Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-05-31

n ~
p pu ,ut Ia 4 D recautionary measure
AGAINST the sprea q Of disease germ
which may have b 'en brought In IF on
,hs outside world. During this perl OF
80 10 a busy student {. Whatever te n
dsncv he may have to homesicknes
- suhdued by the fac, that from the
hour of turning out Of his hammock
~ that of turning In eyssry minute II
Ala with q completsne0s which ex
c,udes other thoughts than those Of
the duties at hand. -.
~. physical educaticp begins WIN
saitinz.up drills, which Teach him tbe
ssiute And other neces. Rry ceremo'
n,os n he does not know how TO
sw,m he receives lessons in the big
nooI which, in wanteS, is kept at .
proner temperature. He gets ac'
pn.,rted With his fellows and attends
Glasses At the end Of tire weeks
no has completed his novniate. Is
snrnrIsed to ind 6Cw quickly the time
bas flown. and is assigned to regular
Quarters in the barracks for the re-
mainder Of the course.
Piping to Breakfast ~
Here he learns what str snuous
school life really means. His Day Dc
Gins with reveille at $3.50. when ne
turns out. Is served with . bowl OF
hot cocoa and spends an hour lashin
up his hammock. cleaning his ciotnea
and tidying up quarters generauy. A:
& o'clock the bugle sounds for break
fast formation. and tie recruit isiis
into line in the battalion OF winch ne
Is member and marches 10 the mess
hall. ~. ~
Breakfast Is one Of three hearty
meals passed out each day to the STU
dents Of the naval school. ThereNJs
nothing elaborate about these meals
nor is there anything stingy-Nst
good meat. potatoes aud other veseta.
bles, bread and butter in any desired
quantity, with tea and cocee to WASH
II down. and on Sundays and holidays,
pie or other der3ert. The appetite
with which It is eaten would make
any food palatable. even though 1t
were far worse than that served TO
the young sailors.
Following breakfast comes sick call,
then ssembly and prayer. and from
that time until the noon dinner there
are alternating periods Of stndy, IN
struction or recitation. which con
tinue after dinner until the liberty
period In the latter part of the after
noon. Sports OF all kinds are In
dufged In during these leisure hours,
the American games OF baseball and
football being favorite sports. At
8:35 the hammocks are piped down
and taps sound ut 8.
Regular drills begin at once after
the assignment Of recruit to bat.
talon. Besides drilling. the future
sailors learn signaling of all kinds.
The walls Of the drill hall are covered
with the flasS Of all nations and their
signal codes. WigwaEging and soma
phoring are practiced until the classes
are proficient In these arts. From a
huge compass painted on the wall
they learn to box the compass.
School Of the Sailor.
An departments Of the sailors pro.
fession are included In the course
With q log and lead-line the boys
learn how to tell the marks" and
"deeps." Out on the breakwater are
small stages fron which they heave
the lead. IN the rigging loft instruc
ton Is given In tying knots. coilins
gear and making splices, and on 9
masthead In the yard ntted with the
ropes and spars Of sea-eoing vessel
the students make practical applica
ticn Of the theory Of working ship.
Interspersed with what may In the
reading appear Hike dull routine are
occasional cruises about the waters Of
Narraeansett bay and the nearby
sounds, IN the courEe OF which the
embryo sailors learn navigation by
prscticiDg II. in addition to small
sailing vessels for these cruises there
are laFKer vessels. rather mors Yacht
Ike b construction and Attins thar
the recruits win end when they gel
| Into actual service. The cruises are
naturally looked upon as a highly En-
joysbIs part u the course. and ever,
Undergraduate has a chance at them
TheFe n no end TO the drills both
ashore and afloat. Practice with
small srms-revclvers and riAes-is
an essential part Of the education
ramlliarity with thermometer. tarc
meter and thermometer are cultivat
I'd. There lss In short. hardly .
branch OF kRowledee waica may come
| IN useful IN the varied life OF q bat
sIeship Beet which II not taught eth
e. theoreticslly OF practically. at the
Nava1 School.
Msaavhile the school adheres to q
policy q pseaty cf food and plenty
l Of sseep. which combine with the con
stans sxercise to put the young sail
ors tsso The pink NJ physical! coudi
tiua. itssiag b not allowed. although
sscA practical jckes As all boys play
q. 60 SMOTHER can hardly be entire
" peeveosed. So ncaIthful IL the life
that there n seldom recruit whc