The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-05-14

1p-l4CAEia NG OAlAGel IL q 49, 49,
was in many ways signaliy honored IN
his state. His mother was Miss Ade-
laide &nre Worth. a daughter OF GOV
ernor Jona-ha Worth Of North Car
DINA. He was raised in Rileig1, GO
ing TO the public schools and after
wards % the Academy OF Messrs. Nor
sor and benson. From his early boy
hood he had the fixed desire TO enter
e Navy. AS a thirteeG-yCar-cld boy
he wrote a story Of q naval encounter
in the fogs OF Newfoundland and WaS
familiar with every decisive or impor-
tant naval battle in history. In 1893
when he was only fifteen years Of ag-
he entered as a competitor Tor the
appointment to the Naval Academy
then open in the gift OF Congressman
B. H Bum. Of tho Fourth North car
DINA District. Although he had beer
prepared for college in classical studies
he entered with zeal and determinations
int the examination, winning the ap-
pointment on June goth. 1899.
On the day that he was admitted e
Annapolis, September It'll, 1889, the
youngest member Of his class, ne
wrote his mother:
II will be an Admiral n OF these
days"
Bearing in Defeat.
At the Academy young Bagley
experienced the difficulty that many
youths have who gain appointments
Cpon The basis of an education de-
signed for classical graduation at col
leges. he Latin and Greek that he
had acquired with pains was useless.
In the new fields of study he struggled
manfully. out in the Spring of 1891
he failed in his examinations. The
disappointment and claSrln must nave
been severe. 1t meant his retirement
from the service unless he could Sc
cure a disappointment. This Mr.. Bum
cheerfully gave and Bagley's letter CT
acknowledgment was characteristic:
Il have never thought that it was
the part Of the fallen to make ex-
cuses," and he added. II hope that with
the start that | now have n the de-
termination to fulfill every duty that
lies in my way, l shall never cause
you to regret the appointment you
have made. 1 shall never forget and
shall always appreciate your great
kindness, and shall try by hard work
and study, to show myself worthy OF
being a North Carolinian Il your
appOintee."
Graduated With Honor.
He showed himself worthy OF the
confidence reposed in him and grad
uated with honor in the class of 1895.
In 1892, when there was talk Of war
with Chill, he wrote to his mother:
Everybody hopes we will be or
dered into active ervice I am going
to. ask for permission to go as I am
we'll up in seamanshfp. drill, etc. Just
think how fine that would be-"
He had unusual talent as a letter
writer and a gift with the pen that
would have made him reputation II
he had turned his attention to writ
ing. While a cadet at Annapolis,
hearing of the birth Of his first ne
phew, he wrote him a letter which is
given here because it is believed 20
his high ideals of life and duty-ideals
which he carried into the daily ex-
periences of life:
Annapolis, Md.
Sunday, Aug. 2nd, 1894.
Commodore Josephus Daniels, Jr.
MY Dear Young 81 Nephew:
Il make an early reply to your let
arrival, in order to show my appre-
citation of the honor you nave con-
ferred upon me in allowing me to be
the first to receive q letter from your
hand.
Your handwriting is strangely like
your fathers; you Will be lucky, sir, if
you resemble him in other traits and
qualities of heart or mind-I came
within an ace Of adding looks but
l love you little one already, and shall
wish you no such hard luck.
II shall help to bring you up IN
the right way when l am at home. Do
not cry when 1 inform you that YOU
must eat hard tack and salt horse
from now on so that you may be used
to the diet. Worse yet you must have a
of Luce'S Seamanship right at
hand even while sleeping and eating.
on your first-class cruise You
won't have the trials to undergo that
uncle is now passing through.
Self-reliant. You must be a man at
fifteen; it won't be hard for you to ac-
complish it. Never ask any favors
if you can help it. Be a lady's man,
but don tell each and all of them
that Q love them; at first some of
will believe you which will be
sad for them, afterwards none of them
will believe you which will be sal
for you.
Study hard and, until you enter
the Naval Academy. don't pretend you
know a thing until you do know it.
be a book worm or a hot house
plant but take the proper exercise
and max yourself a strong man.
Academy. Love your father and 10th
er and obey orders. It is as bad to
disobey orders from the proper source
as it is to tell a lie.
Keep this letter and I will keep
yours. then someday We will compare.
You will laugh then and wonder If
your uncle kept all these things.
He didn't. that is the reason he
wants to warn You beforehand and
make an officer Of you; you won't
have the faults that he had.
But he will repeat to you what
said to him and the rest of the
Navy team last year before the game
with West Point which we won, 6 to 4.
Mind it wherever YOU may be. It is:
For Gods sake keep your nerve. AMI
show the stuff you're made Of
With every good wish. and the
hope that your young life begun in
a bed of roses will suffer from only
enough thorns to make a man Of you
in the time of danger and necessity,
Your loving uncle.
WORTH BACLEY."
Football Training.
The life at Annapolis brought Bag
ley prominently before the public as
a football player of note. He was
one of the most able backs" of his
day, at quarter and for several sea-
sons at full hack IT was in very