The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
CAPITAL SIDELIGHTS
STORIES OF PEOPLE AND THINGS
By ONE WHO KNOWS
BY ONE WHO KNOWS.

ceIved such a big fee for doing so little
before in my life and the patient is cured
into the bargain.
The poor 'plebs. at Annapolis lead a
wretehed life" said the mother of one of
the fourth class men at the Naval Acad-
eny after her return from the last mid
shipmen's hop, to a retired naval officer
TO be sure, hazing is done away with-at
least they don't fight ard beat the poor
under-classmen as they used to-but 10
my mind. the old system was best and
wises;. II / were kid midshipman
would much rather take good trouncing
at the beginning OF the term and then be
let alone and not subject to the moral
hazing-I can think Of no better word
that the fourth class men have 10 suffer
1t would take a book 10 write out the
rules Of etiquette that the upper classes
nave formulsted for their juniors. as
there seems 20 be an unwritten law to
cover any case that might arise. These
unwritten laws are silly enough. heaven
knows. Only fancy laying down a rule
that the plebs' shall never cross the
grounds by a certain walk known as
Lovers Lane; that they shall not walk
on the street with young woman unless
she is a near relative. such as a sister or
aunt cousins are not counted as near
relatives); that they shall not do this or
that or the other. Why. the bows must
be miserable, with all the things they
have to remember; and understand that
II they are not properly civil to those
above them they are put on the pap by
the midshipmen officers--nOt. ostensibly.
for the silly little breach Of etiquette they
may have made, but for some absurd
r,aNa
under ordinary circumstances | think
the older officers. the heaoes OF the civil
war who were educated in their duties
before Annapolis occupied the place il
now holds, Jared better than the poor
plebs OF to-day
You axe mistaken madam. replied
the officer In a reminiscent mood they
Jared worse I remember that Jolly old
sea dog the late Admiral Jouett telling
me Of his first experience on the old Inde-
pendence, 10 which classic bottom he was
assigned Immediately upon his appoint
ment as midshipman. I Was a sOClable
youngster, he said. and when I saw the
Stars and Stripes floating over the old
Independence. / remembered that my
mother had taught me that my first duty
was 70 my flag. and on this line I at
tempted some conversation with the exec
utive officer. VINO had received me when
1 came on board. and who was noted for
his discipline.
Silence. sir" he roared his face red
with anger. silence. sir, Who gave you
permission 70 speak? Let me hear only
six words from you. sir. while you are on
this ship-'port 'starboard. yes. sir and
no. sir. Now that was the way the
kids were disciplined in that day. and
think you will admit HAT their treatment
was trihe more brutal than that ac-
corded TO the plebe' of to-day"
A lean and lanky individual dressed in
jeans and carrying blue cotton UNI
brella-a country cousin. evidently-haunt-
ed the lobby of the House one dav last
week. peering into the face of every man
who came along. His behavior was so
peculiar that one of the doorkeepers final
ly approached him and asked what he
was looking for.
Il amt hyer fer no harm" he an
nounced: but I've heerd tell ov Mr.
Speaker Cannon so much down our way
thet, bein' in Washin ton. I Jest drapped
in 10 sort ov look him over. But he amt
come in yit. fer 7 could tell him anywhere
from his picters'
The doorkeeper being amlably disposed.
gave the induisitive visitor seat and
promised 20 tell him when the Speaker
appeared. The stranger had not long TO
wait before the great dictator. with his
Inevitable cigar in mis- mouth. hove in
sight"
There he goes now announced the
doorkeeper. Long and earnestly the coun-
tryman gazed at the spare figure as II
sauntered through the lobby. and when it
had passed he nodded 10 his new-found
friend and said:
Much obleeged. stranger; much
obleeged. But l amt a-goin ter allow
thet consider him a han'sonle man.
We've got lot ov fellers a heap sightlier
down our way than thet er one"