The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-28
Kansas Boys Who Are Material
for Middies at Annapolis,
And Later on for Admirals and
Such.
HATTHEY AREDOING
Journal" Correspondent Visits
and Talks
To the Boys-How They Like a
Sailors Life.

From the State Journals Special Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. March 2S--If one were
commissioned to enlist a quota OF sailors
he would hardly think of going to Kan
sas to begin business. He would be slow
TO think that there was anything in the
woodIess prairies, the small streams and
general absence of large bodies of water
TO give that hankering after life on the
wine colored, loud roaring sea which
every boy hero in the story books has.
And yet there are now five Kansas boys
in the United States naval academy at
Annapolis, Md. who are not only pre-
pairing themselves for the life of a sailor
but who also expect to live sailors lives.
These five are Irwin L. Landis of
Kiowa, E. B. Larrimer of Wich-
tia, Thomas L. Johnson of Leaven-
worth, H. NJ. Gleason of Alma and
Z. j. Sadler of Sedan. A finer looking,
brighter delegation of young fellows
never represented a state, and when they
came down to the rece pti0n room of the
academy to meet the JOURNAL CORES
pondent he felt that Kansas ought to be
proud of them. They were attired in
their full dress cadet uniforms of navy
blue, two rows of brass buttons down the
broidered anchor on each side of the
opening in the high jacket collar at the
front White gloves, the blue cadet cap,
and neatly BACKED shoes completed the
Outf. The pleasing appearance that the
fellows thus made offered entirely
satisfactory explanation of the reputed
failing of girls to lose their hearts to
"brass buttons"
l, L. Lands has been at the academy
longer than any of the others and is in
the class of '97. Bot before telling of
the Kansas cadets individually it may be
we'll to give the routine of life at the
academy.
In the first place, if a young fellow
seeks an appointment to Annapolis with
the idea of having "howling" time he
is doomed to bitter disappointment A
sectarian college isn't a marker to the
ironclad rules they have at the academy
and the cadets are not allowed to
deal around the fascinating cards or
tickl their nerves with the soothin 2
fumes of tobacco. At first thought one
is inclined to sigh. what is a collie ge
course without the poker elective" but
when it is remembered that everyone has
TO turn out at six in the morning the
beauties of an all night session" grow
dim and fade out of mind. There is one
thing. however, which makes the strong
est rules as to card playing and tobacco
40sS RdlAlu8 LnAu tuOSS O1 S0CLdE4d4 luSll-
tuttons and that is they are enforced for
the sake of discipline and not from mo-
uves of meddling with your soul,
This is what the cadets without eXcep-
ton have to do Reveille is sounded at
six o'clock, every morning except Sun
days, and at that moment the cadets have
to u out Inspection of rooms is hadtheu
and il some sleepy cadet has turned over
for another snooze and isn't up, he has to
get up at $50 for two weeks as punish
ment. At $50 is battalion inspection.
Shoes must be found BACKED, clothes
brushed, rooms cleaned and arranged
There is a place for every article OF
clothing and each must be in its place
If not so many demerits are charged, ac-
cording to the offense. Three hun
dred demerits are allowed q
cadet his plebes or first year
and the number is reduced fifty each
succeeding year, the reasoning being
that every year a cadet will learn better
how to behave. If over the number of
allowed dement's are received it means
expulsion.
At O'Clock the bugls sounds the first
study hour. It is one hour long. Ther
comes an hour of study which all are
compelled to observe. This plan con
tinues with a ten minutes intermissior
from 10 till 10:10, until 1926, when the
bugle sounds 'Telease from tie rooms. y
At 1890 the battalion forms in the hall in
winter and on the ground in front of the
quarters in summer, and marches to din
ner- Each fellow has the same place al
the table for every meal. At :55 is the
hrst study call in the afternoon. At
release from rooms is sounded. Call for
drill follows at 4:10 and for two hours
the cadets are put through sword infan
try, and other drills. They are given
practice in landing from ship and some
times put through regular battle drills il
which they rush and scale the high
brick wall which surrounds the grounds
The Bancroft" q steel cruiser with mod
ern guns, lies at the wharf and on it the
cadets are given target practice out in
the bay. At $3.50 is supper, at 1880 study
call which lasts till $3.50 when release
from rooms is sounded. At 9:55
there is teh warning roll when
all cadets must go to their rooms and
prepare to turn in. Taps comes at 10
when all must be in bed and lights out.
If the inspection which is had reveals ;
transgressor he is given ten demerits.
On Saturday afternoon the cadets are
given half holiday and are allowed ou
into the town. On Sunday reveiIle is a
z. At $3.50 the call TO rooms is sounded
when each cadet must put on his full
dress uniform and properly bestew hir
wardrobe. They go to chapel at 1925
and get back to quarters about 12. Tht
remainder of the day is free and the ca
dsts play on different musical instru
ments or read or visit as they wish
Irwin F. Landis of Kiowa, the Kansa
cadet highest in the course, is in the sec
ond class or class of '97. He is a strong
well built fellow 81 years old, and be
aides his work In the oourao haa nada