Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-06-05
OF LANGUAGES.
THIS DEPARTMENT GREAT
LY ENLARGED.
Special Interest Is Being Taken Doe
to The Work of Pro-
fessor HuSe.

The department of modern languages
at the Naval Academy was once of
minor Importance. This was at time
when the midshipmhen numbered
about $50, but since this number has
been increased to nearly GOO. the scope
OF study has been greatly increased
and as at present organized this de-
partInent deserves to serve as model
for the naval institutions of the world.
The credit for the elevation of the
department to rank among the leading
departments of the Academy is due
almost entirely to the efforts and
ability of Prof. Harry r. Hnse, its
present head To those who knew
Professor Huse as line officer of the
Navy it was somewhat of "A surprise
that he should have been willing last
winter TO surrender his commission as
a lieutenant. commander to accept a
professorship. But no one who is ia
miliar with the work he had done
and is doing is his new capacity can
doubt that whatever sacrifice he has
made of his own prospects, in giving
up career tor which he was so excep-
tionally fitted, will be justified by the
achievements in the new career which
ne has adopted.
Already he has introduced into the
course of instruction the latest and
most approved methods known TO
teachers of modern languages, and
one of these, at least-the use of the
phonograph-he was the first to intro
duce into the regular course of study
of a great institution of learning. TIE
midshipmen who are now graduating
from the Academy have good speak
ing command of at least one foreign
nguage-either French or Spanish -
and in many cases both of these. which
is more than can be said for the aver
age graduate of any other institution
in the country. Professor Huse's ca.
reer as line officer in the Navy dur
ing the twenty six years of his service
in that capacity was exceptionally
varied and interesting.
From his graduation in 1878 to his
acceptance of a professorhip in 1904,
he served on great number of ships
and in every part of the globe. From
1890 to 1892 he was on the staff of
Rear Admiral Bancroft Gherardi, and
took the important part to which his
gifts as linguist and a diplomat en-
titled him in the delicate negotiations
which the Admiral was then conduct
ing with the Haitian Government
looking to the purchasing of a naval
station at Nicholas Mole. During the
Spanish War he had the good fortune
To serve as executive officer of the
Gloucester, and he stood beside the
gallant Wainwright on the bridge of
the little ship throughout the hours
of that never to- be- forgotten day off
Santiago. when the Gloucester met
the Pluton and Furor and destroyed
them, and then steamed on TO the res
cue of the crews of the Spanish ships
living wrecked and in flames on the
Cuban coast.
It was the Gloucester which rescued
Ceryeta and his staff from the water,
and Huse who wrapped his own coat
around the almost naked shoulders of
the unfortunate Admiral. Later the
Gloucester played an equally conspic-
uous mart in the capture of Guanica,
the first port seized in Porto Rico, and
Huse commanded the landing party
which hoisted the first American flag
on the island and held at bay Span
ish force far superior to his own.
More recently he commanded for sew
eraI wears the Villalobos, one of the
captured Spanish gunboats in the Phil
ippines, where his service. though less
conspicuous than on the Gloucester,
were not less trying or valuable.
Professor Huse is the son of the late
Col. Caleb Huse. who was graduate
of West Point and al officer in the
United States Army, but who threw
in his fortunes swith the Confederacy
and was sent abroad by President
Davis to buy arms and ammunition for
the South. As baby in arms, Pro-
fessor Huse was carried through the
blockade on this occasion, and until
his eleventh year he remained in
Paris, thus acquiring French as Sec
ond mother tongue. His mother was
Miss Pinckney. of New York, and
niece of the distinguished Admiralty
Judge William Marvin, of Civil War
fame. Professor Huse's wife is a
daughter of the late William White
lock. a prominent member of Balti-
more's commercial and literary life,
and a sister of Mr.. George Whitelock,
who recently retired from the presi-
dency of the Maryla land State Bar Asso-
citation.