The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-07-22
the authorities have opposing opinions
on the S11hiaot

long breathing spell for the day, ana
has liberty to roam the grounds at will,
or he may put his best uniform on and
go into Annapolis by just stepping out
of the gate At 6:30 o'clock he must
report for supper, formation and roll
call There is a half-hour after sup
per that the cadets may sometimes call
their own, but this is often take up
in setting up drills. At 7:30 o'clock
the bugle calls for study hours, and I'M.
til $50 o'clock the cadet has to keep
to his room. At $50 o'clock the even
ing gun is fired, and the quarters buzz
with lively animated humanity for a
half-hour, when taps are sounded
and all lights must be put out, The
cadet then tucks himself in his cot un-
I'll reveille the next morning.
This system gives the cadet one hour
and twenty-five minutes daily to him
self-time that he may call his own,
when he is not subject to some strict
military duty.
The Academic Board, consisting of
the heads of departments of the Naval
Academy the Superintendent presiding,
prescribes, with the approval of the
Navy Department, the course of study
in the several departments. There are
no elective studies at the academy, but
some are permissive. If a cadet has
high mark in mathematics he may, at
the option of the heau of that depart
ment, undertake advanced mathematics
outside the regular course of the acad-
envy. Few cadets desire the privilege
and few take it. If cadet has a very
high mark in French he may be al
lowed to take Spanish.
The cadets intended for the Engineer
Corps separate in the last year from
the line cadets and pursue a separate
course in steam engines, boilers, me-
chanical work and stress, strain and
strength of metals
Whatever differences may exist as to
the details of the course, the system
of education of the Naval Academy
has this unanswerable argument for it
as a whofe-it has produced an unex-
celled corps of competent naval Off
GERS. The system at the start is graded
to meet the common school education
of the country.
The Chesapeake Bay, 200 miles long
and from six to thirty miles wide, lies
at the mouth of the Severn, only two
miles from the academy. These waters
give ample scope for every character
of nautical drill a naval cadet should / e
taught. The grounds comprise 100
acres in the city of Annapolis, and are
connected by a bridge 200 yards long
with the Government farm, containing
ia acres.
The healthfulness of the Naval Acad-
envy is something remarkable. Few dis
eases attack the cadets, and it is sell
dom that one dies
The picturesqueness of the Academy
grounds, the winding walks, the grand
old trees, the even, velvety sward, the
water boundaries hemmed in by lofty,
wooded hills, have made some say in
the full flower of leafy June that this
lis the most beautiful spot on earth y,
From the moment a cadet enters the
academy. he finds himself in the grasp
of an iron hand with sinews of brass.
He must sleep, eat, rise. dress and go to
church under the direct orders of the
head of the academy. He must even
think wisely for if there be no regu-
lation and he act contrary to good form,
it is a demeritable offense, and dement's
count, for if a cadet receives more than
the allotted number in a year-30O in
the first, $50 in the second, 200 in the
third and 80 in the fourth-he may
be dismissed from the school.
Captain Philip II. Cooper, the pres
ent Superintendent of the academy, was
born in and appointed from the State
of New York, entering in 1861. His
first active service was on board the
Richmond, then attached to the West
Gulf blockading squadron, and in her
he took part in the battle of Mobile
Bay. Immediately after the close OF
the war he spent two years in the
Southern Pacific squadron on board
of the Powhattan, and then was on
duty for two years at the Naval Acad-
envy.
Some of the most interesting charac-
ters at the Naval Academy now are the
members of the new fourth class-in
cadet nomenclature, the functions.
They have no place in the navy until
graduation day, and then the "func-
tions'' are the fourth class. There are
now thirty-one of these-all clothed in
white, since their uniforms are not yet
made, and they have been supplied
with canvas working suits only.
The brutal hazing of former years
has ceased at the academy, yet a lit
tie harmless running is INDUCED in
that keeps the newcomer quite on the
tender edge of expectancy for fear
worse may come. The new fourth
class men must conduct themselves
with great respect toward the older
cadets.
1t is gall in a "plebe'-a fourth
class man-to stare at an upper class
man when he passes him; to ask an
upper class man a question, under any
circumstances, and to be seen with a
smile upon his face When so seen he
is told Immediately to wipe it off. Nor
may he take any interest whatever in
what is going on around him among
the upper class men. If fourth class
man does these things he is considered
''gally.'' The sins of omission are:
Failing to say Sir" When addressed
by an upper class man; failing to keep
his hat on straight and his blouse. but
toned up; failing to rise and stand at
attention" when an upper class man
enters his room failing to report to an
upper class mans room when ordered;
daring to take a walk in Lovers lane
or in the second class mems highway
when on the road to the steam build
ing; daring to come up the privileged
ladder of the upper class men when on
shipboard, and failing to carry out any
order that an upper class man gives
him to execute.
On September list another examin-
alton for admission is held. Those who
come in then must obey the laws of
the Academy" They must pay homage
to those of their own class men who
came in May, and thus rate them