The Ordway new era., 1913-12-12

DINNER
//~ DOM! Boom!" sounds and
- resounds the reveille gun
of the Naval academy at
$3.50 a. M, and as 1t echoes
and re-echoes along the
shores Of the Chesapeake and is an
swered by the drum and bugle corps
of the Marine quarters. mile north
OF Bancroft hall in lively martial air.
a stirring scene begins in the midship-
mans halls. The bugle blares up and
down the corridors and the captains
of companies begin to call up the
sleepers, who leap from their cots
and commence active operations to
dress. and put their rooms In order.
Immediately, upon the bugle call, the
inspecting officers begin the work Of
visiting the rooms of the midshipmen
to see that they are out Of bed. They
must be up and stand at military at
tention when the officer enters. Then
the midshipman dresses. opens the
window, and turns down the bedding
for an airing. and hurries below for
IOTudllOu Aho AoA SoAA Va
the day, which is at Z a. m. At the
bugle call, the roll begins. and up to
the last second belated ones are hur-
rying down the steps and failing in"
Just in time to save themselves from
being reported "tardy!" and demerit-
ed. Here, demerits count.
Regular Routine.
Immediately after breakfast the
chaplain reads the prayers Of the day.
and the brigade, that, when at its av.
erage complement, numbers between
500 and 900, make for their rooms. for
these few minutes left them before
recitations begin. are the only period
for them to put their rooms in order
for the daily inspection that begins at
10 .. m. At 8. study and recitation
periods commence. They are of one
hour each. If . midshipman has a
recitation. he, with the other members
of the section, somewhere In the
neighborhood of 10. assemble at the
proper place, and march on In mill.
tary order to the section room where
the instructor awaits them. All stand
until he is seated. At the end Of the
recitation, the section march back
to their quarters. are dismissed. and
each midshipman goes to his room.
In these marches to and fro the rank
ing midshipman takes command. This
rank may be held by appointment a.
q cadet ofiicer or may ariSe from being
the leading scholor. II 1t should hap
pen that only two are in the section.
the ranking midshipman assumes COM
mand, marches his company" and
himself OF and brings him back, halts
the squad, brings his one man to at
tention, and Announces: Squad dis
missed" as though there were a hun
dred in his command. Everything is
military here. When a midshipman
usher. at chapel service. escorts WIS.,
itor to his or her pew, he halts at the
place selected, turns on his military
heel like pivot. and assumes a mar.
tial attention" until the guest is seat
ed. The brigade comes into church in
regular order, the superintendent has
his appointed position and NO one
leaves the chapel after service until
the brigade was marched out, and none
dare drop from the ranks until 1t has
been regularly dismissed.
II midshipman should have no rec
itation during any Of the morning Pc
riod, he must stay in his room, and 1t
is a serious oifense to visit, or receive
visitors during study hours, or even
to leave the floor to get drink Of wa
ter II none happens to be in the cooler
on that floor. Yet midshipmen will
risk demerits and run the gauntlet of
detection. One day an officer of the
department Of discipline. that branch
of the work Of the academy that has
the management OF the midshipmen
in charge. whose business is. said one
Of the officers, ito know at ALL times
where every midshipman is, and to be
able to put your finger on him." made
an inspection of one of the rooms. He
saw by the manner of the two occu.
pants Of the apartment that something
was wrong. He could not ask the mid.
shipmen themselves what they were
doing that was Irregular, so he looked
sharply around the room to see what
was the matter. The next day the
midshipmen in the secret were greatly
amused to see on the morning report:
"Midshipman A, shoes out Of place"
Those shoes were not Midshipman AS,
but Midshipmah C's feet. He was a
visitor, and when he heard the inspect.
ing oficer coming. he had only time
to run behind the wardrobe door, and,
as 1t was not long enough to cover
him. his feet stuck below 1t. Another
unlawful visitor was not SO success.
full. His face was to the door and his