Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-11-25
THE MAKING OF AN
AMERICAN GENTLEMAN
AT the United States Naval
Academy.
LITERATURE OF PATRIOTISM.
Love Of Country Makes The American
Naval Officer Always a High
Minded Citizen.

Every American ought to be proud
of the finished product of our Naval
Academy at Annapolis. And what
may be said in praise Of A inapolis
may be said with equal force and
truth of West Point. There are 60
invidious comparisons to be made be-
tween these two national educational
institutions. The output Of both is
the best type OF Americanism men
tally, physically, morally and in the
sort of culture that differentiates the
gentleman from every other personal
ity in the social equation, says the
San Diego Union.
| speak Of Annapolis particularly
because recently | have gained some
insight into one of the courses Ct the
Academy which believe TO be largely
responsible for the kind of American
ism that distinguishes the official rank
of the navy from every other group
OF our citizenship. ! refer to the
four years course in English. The
list comprises the best in literature
for the purpose of an institution pri-
marily intended for the education OF
American youth for lifelong career
in the service of their country.
This list is headedsby Edward Ever
EFT Hale's short story, The Man
Without Country; "a story breath
ing the very essence of patriotism
and at the same time structurally one
of the best stories ever written.
Included in the course are Lowell's
Books and Libraries, and his
Democracy and Other Papers," Sc
lected essays from Washington Irv-
ing's Sketch Book" "Ivanhoe, -"
Franklin's "Autobiograph," Ouida's
"a Dog of Flanders "and"Th Nureu-
bergStove Huxley" Autobiograph
and selected essas, Washington
Farewell Address," Webster's first
Bunker Hill GRAFTON; biography of
David G. Farragut; 1.-THE Life of
Nelson" by Southey; critical and
historical essays by Macauley; "Wal-
den, or Life in the Woods" by
Henry d. Thoreau; Stevensen's
Treasure Island;" Dana's 1.-TWO
Years Before the Mast" Shakes
peare's "King Lear" and Henry
~, sud Dickens Christmas Carol,
and Cricket on the Hearth.
1t is not strange that four years
association with literature of this
quality should produce gentlemen of
culture and refinement, and at the
same time instill a patriotism that
idealixes the Great Purpose symbol
lied in the flag under which he
served. These are books that should
be in the library of every American.
They are, for the American citizen,
more than literature. They embody
that noblest Of human sentiments
Love of Country; and they are Saxon
to the core Of their inspiration;
steadfast in the principles Of national
freedom and individual liberty as
were those Teutonic ancestors Of the
American forefathers who signed the
Declaration and "fired the shot heard
round the world" ancestors who de.
fed and defeated the Roman in the
pride Of his conquering power; anees-
tors who were themselves conquered
by the Norman invader only TO absorb
and make part of their own race and
language all that was strong and
virile in the kindred race that won
the fight at Hastings; ancestors who
have handed on to their posterity gov
ernment rooted in the Magma Charta
and confirmed in the Constitution of
these United States.
Note also, that every book is Eng
lish, written by those who speak the
tongue that Shakespeare spoke. Note
also, that eight of the sixteen books
and speeches were written by Amer
leans. And If you wonder why some
of this stories were include d-why
Ouida and Stevenson and Dickens
were chosen to guide the young Amer
lean of Annapolis can only ask
you to read these stories and form
your own judgment, and if you have
read them, read them again with the
thought in your mind that they con-
tain material for the upbuilding of
American character upon the broad
est base of human sympathy and hu-
man aspiration. These are the books
that should be put in the hands of
every American school boy, whether
for his instruction in the best Iitera-
turs or for the strengthening of his
moral fibre and his patriotism.
They are not mere records and
formulas; they are not even precep-
tive or exemplary; they are living
entities of great minds adapting them
selves to the special requirement of
good citizenship under the rule of
the greatest democracy the world has
ever knC n. II was wise selec-
tion, compiled by long experience in
the training Of youth specially re-
cruited by srduous and exscting t. sts
for a special service. II you will
read the books and speeches and
plsys in this list you will know why
the American naval officer is always
gentleman, a scholar and brave,
high-minded citizen of the Republic.
San Diego, (Calif) Union.