The Nome daily nugget. (Nome, Alaska) 1906-1918, 1910-12-19

Solomon the Wise tells US. Through
thou should'st bray a fool in mortar
among what with a pestle, yet will not
his foolishness depart from him." The
truth of this saying is illustrated by
current magazine articles on the army
and navy. We have no sooner finished
demonstrating the arrant nonsense of
the Cosmopolitan's article on desertion
Golfers Weekly making himself and
his paper ridiculous by printing views
oi the navy that display either colos.
sal ignorance or monumental mendac-
ity. We shuld like to know the raison
d'etre of such writer's. We should like
the Cosmopolitan OF Golfers to tell us
why they take such opinions from such
men. Are there no other men in this
big country who can write of the SER
vices that the magazines must have re-
course to such purveyors of puerility?
Verify. the navy and the army are TN
known to Americans If no others than
these know enough of our national de-
tenders to write inteiligently Of them
Golfers says sailors of our navy in
make only q cross for a signature. Has
II ever dawned upon Golfers that the
Navy. like the army. is governed by
regulations, and that there is a positive
ate recruit? II Golfers will turn to
page 3 of the "Circular Relating to En-
listed Men," issued by the navy depart
ment. II will read these words, thrown
out In black-faced type: Applicants
for enlistment must be American citi-
zens. native or naturalized. and must be
able to read and write English" 1t
Is impossible. In the face OF this dis
tinct regulation. for a man to enter
the navy II he cannot write his name
II the writer In Golfers knew of this
regulation. then his assertion as to
cross-signing sailors was a deliberate
faisehood: IL he did not, his ignorance
should hereafter make unmarketable
any Of the products Of his pen. at least
In the ONCE OF self-respecting maya
zines.
In the extract from Golfers which
we published In our issue of October 1
as a specimen OF magazine ignorance
listment a recruit could not be guar
anteed a couple OF hours of instruction
each day to AZ him for his duties and
for his return to civil life. The pro-
FOUNDER OF so silly a question. OF
course. could never have read "The
Making Of a Man-o'- warsman." pub
llshed In 1908 by the bureau OF naviga-
tion. navy department. Washington. If
he had he would have seen a list OF
the schools enlisted men can attend
Among them are the Electrical school.
where a thorough training is given In
all that has to do with electrical work.
including wireless; the Yeoman school.
where bookkeeping, accountancy and
branches OF mathematics are taught:
to read music at sight and play on
Instruments: the Hospital Corps Train
ing school. where men are grounded In
practice and theoretical nursing. phar-
macy and materis medica: the Artffi-
GERS school. at which there is thorough
instructions In the general construc-
ton OF vessels. carpenter work. fitting
plumbing and all matters pertaining 10
the putting together and repair Of Diff
ferent parts of vessels in wood. steel.
iron. copper. lead. etc; the Seaman
Gunners' school. where men are taught
ell about the practical part OF ordnance
the manufacture OF shells. OF fuses and
electrical firing devices; the machin-
lists school. where complete instruc-
ton In engine room work is given.
But before q sailor goes on boari
ship. while he is only a recruit: he can
avail himself OF fine school. the schoo
for Trimming Seamen at Newport. r
moids him into q seaman. He Is Their,
taught 20 swim. to make knots. q
splice ropes. 20 handle boats. and tn,
thousand and one other things required
TO make him water wise" The vaiu,
OF such instruction to recruits from
interior states far removed from tn,
seacoast cannot be estimated in mer'
dollars and cents. II introduces then
at once 10 the great maritime world ant
shakes from them whatever Of pro
vincialism they had had
what Is true OF the Newport Train
Ing station I true OF the stations a