New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-27
ADVANCED ONE GRADE.

II may be unable TO keep up one young EEL
hv "a credited with saying when he heard OF
Is promotion to the degree Of ''plebs-" But
I have already written my folks that l have
advanced one grade" The "pleb" is made 10
rel tina, he is a brand new and urschooled man
b many ways. but this is never done TO his
bodily discomfort nor 10 the sacrifice Of his self
Inspect Good-natured jokes are played on him,
md the men who have passed his stage incul-
ats n bin by the practice OF unwritten laws the
aspect FOR superiority and appreciation OF disci-
Zine which must be developed before the stu
azt al the Naval Academy may be qualified TO
o. the place to which he asplres. He sits at
ns same table with the upper classes. The
cadet officer sits at either end OF the table. and
q either side Of these Sit upper class men, and
nU to these in turn second and third year
ren and then the "plebs' But every "pleb" is
tvsn " understand that while others may be
pArdonsd for doing 50. he must never lay his
hands upon the table. lie also discovers soon
c1sr his entry that in going up and down stairs
hs side is at TIE wall and it does not take him
rS 70 lind out no matter what he thought on
Ne subject before he came 10 Annapolis. that
4 does not care for dancing except for instruc-
Con Dancing is on the fourth year course Of
Instruction. along with seamanshp and other
branches which one would naturally look for in
Nayal Academy. but at the dancing classes
Which the pleb' may attend he dances with one
q bis class. while those who have passed the
ery stages whrl 10 the music Of the Marine
Sand with pretty girls in the armory.
WHERE THE NEW MAN Is NOT WELCOME.
Thefe are other little distinctions which sepa-
ae the new man from the other cadets He
nay go to the music room or reading-room If
q desires but he runs the risk OF being set
aoon" for doing so. although there is no regula-
zoo which excludes him from these places. To
u'ose who know the various rules which rate
"a established in the Naval Academy the mem
'as OF the various classes are known by the
'1A which they frequent and the benches
winch they occupy on the ground. The walk
non the Observatory 10 the Stone Building Is by
"mnon consent the second class walk and
20" only by members OF that and the first class,
NO Loves Lane" is barred against the ''pleh'
'"o Dig benches which stand near the entrance
me main building are one for the first class
NJ 'he other for the second and third classes.
. bright cadet u Irish extraction is quoted as
.N'~s sad. IL peb wants 10 SIT on one OF
~ss benches be must stand up"
OUT 'hefe are ways by which the restrictions
!. DE- removed. and many young fellows have
- sooc fortune 10 be- "spooned on" by upper
men Under ordinary circumstances
peo must sir an older cadet. and the older
.A' misiers" the younger one in strictly
'''n'al manner II for family or social reason
: upper class man wishes 10 waive his preroga-
we he Spoons on" the new man. and the
neV may have the unspeakable satisfaction 81
-Hs me upper class man smith, Brown
!. zones. and may be treated with equal cor
-V by the higher man. IL is equal 10 the
= N'e'schaft," which removes al bars In the
"'ah universities When a 'pleb' Is chosen
20 -lxNt zxxo