Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-20

>| south bank of the
river, the little set
Element ii own as the United States Naval
Academy is tucked away amid groves of
Trees. Small iriets of the silver stream en-
Crcach upon the green slopes of the
grounds. which comprise fifty acres within
the academic walls. In this sequestered
and park-like spot our boys are taught to
be nav.gators. and here the oceans ard
countries of the whole world are laid I'M
GeI contribution TO the demonstrating rod
of the g~ographer. Back of the grounds
and just outside of them is the old town
o. Annapolis. historic with revolutionary
memories. and preserving its old houses,
some OF which are celebrated examples Of
colonial architecture. Ever since the year
l>hI. when George Bancroft the historian,
was Secretary OF the Navy, the Naval
Academy has been situated where ii is
now except for interval of five years,
during the rebe lion. when it was transfer
1ed L. Newport. +. l. on account of its
situation being out of the line of general
travel and in part of the south that is
less p0pulOus than New York state the
academy at Annapolis is not so we'll
known as is her Older sister at West Point
But now that We have & modern navy, and
that We are realizing that even war may
disturb the country some day. we are
getting Interested in everything that per
tains 20 our power at sea. Hence, to any
philosophical citizen, a visit 10 the Naval
Academy must be of great interest. The
best time for HIM to see it is in jane for
then not only are the exhibition drills the
best of the year. but the grounds of the
academy are in the full beauty of spring
time. Nature seems dress parade as
We'll Il the cadets.
View From the Water.
As the snowy man-of-war slowly took
no OFF, he lon haC r1a
es of those on her poop deck revealed the
hasty forming in lire on shore of uniformed
men at different points under the trees.
and also on the decks of the old man-of-
war Nononganela that lay rioored to the
e. a4sTny=s wharf These military figures
were marines and naval cadets who were
suddenly tumb!ed out of their quarters by
bugle call 20 form ill rank for some drill.
The day was perfect one with calm
resting on the water, and just enough of
summer in the air to make the shade of
the trees shore look cool There is no
doubt that the NEST picturesque way of
approaching Annapolis is from the water.
But q stranger who comes to this lcad-
envy and expects TO find 1t looking like the
colleges he may have visited in New Eng
land will be surprised.
There are many small differences.
The Officers Quarters
To begin with. there is a long quadrangle
and by large recitation halls but by coy
dwellings. which are occupied by the Off
GERS who are ordered to the academy as
Instructors The architecture of these
houses, while less imposing than II would
lie in Il series of larger buildings Is yet
more pleasing and certainly much gayar
Many of the lanes and small streets OF
the little community are bOriered by flower
gardens in front of the houses. Ladies and
children are not scared away from these
classic sha los, for the officers families
I've with them one cannot fail to be de-
lighted with what nature has done for this
academy, and also with what man has done
for nature. for the lawns and paths are
Kept in perfect condition. and the trees
lock as If they We're all washed, down to
the last leaf. every day. Every man in
sight has a uniform on, and whenever he
passes another man. he must give and re-
ceiVc a salute. Even ladies must be saluted
10y officers in the military fashion. and not
by raising the cap from the head. There Is
erectness of figure and precision of step In
the strolling officers and cadets that one
meets in the grounds. Good health is
prominent in every face. Instead of bells
the sunrise and the vesper hour are an
nounced with guns and often through the
day the run al quiet that should belong to
this place is broken by the sharp report
OF rifiemen at target practice. After be-
ing there an hour or two one finds sin
gular apr opriateness In the set features
and military expression of the faces that
one sees everywhere. They are in accord
with the cleAn-cut landscape. with its an
EClar paths and precise looking shrubs.
Can those stiff roses and prim lilacs smell
OF anythlng but gun powder?
The Cadet Drill.
While one is hesitating to make the test,
the bugles begin to blow the assembly call,
and shortly afterward the air is filled with
the gay martial music of a military band,
and one sees bright lines of soldiery and the
g!eam of rifles glancing through the leaves,
as the cadets come marching down to the
parade grounds by the sea The perfection
Of drill and the rhythm of their united
movement stir the byStanders to an ex-
c!amation of delight. 1t hardly seems
other than affectionate thoughts for the
alma mater which has brought them to the
point of health and happiness that their
CCuntenanceS suggest. yet Ii is n fact that
many of them are glad to get away from
Inc Naval Academy, and to begin their
cruises The reason of this is that their
whole life at the academy is dedication to
discipline. No dereliction in study or in
military duty is allowed to pass without
severe punishment. There Is none of the
personal liberty that is allowed to boys in
CIVILIAN colleges, and the cadets hours by
night as well as day. are under perpetual
surveillance. Then. too. the quantity of
knowledge that IS crammed into them in
certain space of time is large, and their APP
pncatlon TO II must never aba te, for other
wise they will lose the coveted prize of a
commission to be an officer in the United
States navy. The part that the bows play
IN the social pleasures of the academy is
very small. Tor IL is only on one or two DAYS
In the week that they are allowed even to
make calls. and then only at certain hours
In the afternoon.
The Officers Mt Annapolis.