The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-09-22
Story Of Life In
Uncle Sans Navy
A Former Enlisted Lad Tells All
About 1t In His Own and
InterestingsWay.

Any young man not under seven
teen years of age is eligible to en-
listment in the Z. S. Navy, provided
he passes the physical examination,
and men up to thirtyfive years of age
may also enlist. Applicants for en-
listment must be American citizens
able to read and write English and
when enlisted must take the oath of
allegiance. The physical test is a
very hard thing to pass and one must
be very sound in every respect and
his vision must be perfect to pass
the eagle eye of the examining sur
geon, and once you pass, there is not
a life insurance company doing bust
ness that will refuse you as risk.
After Uncle Sam thinks he can
use you in his navy, he gives you the
privilege of thinking the matter over
before you are sworn in and sign
the papers. There are three of them.
| have seen many get cold feet be-
fore they signed and go away to
never return again.
The Captain of any ship may en-
list an American in foreign ports if
he so desires, but such enlistments
are rare and far between, as nearly
every Jack Tar enlists on this side
of the pond. When enlisted you are
sent to some training ship and kept
on board there until you are assigned
to some vessel that is in commission.
Men having trade may enlist at it,
that is, if they pass the rigid exam
ination and-are qualified.
The pay ranges from $17.60 to
$125.OO a month and that. is as high
as one can go, that is, to become
Warrant Officer. The smaller rates
are known as petty officers lin three
classes) and chief petty officers. Sea-
men are in three classes, but they
are not petty officers; the same with
the fremen.
Only men who have friends in
Congress can take the four-year
course at the Naval Academy, but to
the writer's knowledge there was a
young man among the ranks who got
Lieutenantship for bravery in our
late war with Spain and was the talk
of the country for some time, and
a better man never walked the quar-
ter deck, as | had the pleasure of be-
ing under his command later. He
knew what it was to be man be-
fore the mast and all his men GOT
just and fair treatment from him.
They worked harder for him than
any other officer on board. as he had
very winning ways about him and
pleasant word for all and not stuck
up, like some you happen to run
across.
After you receive ship you get
the number of your billet, where to
swing your hammock, that is your
bedroom for all time while you are
on that ship. Commissioned and
Warrant Officers have staterooms
with berths. Then you get the num-
ber OF your mess table. You are al
lowed nine dollars month ration
money. All you do is sign for it
and the caterer of your mess makes
up the bill of fare every day. AS a
rule at the end of every month you
help make up the difference over
your allowance, which is never over
five dollars at the most, but if it is
that high, You live like a prince.
The cook receives two rations every
month for doing the cooking stunt,
outside his own pay, which is never
over twentyfour dollars, and if the
cook does not come up to the expecta-
tions of the majority ofthe mess you
can give him his walking papers at
the end of the month and choose
someone else from among you. (The
writer was never good cook, but.
was pretty regular to his meals.