Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1890-03-13
BRIDGETON, N. J., THURSDAY MARCH I3, 1890
A VISIT TO ANNAPOLIS.
Interesting Description OF the
- Town and Naval Academy.

TO be IN no haste to rise early, and on
Sunday naturally rise later than usual.
But soon after breakfast we started to
the Naval Academy yard to witness
the Sunday morning inspection of bat
talon. 1t was indeed novel and inter-
esting to see, at the bugle CALL the
cadets swarming from the door of the
quarters and running down the steps
to the long brick walk directly in front
OF the door, where they formed in two
ranks.
When all we're in exact line, it
seemed like two long, glistening rows
OF buttons and white gloves, while the
rapid call of the roll and the quick,
short answer "Here!" were confusing
and amusing.
Faces front, ilnmovably they stood,
save for many twitches of thum bs, and
once in awhile forefnger, while the
inspector went down the lines, looking
at hats, collars, running his fingers
down the rows of buttons to see that
they were fastened securely, then
glancing at boots to see the amount of
polish put on them. They stood the
long inspection steadily. A neat cadet
is certainly dainty sight. Lastly
came the order to form for church.
Those attending services outside the
yard stepped out, forming with their
backs to the quarters; those who at
tended chapel in the yard fronting
towards it, and away they swung
marching step, up to chapel, and out
the gates.
One squad attended the Episcopal
Church, outside the yard, one the
Roman Catholic, one the Methodist,
and one the Presbyterian, Mr.. Robt.
Williams, pastor.
We followed the latter squad. At
ter service, our cadet having to return
and report from church, before dining
with us, we strolled about a short dis
tance. Annapolis is built around cir
cles: Church Circle, with streets radi-
ating from the Episcopal Church
State Circle. streets radiating from thes
State House; Governors Circle, rom
the Governors house. Maryland Ho-
tel fronts Gf you can call narrow,
tapering end, fronting,) upon Church
Circle.
A stranger, wandering alone, seems
to be always turning unexpected cor
ners, running against rows of houses,
or into narrow streets-a troublesome
town in which to learn the points of
the compass when there but q few
days.
10 Westerner, and the present
generation of young people, who have
never seen such an old and quantity
arranged town, it is great deal of
pleasure to view so curious place as
Annapolis. Our regret was, that time
was too short, and it was too cool to
take carriage and drive.
All the old houses we saw, were
built in Colonial times, hip-roofed,
little dormer windows, and immense
chimneys. Porches were out upon
the walk with side seats, many of
which, had been inclosed within a
few years-the pillars and foundations
showing their age. We looked at the
house where the gallant De Kalb is
said to nave courted beautiful maid.
1t has the hip-roof and tiny dormers,
with the addition of a rallied balcony
on top, running its full length, upon
which they sat on moonlight nights.
De Kalb's monument is opposite, on
State House Circle.
We peeped down some of the negro
quarters; old, old houses, upon narrow
streets, many of whose sleping roofs
were covered with moss. The little
urchins played up and down with as
much freedom as of old.
A brief description of the quarters of
the cadets may be interesting. There
ale two hundred and forty-two cadets
in the building. There is a YER
anda running its whole front, with
large double entrance to a wide hall.
The corridors are also wide, as we'll as
the stairs, which are easy to ascend.
At each end of the building, connected
with each story. are stairways in case
of need, but cadets are obliged to enter
the central door, and go to their rooms
by central stairway. Halfway it is
broken by long landing, upon which
stand six or eight buckets filed with
water, and hose hangs in the corner
in case of need.
The band plays twice every day but
Sunday, from Q to 10 a. M, and to 8
p. IN closing the day with the patri.
otic and familiar air Hail Columbia. y
1t is considered the third best military
band in the United States. Each cadet
pays fifty cents a month toward its
maintenance p.
Greenhouse Burned.
The large greenhouses of j. Comfy
Gibson, near Woodbury., were almost
N