Evening star., 1909-05-15

echo that almost browns the chaplain's
voice He has moved the pulpit from
place to place in search of quiet, and has
finally found a spot in the middle aisle
where he can speak without having his
words thrown back into his face with
as much force as they are uttered.
The Unfinished Crypt.
Beneath the floor of the chapel is an
unfinished crypt intended by the archi-
tect and by the board which accepted the
plans as a pantheon for the remains OF
naval officers. Congress
has been asked to appropriate s1J0OoO
for the purpose of finishing the crypt in
a proper manner and placing in the GEN.
ter. in an appropriate sarcophagus. tho
remains of John Paul Jones, the father
of the American navy.
1t is proposed to cut a circular hole
in the floor of the chapel. protected by
a balustrade similar to the tomb Of Ma
poleon Bonaparte In the chapel OF Les
Invalides in Paris, with the inscrip-
tion, suggested by Mr.. Ernest Flagg.
the architect. from Jones' own words:
Men count for more than guns in
the rating of ships"
For more than three years the cas-
ket containing the body of John Paul
Jones has lain upon a bier under the
stairway which leads to the Memorial
room in Bancroft Hall, awaiting an
appropriation by Congress to complete
the crypt SO that 1t may be placed I'm
its permanent sarcophag gus. The cas-
ket is covered with q flag, and a por-
trait OF Capt. Jones stands upon an
easel beside It; but 1t is not a dignffied
1t is q reflection upon the patriotism
OF the American people. Gen. Horace
Porter, who spent $685. of his private
funds in searching. for the burial place
and in bringing the body to America.
has never been repaid for those ex-
penditures, but he offers to contribute
that amount to the memorial provided
Congress will make sufficient ap-
preparation to complete the crypt as a
permanent sepulcher for officers who
nation. There certainly ought to be
no objection to such an expenditure-oE,
public money.
The regulations permit memorial ta6S
In the Academic building. and prescribe
their form and character and a stand
ard for inscriptions. They may be-
erected In memory Of enlisted men as
well as officers who have rendered
distinguished service or who, by char
such distinction.
The academy is rich In historic flags
and other trophies for which no pro-
vision has yet been made. No museum
Was pTONlucQ 1OT Inc pldu IOT tfo
new academy. but shall have to make
that the subject Of another letter.
Extension Of the Grounds.
1t is unfortunate that the campus Of the
Naval Academy is no larger. but 1t is ad-
mirably situated on a tongue of land near
the mouth Of the Severn river. and forms
an irregular triangle about 200 feet wide
by 1900 feet long. The triangle is being
squared up by reclaiming land on the
river side, and 1t is proposed to buy three
blocks which project into the yard very
near the center, upon the city side, oppo-
site the river. This land will cost about
81 900, 900. including the clearing away of
the houses, the extension of the walls
of the academy SO as to include them.
and other work that is necessary to make
the addition complete.
This Improvement will cause the sacri-
fee of two Of the most famous colonial
dwellings, in Annapolis, the Glebe House.
which, from 1859 to 1870, was the rectory
Of st. Anne's Episcopal Church organized
in 1852 and presented with a silver COM
munion set by King William Ill OF Eng
fee what is known as the Peggy Stew
art house, erected about ITO by Anthony
Stewart, who paid the tax on a cargo OF
tea brought In the Peggy Stewart, his
ship. from England in defiance Of public
opinion. From the porch of this house
Stewart denounced and defied mob
which had erected gallows in the street
to hang him.
There are other interesting houses In
Annapolis and these might be sacrificed
in order to furnish site for additional
quarters for the officers and instructors
Of the academy. There are at present ac-
commodations for only thirty-six families
and 1t is absolutely necessary to provide
bers about one hundred, including civils
ian instructors and sixty-five married Of,
ficers. OF the latter. about thirty ara
compelled to live outside the grounds
boarding place. The government gives
them an allowance for rent, but few,
houses are to be obtained They are
nearly all inconveniently located, and
lack the comforts and conveniences that
are provided In the regular quarters with-
In the grounds. The difficulty Of finding
a suitable place to live has kept away
from the acadamy many married Junior
officers, whose services have been de-
sired.
The unmarried officers are provided for
at the bachelors mess or clubhouse. a
commodious and convenient building,
which is very much appreciated
Capt Badger has been urging the erec-
will accommodate fifteen or twenty fam
lilies of junior officers, and can be
erected in the most substantial style for
$500, 900.
The Rifle Range.
Congress has already appropriated
SIS. 900 for an extension of the rifle range
otherwise 1t would have been necessary
to abandon the present range, because
1t would have been surrounded by a row
of villas, and that would have interfered
with long-range fire. The money that
has been appropriated will purchase
about 27O acres of land adjoining the
present range upon which much time
and money have already been expended.
and will provide future midshipmen the
most perfect thousand-yard range In the
world.
AS the grounds are now laid out they
contemplate a basin taken from the river
by the extension of two long piers run
ming parallel with the shore from the
power house on one side and from the
seamanship building on the other. This
will make an admirable harbor. but a
new wharf is very badly needed to take
the place of one built by Gen. Butler
more than forty years ago, during the
civil war, which is now in a dangerous
condition. 1t is proposed to erect a con-
crete wharf, at cost of 100000. and
Congress has been urged by every board
of visitors for several years to make the
appropriation.