Evening star., 1909-03-07
HOPE FOR A REVIEW
Middies May Yet March Before
President Taft.
WANT SPECIAL PARADE
Bitterly Disappointed Over Failure
to Get Here Thursday.
HAVE A MOOT INAUGURATION
Make Most of the Situation When
They Find It Impossible to
Reach Washington.
WANT SPECIAL PARADE
HAVE A MOOT INAUGURATION

Special Dispatch to The Star.
| ANNAPOLIS Md. March 6. -Midship-
| men at the Annapolis Naval Academy are
still smartng under their disappointment
at being unable to reach Washington for
| the inaugural ceremonies Thursday, but
have not abandoned hope of being able to
go there in the near future and have the
President review them. They recall that
the members of their class will not have
another opportunity of participating, as
midshipmen, in an inaugural parade. and
many Of them fear they have lost their
last opportunity to pass in review of Pres
ident Taft The midshipmen felt that
they were to be highly honored by being
given a place in the parade. and to be de-
nrjyed of such honor seems serious mat
ter to them.
Members of tlhe class are now anxious
lv awaiting the arrival of the time when
they will be given trip to Washington
and be reviewed by the President. Some
of them recall that there Is a possibility
that President Taft will visit Alexandria
during the near future and participate in
the dedication of Washington Park, and
to act as his escort upon that occa aslon
would more than appease their keen dis
appointment of two days ago. While the
young men were sorely disappointed, they
ly.
ITO start WITH said one of the cadets,
I'VE had bully breakfast that morn
ing in anticipation OF a railroad trip and
hard marching through the snow. Grape
fruit, cereals, beeksteak and eggs were
on the menu, and it was certainly en-
joyed. although the severe disappointment
came later.
Had a Moot Inauguration.
So~p
their own. Cadet Magruder took the
part of the chief magistrate in the inau
gural ceremonies. He impersonated the
President and his makeup was great. The
inaugural party repaired to Bancroft Hall.
where the oath was administered. the ad-
dress delivered and the marchers formed,
and the affair proved interesting and
amusing to those who had been SD badly
disappointed at not being able to go to
Washington.
A letter written by one of the cadets
to his parents gives an idea of the dis
appointment felt over the failure of the
prospective naval officers to reach Wash
ington The letter, in part. reads:
The "Wireless Wires" Down, Too.
1T is all over. What happened in
dear old Washington today l know moth
ing whatever about. Have tried in vain
TO get a newspaper All the wires are
down between here and Washington and
Baltimore and no trains running. Even
the wireless wires are, down. Sounds
strange, but it is fact, the whole top
of the wireless poles having broken off.
l went to bed last night. as did many
another midshipman. with a pleasant
smile on my face, dreaming-dreaming of
the good time the morrow would bring
To see the dear old Capitol again, to
ms rch Ol,
to feel the pride and honor of marching
in review of the President, but alas, my
dreams went up in smoke or were tram
pied under the feet Of fate.
"Disappoints? I have had very few
in my life, but this one will sting for
years to come.
After telling Of the enjoyable breakfast
that was served and of how the mid
shipmen shaved. put on their best uni
forms with leggings and tried to see
how attractive they could make them
selves and explaining what time the
mdShipmen had comparing notes, the
writer Of the letter describes the severe
disappointment felt when it was announced
Little did We think when the word
was passed that we stay in our rooms
until further notice that 1t meant no
Washington. Well. it did. We waited
and waited, and when IL 30 o'clock rolled
around the word was passed: Uniform
service, go to your rooms and observe
study hours Cruel. That's no name for
it: 1t was heathenish'
He then went on to tell of the mock
ceremony and ball. He also told of the
first news that the President had been
sworn, it having appeared in an An
napois paper that afternoon. 'and An
napolis hasn't been in communication
with any place since II 30 o'clock last
night. The first train out was at >
o'clock, but that was too late for us