The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-17
RETIRED NAVAL OFEJCERS.
After the Age Limit Has Sent Them Ashors
They MIKE Their Homes Near the Sea.

After the Age Limit Has Sent Them Ashore
They Make Their Homes Near the Sen.
Landsmen find tho retired list OF the United
States Navy one OF the oldest and most com
pick features OF the naval establishment.
There are upon the retired list OF commits.
stoned officers now about $50 names OF all
ranks. from Ensign to Rear-AdmiraL Tho re-
tired Rear Admirnls are more than five times
as many as the Rear Admirals on the active
list and the retired Commodores are almost
exactly equal In number to the Commo ores
In active service.
or other ranks in the line tho retired Lieu
tenants OF both grades are largest in numbers.
or these there are a little over fifty. The re-
tired Captains. Commanders. Lieutenant
Commanders. and Ensigns number altogether
only about seventy. There are moro than
ninety retired engineer officers. or half as
many as tho engineers OF the active list. The
retired pay officers number only twenty-three.
about one-fourth the number of tho active pay
corps. and tho medical retired list numbers
forty-hve. about one-third the numher Of the
active medical corps The retired iist OF the
Marine Corps 10 about one-third AS large as
the active list
There are great many wars OF getting re-
tired from the navy. and since few naval OIL
tired list is made up Of officers who have
served As years. The compulsory retirement
age in tho army is "a years. but Uncle sam
mS% aSoa on siaE Sc @
two ' Years Es' earlier. There are isy
service. Then there are many OF ali
retired tecause OF uisa ABILITIES contracted in
the service. These make W an even larger !mi.
retired because OF age. The TACT is that these
latter seldom long survive retirement There
is a small group q, several ranks retired AS
not recommended Tor promotion In some
cases physical disability is a! eyed in others the
nayy register preserves discreet silence Il
naval officers long awaiting promotion look
for possible relief In the future. Il Congress
can be induced to enact that all officers who
remain unpromoted after a certain number Of
years shall be retired,
retirement is the thing genuinely dreaded
thing ia civil life. Some retired. naval Officers
another. and few lucky fellows earn good
deal at civil employmsnts while still on the
old old or inilrm Tor active work. is usually too
much the victim OF routine and habit to be
effective in any business OF civil life. Retire
tai and bodily health is usually genuine mis-
fortune, since It means largely reduced IN
ture are, well settled. and who has never
Learned the art OF saving m, money; o only ono
tired wi the highest sea pay Of his grade.
It 10 pleasant to know that retired officers
who have been longest in the service love 10
hx thair homes at seaports or within easy
Washington 10 . iSvorite place Of resi- denee for
the grizzled veterans Of the navy Now York.
Philadelphia. Portsmouth. Newport. and three
or four other Atlantic seaportS are also be-
loved Of the veterans. Few OF them live In
scattered ali over the continent. There is q
peculiar charm about these battered old sea
dogs. whose mem cries are rich In pictures al
the nayy's stirring tlmes, whose traditions are
those OF tho days when FarraRut was Lieu
tenant. and lads OF twelve went to sea as mid
shipmen by way OF learning 10 be officers.