The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-07-04
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT..
Life OF the Naval Apprentice-MakinR
Stcel Pens Guards Set
by Animals.

apprentices Of the United States
Navy" is the title of an article in St.
Nicholas Almost every boy by this
time knows of battleships and cruisers,
of torpedocs and torpedo boats and OF
the gallant officers and. jolly Jack Tara
who man the ships But it is safe to
say that there are few indeed who have
ever heard of the young naval appren.
tlce, the work which he has to do and
what his chances are.for the future It
is enough at present to say that hc is
an enlisted boy who by means Of
great deal of drill and training develops
gradually into most efficient and use
ful man on board of our modern ships.
Although the apprentice can never
hope to become commissioned Officer,
there are many positions of trust and
honor in the service that are open to
him if he but applies himself to the
tasks assigned to him day by day and
is awake to the opportunities that are
sure to turn up for him.
The boys at the training station truly
may be said to live in little world of
their own. for they do not need to 20
outside Of their own circle to find any
of the needs of life. At certain hours Of
the day they form well regulated
school. in which they are taught all the
elements of science, English and mathe-
matics-enough to enable them to un-
derstand thoroughly and to handle in
telligently the various fittings and
armament of a modern man-of-war.
Well Informed and thoroughly prar.
tical officers are stationed there to in
struct the apprentices in all the drills
and maneuvers used by seamen ahoat
and ashore. including infantry, light
artillery, seamanship in all its forms,
both theoretical and practical. the sew
eral kinds of signaling used in the
service. the handling Of boats under
steam. oars and sails, and the use of
sword and gun in the arts Of fencing
and of bayonet exercise.
A chaplain in the navy is detailed
regularly for duty among the boys aud
to look after them in any way he may
think most conducive TO their highest
moral Improvement. Every Sunday the
boys are assembled on deck to join in
regular church worship. presided over
by the chaplain, and it is most inter
esting sight to see several hundred boys
of tender age, all in the same blue uni
form. joining heartily in the service.
Those with voices worthy of any culti-
vation are assigned 10 the choir, and
they enjoy this honor quite as much as
any OF the several privileges that fall
to their lot. At certain other times, in
the evenings, during recreation periods
they are permitted to assemble for any
kind OF innocent amusement, and ons
OF the most popular pastimes among
them seems to be dancing.
Every spring and summer the an.
prentic,s are taken aboard some of the
older vessels Of the navy and are sent
abroad for cruise, during which, un.
der efficient officers. they are taught
the full duties of seamea afloat. All the
theory OF seamanship and gunnery is
then reduced to practice, and the ap-
prentices are put through the evolutions
OF fnrling. reefing and loosing sail. Of
abandoning ship and Of aiming and fir
ing the guns on board, antiouated
though they may be-