The Washington times., 1895-05-09
STICKING TO THEIR GUNS
High School Cadets Drilling Hard in
Every Spare Moment.
Preparations for theCompetitive Drill
to Occur on the 24th Instant
in the Baseball Park.

The principal topic of conversation among
the High School Cadets is the competitive
drill for companies, which VIII take place
on May "a, in the National Baseball Park.
The school yards and the surrounding
streets, after the close of the session yes
terday presented a most warlike appear
ance. AT the Central building Company B,
First battalion, Capt Butts was diligently
practicing the skirmish tactics on the grass
swand in front of the school,, while in the
yard Company ID had just stacked arms
and Company A was still hard at work
maneuyering.
These annual competitive drills have been
in vogue at the High schools since 1882,
Company ID, Capt. Smith, winning the one
held last year. The regiment consists OF
nine distinct companies, which are ap-
portioned among the four schools as fol-
lows: Central, companies A, b, C, ID,
First battalion; Capitol Hill, companies F.
and q. Second battalion; Georgetown, COM
pany Ii, First battalion; Business school,
companies + and /, Second battalion.
An additional Incentive TO work this year
Is a handsome medal, donated by Capt
Allison Naior, which is 10 be worn for
one year by the commanding officer OF the
winning company in Ihe drill. The prize
is costly, niarveousy wrought, and studded
with jewels The design for it was Sc
lected from fifty submitted by students OF
the schools, that of Mr.. Thomas Ridge-
way being deemed the best, with that OF
Miss Edna R. Westcott, a close second.
Capt Constantine Chase, of the Fourth ar
! tillery, has been the chairman OF the
judges for years past and he Will occupy
! hA lie
sociat.s have not yet been selected : but it
is presumed that Capt. French, also OF the
Fourth artillery, who was one of the judges
last year, will again act this year.
The admission to the grounds on the day
of the drill viii be complime mentary, and
about 4 900 tickets are TO be distributed
among the cadets to give to their friends.
The revised tactics of the army will be
followed, and both standing and marching
movements will he reckoDed in deciding the
contest
However interested the boys may become
in this feature, Principal Lane, of the Cen
tral High School, says that their attention
to their studies increases in proportion.
This has been matter of observation with
him and with other gentlemen at the head
of schools throughout the country, where
military training is made an item i'll the
curriculum. Educators in this and other
sections are awaking to the importance of
teaching military tactics.
1t isundeniable, he says, that it inculcates
in the pupils mind that essential idea,
obedience. In some localities ii is quite
common for a scholar TO throw q slate
at or attempt to thrash the teacher,
but there has been not even the midest
kind OF insu bordination at the Central High
since the introduction OF the cadet system.
Principal Lane thinks that this is attrb-
utable in large measure to the respect
-.
training inspires the youths.
Military instruction has been taught in
the Boston public schools for many years
past, and recent attempt was made TO
introduce it in New York, but so far the
opposition of the Peace Societies has been
able to prevent it.. A bill was introduced
into the last Congress To provide for the
detailment OF army officers as instructors
in many OF the public schools of the coun-
try, out this was never acted upon.
Gen. OUdway is a great admrer of the
drilling OF the Washington High School
Cadets, and he regards their regiment as a
sort OF nursery for the future great generals
in the regular service.