New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-09

GREAT CAPTAINS AND ADMIRALS IN EN-
RRYO.
u,zrxc; PAST AND PREsENT-THE RESPONSIBLE
TIES OF THE FOURTH CLASS MAN-ALso'
SOME OF HIS MIsERIEs-THE GAuDY
,xD cORGEOt-S FIRST CLASS NAN.

AND GORGEOUS FIRST CLASS NAN
Washington. June (specaD.-Dur!ng the last few
yeoks nftv or sixty trembling young men from all
go. ., tho country have presented themselves IT
10 Naval Academy as candidates for admission TO
the United States Navy as cadets The phys'ca'
examinations have been finished. ana those iortu-
nate enough 70 pass have also had chah'e a' INC
mental examination In the big nan o' ''e |>'''''
puIdna /, IS safe to say. however. from past eX-
rarorce in examinations that the large majority
., tho candidates will at the end o. this week De
allowed to depart for their distant homes 10 resume
the peaceful vocations Of civil ife. Inc happy
minority rejoicing in their goi-briided caps
and blue blouses will soon be writing nome 10 the'r
peopo about the beauties Of the grounds the sp'en-
lo-s ~ shlnboard and the giories OF the naval ser
,.lc. hal. limiting however. in burst or newborn
egotisn at much-needel reform. speaking WIN al
overweoning confidence Of the time when they nope
>, 10 captalns and even Admirals. and making plans
for their brilliant future that HI the "'s''''' P
nj hearts with JOY
Uut the hopes OF these young optirnists IN per-
hans more than onehalf the number are not 10 De
realized For although many OF the adrni'''i can
dldatcs have been spending long period AT coaoh-
ing on oil examination papers. and have almost
mastered them th"y fail ANONYMOUSLY IN IN" sec
.i,o r,or,'' with new material before them Be.or"
tho scm-annual examinations come rouni many OF
those who have gone through the first trai WI"
have given up hope entirely. and after fai''nS VIII
f.,
naval service T. IN a fair way 70 ruin anu po''
sort Of business after all.
Tho lie OF the candidate AMI ~ the fourtn c'ass
man or 'plebe" as he is called. has been Variousy
described and the tests to which the young men
ore subjected have been varously criticised by re-
formers outside = The service wno believe the as
eiolning they receive rather too severe HAzins
enI i,r nill.r accompaniment. running. nave
been much taxed about and their evils apparently
much cxargcrated Many suppose mat TINS mia
form of discipn.ng Is very injurious; bur haz'hs
III, II has been and the hazing Of today are very
ll0,r.n, matters The authorities at the Naval
Academy by the nhictlon Of various punshments
and the dismissal Of refractory cadets. have now
succeeded in keeping hazlng within the bounds o.
yr0pr.efy. These punishmenis have been innc'ed 50
frequently. and So many cadets have been droppe'
rec nily from the rolls ~ the Academy. that 1t IS
generally believed that hazns AT Annapolis and West
Point is thing the past Such. however. Is not the
e Sc: for IN spite u summary orders which have been
/ issued by the superintendent and official threats
even by the Secretary OF the Navy. hazins stll ex
lists In rs mid FORM and VIII continue 10 eX'st as
long "A there IL naval school The hazing, or
os II is now more generally called. running Of
,h. fourth class by the third sophomore class
continues after dark IN quarters and out-o'-te-"ay
places IN the grounds in spite OF the vigilance OF
the Waterman and officers on duty. This run
ming IS even more obroxious 10 the fourth class
r1an than some Of the hazlng OF the old days
Then Will. he was made do all manner o. fool
ism and d.sagrcoabe things by the upper class men,
the fourth cass man IN a way enjoyed the per-
forrauce II it not humiliatinG. as much as MS
pcrsccutor Now. he Is made 70 feel the lowiness
| OF his position In the Academic ranks by many
.l!ght indign.iios both IN speech and action. which,
b.,aus. Of their frequency. are more annoying ihan
the more AMUSING II rouSher. haz.ng. The foHr'h
class man is completely ignored on all occasions
whether public or private. by officers ana otheT
cadets and for the first six months OF hts life at
/ Acc he
is no being held In lower estimation generally than
himself.
After passing the mental and physical examina
ton the succ. ssiul candidate Is du.y Installed as
a naval cadet In the United States Navy with all
TN, glores and responsibilities pertaining thereto.
| A. IN. beginning o hts life In the Navy the re-
sponsbilitics Of the fourth class man consist IN
keeping of the heels OF the man In front and in
regulating his wash list. the glories DO not appear
The new cadet makes money deposit with the
sup. rlntcndcnt secures his outfit from the store
k,epcr and starts for the ship Santec laden with
mattresses pillows broom. hammock and
clews and all the other necessary accessories on
his way TO tho old ship he probably meets one OF
Uncle Sans marines In full military regalia. and.
feeling II his duty salute brass buttons and gold
braid wherever seen. brings his hand up after tho
manner OF the militia O. his native heath. to the
infinite satisfaction OF thai individual. who greatly
pleased at the rotice returns the salute with great
precision and the cadet passes on. feeling that he
/ has made "A success or MS INST military venture.
IL Is not until october. when the upper class men
| have returned from their furough. and the long
corridors OF the New Quarters are filed with pack
ing-box.s and trunks. that the 'plcbc really dis
covers what a very small portion OF the great
mechanism he Is. That night. despite the vigilance
OF those on duty. the privacy Of the 'pebe portion
of the quarters is rudey invaded The studious
fourth class mans door IL burst open by haf-a-
dozen third class who have recently been gradu-
ated from plebc" existence. They surround him and
ask him question after question with great rapidly:
where he from. what his name is. his antocedens.
who appointed him. and. In fact. history OF him
self and all his people. The cadet has already been
told not TO forget to intersperse numerous "srs"
In the answers to these questions. An upper class
man reminds him that his cap is not square by the
lifts and braces" and suggests that he square II
by hauling handsomely on the "starboard lift."
The youngster. unless he has very good head, Is
hand from his left. and stu less 'sarboard" from
port" Before he has time to decide the question
his cap is rudcly squared" and numerous fists
thrust into his face backed by gestlcuiations and
scows enough TO strike terror In the heart OF one
Of much more mature years. "Rrnning' Is con-
sidered to be especial talent. and many the
schemes invented otter study hours to harass the
fourth class The following questions have
been handed down from class to class and are