The Washington herald., 1909-05-14
The Swing Of the Pendulum.

When IN the course OF human events Il
becomes necessary, in the opinion OF a
medical board. 20 recommend that some
thirteen OF fourteen members Of the
graduating class at the United States
Naval Academy should present their res
ignations. to take effect Immediately after
graduation, it would seem as # there
were something in the situation that was
analogous 10 the Shakespearean descrip-
ton OF the state OF Denmark For II be-
comes apparent az once that one or two
factors must have been az the root Of all
this evil. and that either the hygienic
surroundings-tbat is 20 say, the lighting
Of the study rooms and the regulation Of
athletics-have suddenly become deficient
or that the standards required FOR the
physical condition Of the eyes and hearts
Of the graduating midshipmen have been
suddenly and silently raised to a pitch
hitherto unknown.
That both OF these conditions exist al
Annapolis Is undoubtedly true, but that
the acute accent must be placed on the
latter proposition is unouestionable- For
how else could these young men have
survived the four years OF unremitting
study and incesssnt exercise without
giving al their yearly examinations sUfl-
Client evidence that they were in physi-
cal condition that would al that time
have rendered them unit 10 meet the
strain OF a curriculum that was Infinitely
more demanding on those organs than
would be the case after graduation. when
they have passed from the strenuous ac-
Quirement Of the theory TO the far less
exhsusting practice OF their chosen pro-
fession?
The physical care and weIl-being Of the
midshipmen al the Academy devolves, OF
course. upon the medical corps Of the
navy, and If a young man under their
supervision who must have been in
sufficiently good condition to have passed
the entering examination breaks down.
either really or apparently. does not a
paternal government owe 1t to him 10
deal with him leniently and gently. and
even Il ne fails at the last 20 meet an
advanced and unexpected requirement, to
give him, before final action at least, a
chance to see what rest and freedom
from strain viii do?
On the other hand. the government has
educated and supported these young men,
it has trained them on special lines for
special purpose Naval officers, unlike
poets, are made and not born, and as the
examinations Of civic specialists have
not demonstrated that their hearts mur-
mUr as do the brooks or that their eyes
are really united to reflect their nations
history. would II not be better 10 Try the
effect Of rest than 10 lose the services OF
q set of young men who have been edu-
Gated for that duty2
Thst the department has realized the
wisdom OF this course Is evinced by the
fact that these indicted youngsters have
been sent TO sea. with orders to be re-
examined at the end Of the probationaI
two years. One evil effect viii. however,
remain from this carping az small points
and the sudden raising of the standard
Of medical requirement. For II a young
man in order 10 graduate must be pos
sessed Of the attributes OF Argus and his
hundred eyes and also be blessed with
the heart Of the Farnese Hercules. then
viii the pendulum swing the other way.
and either the bars vii be let down TO
too great a degree or the voice Of the
joyous middle" VIII no longer be heard
in the land
Human nature is much the same the
world over. whether It dwells in the mar