The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-04
Comparison Between TarS of Century Ago
and the Blue-jacketS of To-day Favor
able to Modern Sea Dogs.

all ranks are as different from those that
went before them as 1t is possible to i'm
agine. The great change and the bet
terment Of the service began when the
order went into force prohibiting the en-
listment In the service OF any save
Americans or those foreigners who had
formally declared their intention OF be-
coming Americans. which was followed
up by a concerted effort to make the ma
val service so attractive that American
youths would be tempted to enlist
And they do enlist. There is small
trouble in getting men for the navy these
days.
Strong. handsome. athletic young men
come from all over the United States to
work on Uncle Sans ships. and night for
Uncle Sam. should the occasion arise.
They leave their farms, their herding:
they turn their back on the lure OF the
cities to don the blouse and fat cap OF a
sailor. and TO receive in their first en-
llstment the best schooling. the best dis
cipline that is to be had in the world.
Changes I'm the Service.
To realize the Improvement there has
been in the naval service OF this country
one has only to visit one OF the big navy
yards and watch the men coming from
and going to the big battle ships and
compare them with the men one saw IN
the same yards twenty-five years ago.
More picturesque naturally we're the big
blond Swedes, the bearded Danes. the
red-faced Germans. the Dutch,nen, with
their small, bright eyes high cheek
bones, and heavy lips; the brawny Eng
llshmen, and the smiling Irishmen: the
small. 1.-THE. graceful japanese. and the
Cinnamon. with their long queues. who
are the best boys" 20 be had. Of the old
navy, but one feels. II one is patriotic
and patriotism is almost Il vice in Amer
lea, It is carried to such an extremes
great pride in the nat;y, well-put-up
American sailormen that man our modern
battle ships
One admires the strong swing OF them.
their frank. open faces. the feeling OF in
dependence reflected In those faces. but.
most Of all. one admlres the evidence OF
discipline. the fact that every man seems
TO have himself we'll in hand, and the
salutes they give their superiors are
given in manner that bespeaks respect
for themselves as well as respect for
those above them. A country has gone
far that can make such a showing OF
valiant sons who are sworn 10 her de-
tense.
To tell all that the American navy does
for a man requires more space than that
allotted 10 a single article but an ade-
quate idea could be gained from a sur
vey'' and a ten-minute conversation with
a young man just before and iust after
his frst enlistment In those notable
three years mans whole point Of view
his habits OF life. his personal appearance
even change utterly. Is he surly. morose.
when he enters Uncle Sans
employ, he becomes pleasant and civil.
companionable and neat Is he intemper-
ate2 He becomes temperate Is he bump
tous, conceited. given 10 Boosting? He Is
soon denuded Of his conceit and taught
10 hold his tongue. Is he coxcomb? He
Is so rallied al, so jeered at that he man.
ages to hide his coxcombery.
Bnch ship school.
In a word every battle ship is a big
school, where a man is not only taught
to care for the ship. to scrub and scour.
polish and shine. to understand and ope-
rate machinery. the art OF gunnerv and
such things. but where his vices are
eliminated. his virtues encouraged. The
same haZing goes on in a battle ship
that obtains in every school worth while
In the world. for. call It whatever name
you VIII, the discipline administered by
upper classmen 10 the lower forms is
nazlng. and hazing is what the newly
man must submit to when he
makes his first appearance on a battle
ship.
The new men put up fight sometimes.
refuse u give up this cherished habit or
that. but they soon find II is wisest 10
adopt the line Of least resistance and
so fall into line To-day the enlisted man
Is an intelligent. thinking person. IntelH-
gent outside Of his own line Of work He
has come TO realize that for all the things
that are required Of him there is a reason.
and recognizing this It Is easier for him
to conform. and he conforms in a better
spirit and becomes the best Of the sailor
men. 10 have as much pride in his shin
In the way It is kept up as the com
mander himself and so there grows ND
IN esprit de corps which is the secret of
all perfect administrations.
There is a certain captain IN the navy