New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-29
IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF DUTY
TT Is THE STIMULUS AND ATTRACTION
OF LIFE IN THE NAVY.

SENIORITY DETERMINES ADvANcEMENr-rm
SPIRIT OF EMULATION ABSENT oPPoRTuNI.
TIES FOR MANY-sIDED ACTIVITY AND
INTELLECTUAL EFFORT
What do l think OF the Navy careerf
Well, that depends" said prominent naval
officer. Personal fitness, Of course, enters int
the question, but not entirely. Individual point
Of view as TO what constitutes happiness and
what will bring contentment Is, take it. IN
important consideration in the choice Of pro-
fession and the advantages or Disadvantages
which are to accrue to the pers IN who is about
to undertake it must be carefully weighed.
II do not think the opinion OF society in gen.
eral as TO what constitutes useful and worthy
profession is worth considering, for the money
standard is too generally used. The Navy
does not promise and never will promise ma
tcrial prosperity. In one respect the Navy
differs from all private callings and that 10
that advancement s dependent upon length Of
service and is not affected by the comparative
merit Of individuals. This has both good
side and a bad side; II is at once an advantage
and a disadvantage. While 1t Is true that In
large business concerns 1t is customary to ad-
vance the older employees first, the rule Is By
no means invariable and where high place 10
TO be filled the employer is likely to seek out
the man Of conspicuous ability. irrespective OF
the question Of seniority. Employees realize the
fact and it Is an incentive to energy.
Nothing Of the kind exists in the Navy.
and the stimulus OF emulation is absent But
to my mind. the development or the sentiment
Of duty makes up for the absence OF the In
spring hope OF preferment. The young man
In the Navy lives in an atmosphere OF duty;
il is all around him. 1t tends to strengthen
individual character and adds to individual
happiness The spirit OF rivalry and compel.
ton does not exist and jealousy. disappoint-
ment and the petty anxieties which ordinarily
embitter life are unknown.
ut is true that the monotonous humdrum
OF daily life in the Navy is likely to be broken
by sudden calls To duty. and, in such cases,
the service required is likely to be far beyond
ANYTHING which previous preparation has sug-
gcsted At such times the officer rises or falls
almost on the hazard OF the die. Failure u
total irrevocable and sometimes fraught with
consequences too terrible to be thought or
Even success may be bought at too dear .
nrice and IL is these considerations which
present the most serious drawbacks TO the
naval profession.
zone OF the compensations OF Navy life to-
day is the opportunity presented for many
sided activity and intellectual effort OF the high
est order The study OF the art OF warfare at
sea has led naval officers to Investigations OF
unusual interest, and new problems constantly
confront him.
AT such n time as the present one the Lire
has an alluring side to all adventuresome per-
sons In times Of peace. while the actual hard
ships at sea are not so great as formerly, there
IL TO be taken into consideration the enforced
absences from home, the frequent partings from
wife and children. family and friends. To
man OF sentiment and feeling these things are
hard Are the gains commensurate with the
sacrifices? Every man must decide for him.
self"