Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-05
HOW no sEooME A NAVAL CADET.
Appointments, Examinations, Age, Ply
sique, and Cost OF Outfit.

sique, and Cost OF Outfit.
ANNAPOLIS, ND, July 4.-Many val
liable scholarships are vacant just now
at the Naval Academy. Up TO July l
these vacancies may be filled by the
Members OF or Delegates TO Congress Ia
the districts or Territories they repre-
sent. Under the law 81 naval cadets
are allowed in the academy-one for
every Congressional district, one for
each Territory, one for the District OF
Columbia, and ten appointed at large by
the President. After the first day OF
July the law, Revised Statutes, Sec.
tion 1,5l4, requires the Secretary OF
the Navy 10 iii the vacancies.
As shown by the latest Academy Reg
lister most of the places not filed by the
May class OF naval cadets will be cap
tured by the candidates now in Annap-
oils awaiting the September examina-
tiOnS. There are, however, some va
caucies left, which can be ascertalned
by application 10 the Secretary OF the
Navy.
1t is the duty Of the Secretary OF the
Navy as soon as possible 20 notify In
writing any member OF the House OF
Representatives Ia whose district va
cancy exists. Taking IL for granted
that he has done so, the indications are
that many OF these valuable appoint
mentS go a begging.
The next examination OF Candidates
for admission TO the Naval Academy
will take place on Friday, September l.
Having his appointment from the Sec
rotary Of tee Navy, made at the recon-
mendation OF his member OF Congress,
the aspirant presents himself TO the
Superintendent Of the Naval Academy
for examination. All candidates must,
at The time Of their examination, be not
less than fifteen noe more than twenty
years Of age, physically sound, we'll
formed, and of robust constitution.
They must also be bona fide residenSS OF
the districts from which they are ap-
pointed. They are Immediately ex-
amined mentally by the Academic
Board in writing, spelling, reading,
geography, arithmetic, English gram
mar, United States history and algebra
Deficiency In any one of these studies
will be sufficient to insure the rejection
Of the candidate, but all are allowed
a denomination.
There are several schools that make
q speciality Of preparing young men for
this ordeal Two are In Annapolis, and
they are surprisingly successful, except
when the authorities make an effort TO
reduce the navy by giving an unusually
difficult examination. Such was the
case, IL is understood, last year, when
L - a z kaal ms
thirty-iiye the year before.
A test Of the character OF these exam
nations is found in the requirement
that candidates must be able 10 read
UNDERSTANDABLE aud with proper accent
aud emphasis, and to write legibly,
neatly aud rapidly" In spelling they
must be able To write, from dictaticn,
paragraphs from English volumes OF
standard prose and poetry. The SPELL
log throughout the examination will be
considered 10 marking the papers.
After the mental examination the
candidate is sent before medical board
of three members TO test his physical
condition. These are some OF the 10
irmitles that will cause rejection: Fee
bic constitution, inherited or acquired;
retarded development, impaired general
health, any disease, deiormity, or result
OF injury that would impair efficiency
ineiliciency OF either of the extremities,
or large articulation from any cause;
loss Of many teeth or general unsound-
ness OF the teeth; visual acuteneSS must
not fall below Is 20 Of the normal in
either eye, Slight defects are some-
times ignored by the Secretary of the
Navy after rejection by the Medical
Board,
Candidates who successfully pass the
physical and mental examinations are
accepted as naval cOdetS, become stu
dents at the academy, and are virtually
officers OF the United States Navy,
with all the glories OF the career Of
Hull, Decatur, Farragut and Porter
open TO them. Every cadet is required
TO sign articles by which he binds him
self to serve the United States eight
years, including his probationary term
at the academy, The pay of naval ca
Diet is $500 a year, beginning at the date
Of his admission.
Every cadet must deposit Sl9S.GS be-
fore being admitted 10 the academy.
This is TO buy books and purchase his
outfit. One jack knife, one pair Of bath
Ing trunks, a dress jacket, six sheets.
hammock ciews, thread and needles,
aud forty other articles make up fight
ing sailors outfit,