The San Francisco call., 1910-07-17


every midshipman. But all sorts of
other athletics are encouraged. Mid
shipmen who go in for football, base
ball, track athletics and other sports
are given every reasonable opportunity
and facility for them. Indeed, the
equipment is largely furnished by the
government. The football team Of the
naval academy has for years been one
of the best in the country.
Muscular exertion and tasks calling
for quickness are not the only means
of developing physical health at Ann
apolis. The daily routine, the daily
life there. does as much for the health
as the actual exercise. The quarters
are well ventilated and built and fur
nished on sanitary principles. The mid
shipmen are awakened at a. m. and
given As minutes to wash, dress, clean
out their rooms, make their beds and
put everything in order. Breakfast is
at 7 and first study call is at 8. Reci-
tationS last an hour every alternate
hour being spent in rooms for study.
Dinner Is at noon, and there are more
recitations and studies from / until 4
p. M, after which there is drill for an
hour or so, with supper at s. Evening
study hours are from 1880 until $50,
when tattoo and evening gun fire end
the days tasks. Taps is sounded at
10, and the lights must then be out in
every room and it's occupant In bed
The food is abundant, well chosen.
well cooked and well served in big
mess hall, with white linen and good
shipmen practically eat at a huge
training table. for the food is of the
sort that athletes train upon.
All the meals and recitations are
preceded by military formations and
the midshipmen marched to and fro
in orderly manner System and pre-
cision are fundamentals of the school
There is only one month of vacation
in the year-the month of September
when the annual leave of absence is
granted. The summer practice cruise
furnishes change and relief from the
winter term Of study. although there is
a certain amount of study required
on the cruise, just as there is an
amount of exercise during the aca-
demic terms. The theoretical and the
practical are carried on side by side
throughout the four years course. AS
far as possible. every theoretical lesson
is followed sooner or later with its
practical demonstration. Thus, lesson
in the theory of navigation is followed
by practical work with sextant. COM
pass and artificial horizon lesson in
ordnance is followed by practical work
with six inch gun; lesson in the
cylinder is followed by term in the
engine room, and so on. The result of
all this is to impress the lesson upon
the student, who at the same time de-
rives great physical benefit from the
physical part of the process.
Although sails have disappeared
from modern men of war, there Is a
practice ship at Annapolis which has
sails and is used for seamanship
drills The object of this Is not only
to provide the unexcelled exercises OF
working aloft. furling, reefing and
loosing sail, handling yards and light
masts, but to develop that activity,
aiertness resourcefulness and quick
ness of eye and judgment which are
so essential in a naval officer. Many
experienced instructors hold that a
sailing ship is the best school in the
world for cultivating these traits, and
that while the young officer so trained
may never again serve on sailing
ship. he will. ever after, profit by the
course on the square rugged drill ship.
for the qualities it produces are ever
in demand.
Usually, 1t takes but a few months
OF the sort OF training described to
convert the lankiest. most awkward
and slovenly youth into an agile. wiry.
strong and graceful athlete. Being
required TO be sound and with strong
constitution in the first place. the grad
uats Of the United States naval aead-
emy, whether he remains in the navy
or not, starts out into the world with
physical advantages for which he is
grateful throughout his life, adyan-
tages that enable him TO endure hard
ships. overcome obstacles and take
care of himself anywhere, thanks TO
the splendid training he has received
ar AnnanOlig