The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-06
s Historr of Annapolis.

The United States Naval Academy" by
Park Benjamin of the class Of 1867, at
Annapolis, is a book which aims TO give
a comprehensive history Of the training of
midshipmen in this country, from CO.
lonial days to the present time. The style
is not ponderous. and while there is not
detail enough to make the book seem
cumbrous or overweighted, it contains
much information which will be interest
ing and valuable to the public.
The first chapter. entitled The Begin
ming Of the Mdshipman, contains a brief
account Of the way In which this embryo
naval officer was educated before the days
of naval academies, and of the very
meagre opportunity afforded him to become
something more than an ordinary seaman
4 quaint word-picture Of the midship-
man Of Queen Anne's time is given here,
and reads as follows:
All Aduira1s as wen as Captains are obliged to
begin their rise here. The Quarter deck IS his
ordinary station. which in a Winters Night ne
tIaverses Hank for Hank. a thousand times over
in a Watch. without losing one inch by LeeWay,
provided be be not overiaden. lie is berthed in
that internal cell. the OrIop. where he that can
chuse 20 live couteutedly need never trouble his
Head with what Lodgings are chslk'd out for him
ia the other World He can prove the purser
Rogue bv Guntef's scale. and compose a Bowl
OF Punch by the Rules OF TrigonometTy. There
is no Controversy but he determines with Frsc-
tons and is very often teaching common
Ounces Tie Rules Of Division al lis own Cost,
He's Weather wise enough 10 foresee winds and
bad weather, but is never SO wise a. 10 lay mp
for a rainy day. His backward Stars
and bad weather puts him often upon oursing
his ill-made choice; and Yet his best friends
are apt 10 tell him that il he had not tumblcd
into ship he had long ago dropped from the
Gsllows.
The earlier chapters of the book are
full Of picturesque incidents OF the be-
ginning Of the American Navy. but there
is one passage to be found here which
makes the reader wonder whether Mr..
BENJAMIN put it in as he did ''on purpose"
or not He tells Of the "exasperatingly
pointless stories gathered no one knows
how and told over and over again among
the midshipmen. and then gravely cites
that very ancient tale from the New
England Primer" about the rude boy in
the farmers orchard, who was pelted first
with soft words. then with grass. and
finally with stones. Does Mr.. Benjamin
mean 10 say that he does not know the
source Of that tale, and that midshipmen
really told It for amusement?
Some Of the anecdotes in this part OF
the book deal with that grim old sea dog,
Commodore Ap Cstesby Jones. To him
came in fear and trembling mdshipman
who timdly acquainted him with the fact
that the steerage was uncomfortable. The
commodore thunders:
Uncomfortable. sir uncomfortable, Why. what
BANKED fool ever joined the Navy for comioFt3
This history Of the Naval Academy may
throw some light Oh certain customs Of
the place which, though resembling the
laws Of the Modes and Persians are ap-
parently meaningless. One OF the laws
is that boots shall be exhibited in plain
sight in front Of the mautelpiece. This
tale explains the reason for it:
There IS still a regulation in force requiring
that the bedspTesds 10 the cadets rooms shall
bc tucked under the mattresses, 50 that clear
vicw Of the fOoT beneath can be had. That
started IN q delusion duly prepared, for a certain
officer IN charge. lie suddenly pcunced into
a room and behcld two feet sticking cut from
"Ah-sh, visiting in study hours. Come out. -"
he steruly ordered. Tie feet remained motion
less then he grabbed them aud found that they
were only artisticaIly disposed boots.
Next dav ID was impossible 20 tell who was
visiting and who not From beneath all tie beds
ostensible feet protrudcd when inspection was
made. and the Office in charge dared not risk
an examination. Therefore the regulation about
tuckiug up the spread devised and supple
rnented BY an order requiring ali boots 10 be
exhibited in plain sigh IN front OF the msntei-
piece.
In another chapter We find all there is
OF the record OF Midshpmsn George
Dewey. and there would be pictures Of
him II these had not been DESTROYED in
IRE many years ago. The "reminiscences
are few In number, but We are told that
he went by the name OF Shang' Dewey,
and stood lowest in naval tactics and gun
merry. the two things which won the fight ]
at Cayite.
Later. the history OF colored cadets in
The Academy is touched upon, and il is