The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-12-31
A NAVAL ACADEMY DAY.
The Rigid Routine That Ruies the
Middies' Waking Hours.


Let us look fer 4 moment at the di-
vision Of tine in q week in the acade-
my The morning gun awakens the
young midshipnlan at e o'clock He
has thirty-five minutes 10 dress and
appear for roll call. When this is over
he and his comrades march at once 70
breakfast. 1t is then about twenty min
utcs before o'clock. After breakfast
a short prayer is offered by the chap
lain. The meal is over Jy 1:39, ana
then there is the sick call. Twenty
minutes later the midshipmen must be
in their rooms ready to 90 to their first
recitation. At 7:J5 they form and
march TO their classes in squads. At 8
O'Clock tlry are called to order in their
clIsSroorls.
The actual work Of IL" day has be-
gun early. md there has been no lag
gtng Or lodtiGg. VI the Naval academy
the miGshiDIaen are trained to walk
with a quick step and at lively gait.
Tie men in the class SIuaGs-from six
to twelve cach-march two ABREAST and
in close formation. It does not take
them long 10 so from one building tC
another. For each midsnipman there
are three recitation periods of two
hours each Half of each period is de
voted to study. half to actual rccita-
ton in class. The first period is from
S to 10 o'clock in thu morning, the sec
ond period from 1915 to 1915 O'Clock
and the third period from o clock to
In the afternoon. Between 1915 and
2 o'clock tie midshipmen eat their din
ner and have q few minutes afterward
for rest. At O'Clock all the class work
is over, but not the work Of the day,
for then comes the call to drill.
Drill lasts an hour and q half, and it
is work, too, for the naval officer must
know thoroughly the infantry and ar
tillery practice of the soldier as we'll
as his own particular branch of the pro-
fession of being ready to fight. When
his task is over at $50 the midship-
man has an hour and q half of recrea-
ton. This is the playtime Of the day.
The boys are then on the athletic field
engaged in football or baseball prac-
tice, depending on the time Of the year;
sailing in catboats on the harbor or in
dulging in other amusements that they
may choose. But during that hour they
are still under the rules governing gen.
eral conduct.
When 6:55 comes the men are called
to supper, and at 100 the midshipmen
must be in their rooms again and at
their books. The study period is two
hours long There is half hours re-
taxation before bedtime, during which
the young men may visit each others
rooms, but at 10 o'clock all lights must
be out
For five days in the week this is the
unyarying routine. with the exception
of two hours liberty E|edn"sd ay after
noon for the first class. On Saturday
and Sunday there IS q change. Vary
ing with the length Of time which they
have spent in the academy. liberty is
granted to all mil-hi2:4cn on tha:a
two days of the week. The members Of
all four classes are permitted to leave
the grounds after the r1il call to din
ner but they must return before the
formation for supper .After the suppl
call the members of the first ana sc
ond classes have permission: t. 60 a ain
beyond the academic limits. bet they
are required to be bac,: by n.2n They
may or may not cat their supper X tie
academy mess, as they desire. but they
must always report for roll call. IN
this way the authorities Of the i,l>titll-
ton keep a finger on them. -I.os'ie's
Weekly.
Fewer Gallons: Wears Longer. ISL