The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-04-26

the officer returning 10 Annapolis sees
the new buildings which replace the
old cadet quarters But, even danger
Gus. as are some Of the old ramshacklc
structures. nothing can destroy the
love which all graduates Of the naval
academy have for their school, and
there hangs hallowcd sentiment
abou. those old buildings which have
housed SO many Of the great heroes Of
our land. Everything about the acad
nuly teens with sentiment and ro-
nance, and the situation alone, with
grounds stretching to the beautiful
Severn would inspire this feeling.
even without the glalnor that brass
buttons throw over us all. 1t is small
wonder that the lad from the South or
West l. completely carried away,
when either through competitive cx-
animation or the influence Of con
-ressinan, he gets an appointment to
the naval academy. To him the S3O0
II year which the government provides
for its cadets seems fortune, and
with the predictions Of greatness from
his family and friends, he leaves his
home full Of hope, longing with Il
hungry cagcrncss to begin his career
there.
The opening Of the fall term brings
each year great many Of these boys,
callow youths who find that upon
their very entrance they are men, con
sidered so, and must act so. They arc
III at easu, and the ncwness Of their
uniforms is constant irritation to
the flesh, and they long with heavy
heart to acquire the assurance Of the
officer Of the day During the first
few weeks these new arrivals present
ridiculous appearance, too, which
does not add to their comfort. They
are seen going to and from the govern
ment stores carrying mattresses, slop
buckets and all the paraphernalia Of n
cadets bedroom, dressed in mongrcl
costumes, part uniform and part
civilian clothes, and this, added to
their general dependency, makes
them anything but martial sights.
Time, however, works marvellous
change. The regular, simple life en-
forced by Uncle Sam, and the military
discipline which constitutes the whole
existence Of cadet, soon mold these
raw recruits into fine men, and they
forget that their life was ever lived in
my other way than by military rule.
At 6:30 they are reused with discor-
dant. fife and drum, which is called
reveille, and is sounded by the Marine
drum corps as they march up and
down the hall. Before the call the
master at arms takes pains to open
each bedroom door so that none Of the
unwelcome sound may escape the
weary a!ccpers. At the bugle sounds
for breakfast formation, and here the
cadets must undergo the ordeal Of
hearing read the delinquency report
for the previous day. A first class
man, who, from merit and abilit. has
been selected as cadet lieutenant com
mander, reads this report: Cadet
Smith, button off coat; Cadet Jones,
throwing bread at table f; Cadet Miller,
inattcntion at drill These are q
few samples Of long daily list. This
cadet lieutenant commander, by the
way, occupies in the cadets mind a
more exalted position than does Samp,
son or Dewey, and at his graduation it
is great blow when he finds himself
with the rank of ensign only, and ut
the foot Of the navy.
At o'clock the cadets form by
classes and march to their recitation
rooms, and now begins the real work
Of the day. Recitation over, the call
sounds at i o'clock, and variety Of
drills now occupy the time for the
next two hours. These drills vary
one day the entire battalion at infan-
try drill, another at artillery drill and
another day at great gun drill aboard
ship. On many days, too, these drills
are subdividcd in order that cadet
may learn more minute details Of q
drill that is impossible in drilling the
entire battalion. \ few cadets will
take instruction in pistol drill, Others
in fencing, while others practice
broadswords or "knottiug and splic
ing" or target practice
Now comes supper formation, fol
lowed by study and bed and the day
ends with inspection by the officer
in CHARGE" accompanied by the Office,
Of the day, who makes a room to room
inspection to see that the occupant.
are in he'd and the liphts ont. Th;,