The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-02-28
NAVAL CADETS.
TURNING OUT OFFICERS FOR
UNCLE SANS NAVY.
How Cadets Enter the Naval Acade-
my Green Youngsters and Come
Out Officers - Daily Routine of
Drills and Studies.

Drills and Studies.
Every year, in the early part of May,
there appear in the city of Annapolis,
Nd. a number Of lads about seventeen
years of age who are evidently strangers
to that ancient city. They are to be met
in the streets going to their schools, OF
can be seen copyrighted in the neighbor-
hood of their boarding houses. But
wherever they may DC their talk is all OF
books or of the approaching eXamna-
tions. These are the candidates who
have come from all parts of the Union to
appear before the Examining Board for
admission to the Naval Academy. The
examinations, which are not severe, are
confined 20 the subjects of grammar,
geography spelling, arithmetic and
limited portion of algebra.
The candidate who successfully passes
in these studies appears before board OF
medical naval surgeons, and If he IS
physically sound becomes, after taking
the oath of allegiance to the United
States, part of that machine which was
set in motion in 1916 by the Hon. George
Bancroft, the Secretary of the Navy.
The summer months are preparatory for
the academic year, which opens later,
ami the new cadets under the direction
of Il detail of officers are drilled in the
manual of arms and initiated into some
of the mysteries of their chosen profess
sion.
On October The cadets of the upper
class return from their yearly leave and
the work of the term begins. The first,
second and third classes of the cadets
arc quartered in a large four-story build
ing at the northwestern portion of the
yard, and the fourth class i'll what is
known as 1.-The old quarters near the
gymnasium.
The rooms in the quarters open out
into wide corridors and are each Occu-
pied bv two cadets. the furniture of
the room is extremely simple and no at
tempts at decoration are permitted. One
room resembles another in every particu-
lar, ana all its arrangements are pre-
scribed with eXactness. Always at GER
tain fixed times, an inspecting officer
makes his appearance in the rooms,
whercupon the cadets rise and stand at
attention while the official takes note of
the condition of the room, and if there
be apparent any Infringement Of the reg
u!ation. he enters q report against one OF
the cadets. As the cadets take turns IN
being responsible for the good order of
their room it is the one in charge who is
reported for any disorder, even though
it may have been caused by the other
cadet.
The daily routine of q cadets life ut
the Naval Academy is as follows Livery
week day morning he is awakened al SIX
o'clock by the note: of the buglc ringing
through the corridors. There is no time
allowed for second nap, for in three
quarters of an hour he must present him
self at morning roll call, with clothes
neatly brushed and shoes well blackened,
and in that time he has to make his
toile' and his bed and sweep out his
room. ~ quarter before seven o'clock
the call for morning rcll call is sounded
and the cadets assemble in ranks on the
broad walk in front OF the quarters in
good weather, or in the corridor Of the
main floor when the weather is bad.
The battalion of cadets is divided into
four companies, or divisions, Differed
by members OF the first class, chosen
with special reference to their fitness for
the position. After the companies are
mustered at the morning formation the
ranks are opened. and while the conduct
report of the preceding day is being
real by the cadet adjutant of the bat
talon, the officer in charge passes slowly
down tie rigid ranks, scrutinizing every
cadet Woe be to that unlucky one
who. lingering too long in his dreams,
failed to brush his clothes, or who
trusted to the tightly buttoned blouse to
hide lack of necktie, for he will hear his
name given to the officer of the day, WIZ,
with pencil and note book, follows
closely after tine inspecting officer, and
the next morning his name with others
will appear upon the conduct report.
All ofIenses and infractions of the regu-
lations are classified and carry with
them, according to their class, a certain
number of dement's; and when a cadet
has received a certain number, of de-
merits he is liable to dismissal.
When the inspecting officer has fin
ishcd his rounds the ranks are closed,
and by companies the cadets are marched
to breakfast. The mess arrangements
are excellent. The food, though simple,
is abundant and well cooked, and the
rapid increase in weight with which
many of the fourth class are credited
gives evidence that it is nutritious.
Ample time is allowed at all the meals.
There is no hurrying, and not until the
last cadet has finished does the officer in
charge strike the bell and the cadet Off
Ger give the order to rise. Prayers are