Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-09-04
UNCLE SAM IS PARTICULAR.
Navy Is no Longer Reformatory For
lneorrisibIes.

lneorrisibIes.
Uncle Sans navy Is no longer a
home for incorrigible boys. Time was
when the troubled parent with boy on
his hands over whom he mad no control
was always advised ito send him to the
navy, they'll take the starch out Of
him." but that mistaken idea Is slowly
vanishing now, for Uncle Sam, after
years Of silence, Is. showing by the
fruits of a system which he inaugur-
ated long ago that that is not the kind
Of boy he is looking for.
The father with such a boy who goes
to a navy recruiting office and tries to
force his son into the service against
the latters own wishes finds only dis
appointment awaiting him there. The
recruiting officer has his eye on the
boy from the time he enters the office
until he leaves and 1t is largely the OBJ
servation Of this scrutiny that deter
mines whether or not the applicant is
to be accepted.
If it Is the parent who Is most anx-
ious to have the enlistment and the
son who shows by his manner that he
does not favor the parental enthusi-
asm, If the boy shows signs of vulgar
ity and ill-breeding, which it Is evident
the parent hopes the service will eradi-
cate. there is trouble ahead for the ap-
plicanr.
Uncle Sam wants boys for his ships
who want to 60 into the navy Of their
own accord. If the boy shows the
slightest signs Of unwillingness, wheth-
err by word or action, the officer makes
note of 1t. Almost the first question
asked the applicant is. do you want to
enlist?' In most cases the question is
only one Of form, but sometimes, when
bear on an unwilling boy, he explodes
all prearranged plans by answering
mo" at the crucial moment. At other
times, even when an affirmative an
Ger that 1t is an unwilling one.
Only refusal meets such cases. The
officer does not always give the true
reason, but generally finds objection In
the boys physical condition. The rea-
son, however, Is that Uncle Sam has
gone out Of the reformatory business.
True. he does not discourage the TAX
ing of boys who have been averse to
school and books, boys who have given
their parents some concern about their
future, but who are not really bad
boys, for such boys often make the
best sailors. But real incorrigibles he
has no use for.
He is looking for boys who are am
bilious to be admirals some day, and
he offers them every inducement and
advantage to attain that rank. The
recent enlistments at the Masonic
Temple recruiting station shows that
he is having no trouble in finding the
boys he is looking for. Detachments Of
lads from good homes in Chicago and
the surrounding country were sent east
every two weeks and when recruiting
begins again in the fall the local office
has names Of many boys who will be
sent with the first details.
Boys between the ages Of fifteen and
seventeen years can enlist until they
become of age. When the apprentice
Is first received on board ship he Is
furnished free of cost with an outfit Of
clothing not exceeding in value the
sum of s45. His first pay Is 50 per
month. After making his first cruise,
IL qualified, he Is advanced to class
and then his pay Is SIS per month. His
next advancement Is to that Of first
class apprentice, with pay of $21 per
month.
Ex-apprentices are given preference
in the selection Of petty officers with
pay ranging from $50 to $40 per month
and ration. Those having good rec
ord and showing marked ability are
eligible to appointment as warrant Of
ficers, a position carrying the pay OF
from $1,000 to $1,000 per annum, with
retirement at the age Of sixty-tWo
years on three quarters pay for life.
This is a much better outlook than
some Of our large business houses offer
to clerks and other employees.
Warrant officers not over thirty-five
years of age are eligible to appoint
ment to the rank of commissioned Of
ficers. after having served six years as
warrant officers. Commissioned officers
are in line Of appointment to all the
higher grades of the naval service, and
thus it is that some apprentice boy
now may be our first admiral some
day. Boys who join the navy with the
intention Of rising to the top are al
ways advised to go to the naval school
or take instruction in other institutions
that will enable them to advance. But
it is perfectly possible for boy to
start at the very bottom and rise to