
sea; but We have a vacation every summer,
when we 60 home or stay here, as we please.
1 have no home, and there are several more
boys who have not. They stay just as do"
Can you ever get to be officers?'' I
asked.
The lad shook his head and replied:
"Only petty officers, The boys over there
have all got chance to be commanders; but
wehave not"
The lads chat about his school life
was very interesting. and even at
his age he was so we'll satisfied with the
barrier of caste, which prevented his being
advanced from the position for which be
was being educated, that he made no COM
plant; but seemed proud that he was able
to get where he was toward seaman's life.
1t was probably better lot than he ever had
at home.
PHYSICAL PERFECTION REQUIRED,
After leaving the boy, only one of
thousand on the rolls of this wonderful
charity, encountered one of the officers.
He said: "The exaotions here are very con-
siderable. That is we are very strict about
the medical examination. The boys are
watched from year to year, and their physi-
cal condition carefully noted and looked
after. None, but physically perfect lad
can get in orremain at this school, and after
they have worked and studied the five years,
if there is the slightest question of their
they are permitted to 90 to the merchant serv-
ice with our lgood wishes; but only small
percentage are thus unfortunate.
ut is no easy matter for boy to get in
here. His father must be in, or have been
in the royal naval service, and have good
record, to enable his son to be eligible.
Then precedence is given to the orphans of
such men as have died or been killed. The
boy must also be able to read and write, and
be from 30 to 56 inches high before he will
be received for examination, They are a
manly lot, and this is the most perfect
feeder to naval equipment that has ever
been conceived by the wit Of man."
ROSCOE Combines WORDS,
When Mr.. Conkl1ng made the declaration
as to Nell Gwynne's good deeds, which |
comes so vividiy back to my mind while |
visiting this place, he also gave this epitome
Of her life: "Nell Gwynne was born in a |
coal yard; raised like blade of grass be-
tween two cobblestones; an orange girl in a |
theater; the mistress of an actor and after.
ward OF King; the mother of a royal house.
and the founder of the holiest charity that
ever blessed mankind"
And here 1t is on the banks of the Thames.
with its counterpart farther up the stream.
The buildings are gray with age, but its
usefulness has kept pace with every day life
until every man, who carries or looks at a
lmepiece, is in daily communication with
t. Just back of the bows school on the !
'row of a hill, which slopes down to the
parade ground, stands the big observatory,
which every day at noon indicates time for
he civilized world. Hundreds of years ago
t fixed direction for the navigator and the
urveyor. 1t is as much a feature Of human
lie to-day as ever, and is in such close COM
nunion with all mankind, that it touches
lbows with the citizens of all climes every
hours. Greenwich is your neighbor, and
Is remarkable history belongs as much to
ne nation as another.
FRANK A. BURR