New-York tribune., 1902-11-02

which illustrates the spirit Of iimsiness which
the old buildings have always had 1t goes back
to the time when the admiral was boy at the
academy.
one night when he and some comrades were
studying in their rooms in of the old build
ings they suddenly heard a Fumbling sound
the lights We're eXtngushed there was a rush
Of cold air then terrible crash One side of
the building had fallen out, leaving the rooms
open on the side toward the water. Fortunately
the floor beams did not rest on this wall, or the
admiral would probably not have been alive to
tell the story. As it was, the young men found
themselves sitting shelf in the open air.
Recently one of the buildings of this same row
was found to be split in two from top to bottom.
The two halves seemed to be only held together
by the weight Of the roof, and it was necessary
10 rig up great spars and tie the building to-
Gether with ropes before il could be taken down.
Yet, In spite of the disadvantages and dis
comforts of antiquated quarters, the country s
naval cadets lead happy healthy lives. and. like
other college men, look back on their four un-
dergraduate years as about the happiest of all.
The whole world knows that old buildings have
not kept the academy from turning out officers
inferior To none Their lives are extremely
regular, lived to the last detail by rule and
regulation. But there is color to it, and some
Of the sidelights viii not prove uninteresting
When the government first talked of remodel ,
ling the Naval Academy, wit in the drafting |
room drew up a sarcastic plan which greatly |
pleased his fellows. 1t was worked out in de- |
tail The greatest prominence was given to the |
cadet quarters, with elaborate suites of rooms |
for each cadet and the building connected with |
a Delmonico mess hall, cadet valet quarters |
private livery and Russian and Turkish bath
house. There was a travelling sidewalk to the |
cadet beer hall THE site of the old chanel |
now the cadets candy store and restaurant"
was the legend in one of the building squares |
Free hotel for the cadets visitors" Cadet |
Club-cards, roulette bar and smoking rooms"
and Library Of Current Fiction" were other
buildings suggested. The office of "ohice~ In /
charge" was located in the distance and across
the railroad track. The cadet architect forgot
to insert drill halls and academic buildings. Civ
ing that space to monster gymnasium and
dancing han.
1t would take a volume to tell the story of the
four year span of cadet life at AnnapOIfs in all |
its detail but If talks with any recent
graduate one will get the salient points If one
adds to what he tells no end of studious effort |
careful drill and discipline.
The last class graduated entered during the
spanish American War, and was promptly sent |
home until September Then came the hardest |
days of all. the first days. The new cadets got |
their first touch of infantry drill in the morn
ing' followed, as one says by weird effects |
secured by unskled fingers in the rigging loft. -"
The first afternoons were made merry with boat
drill Then they swung their canvases and tried
to oUtdO BlOndn in balancing
The next occurrence the move to Gunner |
quarters where they encountered their "bogie "
the youngsters or second class men, and were |
hazed This good fun saws one roomber
OF tne class and no one was more sorry than
us plebes when the supe' cut up n row, obout :. |
Then came the investigation and our homes for
retaliation on the next class were dimmed."
Perhaps in this period some of the holder |
spooned." went to hops and wore ..non-ra,,, |