The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-08
Royal Naval Schools.

The February number of the Windsor
Magazine contains graphic account of
visit to the royal naval school at Green
wich. About five minutes after the or
der to turn out" has been given in the
morning, a thousand boys are making
their way In perfect order TO the various
lavatories, there TO indulge in a refresh
ing morning wash and the youngsters
critically examined by their company OFF,
GERS, as, stripped to the waist. they per-
form their ablutions. are worthy speci-
mems of 'Britains budding manhood.
Ranging from the age of II TO 15lA, they
are the sons of naval warrant officers.
seamen. coast guards and marines. and
doubtless many "A man today has cause
to bless the training he received at the
school an dthe education impaired TO him
there. for, be IL known. although in the
strict sense Of the term n nursery for the
navy, yet IL by no means follows that
because n boy is an inmate of the school
he will necessarily become sailor.
Far from Il, for unless a lad at 1Fis is
physically NJ to join one or other of the
training ships around the coast. he is not
allowed TO entertain any more ideas OF
lighting his country's future battles on
the deep blue sea. No; he must turn his
attention i'm another direction and en-
deaVor TO be of service in the only sphere
left open 10 hm--that of useful and
law-abiding citizen. This is n matter TO
which the authorizes at Greenwich have
paid especial attention, and. consequently
ly, when a lad proves unfit for the hard
ships OF a sailors life on leaving the
school he Is taught a useful trade. and
one at which he can at least earn a living
wage AS II Is the pride of the institu-
tion that a. is self-relant IL is not
matter for great surprise TO find that
everything Is made by the boys them
selves-under instructors, Of course-from
the bread they eat TO the trousers they
wear.
Accompanying our guide through count
less passages and corridors. through dor
mitories, whose floors are better polished
than those OF many ballroom. we sud
denly emerge from the main building and
enter a house where score or two Of
boys are sorting out, washing. wrnging
and drying by steam process the
schools washing. Here Is a lad who may
some yeats hence from know break a
dozen heads Just as calmly as he is now
sorting out his comrades linen and depos-
iting the garments in separate bins. There
is n young fellow with blceps like a SAM
son. vigorously turning the handle of a
washing machine. while. others. all young
Horculeses In they way. are engaged in
manipulating the huge levers that screw
ard unscrew the valves of the drying ma
chimes. But the laundry IN not the only
place where strength is required
The blacksmiths' shop, the plumbers
and the carpenters are not places where
any boy OF weakly nature--nn impossi-
bility at Grcenwich-would be chosen TO
work, Everywhere Il is interesting. every
where IL IL busy. Other workshops are
the tailors'. where the canvas and drill
suits are made by rosy-cheeked lads, sit
ting cross-lsgged. I'm truly professional
fashion on boards raised about three
feet from the ground Then the mendlng
shop whore everything that Is worn or
torn--and, as may be imagined. garments
do get torn, even I'm a naval school-isss--
legated. This is n sight In itself.