Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-03-19
THE ANTESTUDY COMBINE.
NOTHING IS KNOWN OF IT BY
THE MIDSHIPMEN.
Different Kinds of Students at The
Naval Academy And How
They Are Regarded.
CRITICISMS ARE REGARDED
AS UNFAIR.

among the midshipmeD does not yield
any information which is con6rma-
tory of the belief of the Secretary of
the Navy that there is combination
to prevent the obtaining of a high
standard of scholarship on the part of
any of their number.
There is certain attitude preserved
towards these who carry on their
scholastic work in different WAYS
which may have given the impression
on a cnrsoIy view that tile brilliant
student incurred the disapprobation
of his comrades, but on closer exam i.
nation it viii be seen the position
taken by the student body at the Ma
val Academy is a most reasonable
enc. Moreover, there has been no
particular change or development of
sentiment of late or no definite action
taken by any midshipmen which would
give ground for the belief that the
midshipmeu are engaged in a deliber-
ate and insubordinate attempt to CO.
cree the brilliant scholars of the in
stitution into keeping position of
mediocrity.
a member CT the present senior
class who cannot, of course, be named,
has explained in a measure the prob
able origin of the inform alton which
Secretary Bonaparte lately laid before
the Congressional committee. II is
very we'll known among the midship-
men that if a class contains a partieu-
Iarly large number of brilliant stu
dents a standard of scholarship is
thereby set which makes it difficult
for the youth of average ability to
obtain even a passing mark.
II is therefore a general subject of
remark at the Academy and the aver.
age midshipman particularly breads
to see a number of these brilliant
fellows assembled in the same section
because it is sure to make a section Of
less bright students attending class
work to the same instructor suffer by
comparison. However, no midship-
man questions for a moment the full
right of any other TO secure any posi-
tionion the class to which his abilities
entitle him, still less could there be an
attempt at any cOercive measures of
any kind. Again, the midshipmen
naturally regard in a very different
way the student who works entirely
to obtain high standing and who de-
votes only a part of his ability to his
comrades or TO the institution
Any midshipman can tell of numer-
Gus cases in which some of the hest
students in certain classes have delib-
erately abandoned the possibility Of
standing as high as they might in or
der to help out roommate or other
friend who has fallen behind and is
in danger OF enforced resignation on
account of failure at the approaching
examinations. On the other hand
there are some instances of midship-
men who are already secure in a high
position in their studies who, in order
to secure a place a peg or two higher
have left their roommates in danger
of failing to plod along by themselves.
No one will oritioise the body of
midshipmen for giving the former
type the higher place in their Eestima-
ton. Still, there is no organized
effort to compel any midshipman to
follow certain course, but his actions
are the subject of close scrutiny and
unselfishuess and self sacrifice raise a
midshipmau in the estimation of his
comrades just as it should and does
among any other right thinking peo-
pie. There is also position assumed
by the mass of midshipmen towards
another class of students that needs
explanation. This concerns those
youths who devote every possible
moment that they can snatch to their
studies, using the usual recreation
period fer the purpose and abstaining
as much as possible from every form
of work or diversion which is of an
institutional nature; the man who
works for himself all the time and
does nothing for the Academy and his
sehoolmates.
1t is tie general feeling among the
III n 1c
are given to tie used for recreation
and that it is somewhat unfair for
them to he used by q midshipman in
orfer To study merely to obtain a high
standing when he is secure in a good
position himself. This il is held, sets
an unfair standard because il was
certainly contemplated by the author
tiles that the midshipmen should de-
vote these comparatively short periods
TO something other than scholastic
work, along lines which would end to
broa len the midshipmen and make
them not mere bookworms. Of course
this position is not taken towards
those mids..ipmen who are compelled
TO utilize every moment simply TO
secure passing mark
Ii is held generally by the midship-
men that something is owed to the in
stitution and that If one of their nEm.
Der Is good athletic material he should
offer himself if possible as a candi-
date for the appropriate team. No.
body expects man who must devote
all his energies for time to his stud
les in order to pass to jeopsrdize sIlis
chances by taking part in athletics o1
other work which is not required.
but man who is useful to his team
is not expected 20 withdraw in order
to work for high place in his class.
If he choosss to do so nobody inter.
feres with him but, as in the former
cases, his schoolmates will certainly
make unfavorable comparison between
bin and another midshipman who de
votes part Of his time and ability tc
the things that make for the good OF
the student body and the institution.
The midshipmen have come to be-
| lieye TO large extent that many oi
the papers OF the country and q part
of the public are too anxious to con
| denim anything that is reported il
| connection with the student body a.
| the Naval Academy whether there il
anything in the report or not anC
| without hearing their side. The mid
shipmen are not uDsusceptible to pub
| lie opinion, as has been thought, but
on the contrary they have felt yer,