New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-27
A MIDDY'S OPPORTUNITIES
Little Excuse for Ignorance of Cur
rent Events.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Please allow me to correct the impress
sion made by "Middes Are UNIFORMED" the
letter printed on March II from "A Middys
Mother"
The writer complains that her son, fourth
class man at the Naval Academy, is not kept
| informed by the officers and instructors on
current events" For instance, she states
her son did not know whom she meant when
she referred TO Lieutenant Berg" of the APP
pam.
/ Her son should attend the meetings, held
twice month, Of the Current Events Club, an
organization specially designed for "plebcs."
which holds its meetings on "hop" nights
since "plebes" are not permitted 20 attend
/ Naval Academy dances. These meetings are
conducted by an instructor in the department
of English at the Naval Academy, who thus
deyotes his efforts and his time 20 the best
/ interests Of the midshpmen. gaining nothing
/ thereby except his own satisfaction that he
has been Of service 20 the Common midship-
men," or "middes,7 as "A Mddy's Mother
/ ironically calls them.
! The Current Events Club, however, is by
no means the only opportunity by which the
midshipmen may keep themselves informed
on current events.
!. During the summer each member of the
new fourth class Is given subscription to
THE Literary Digest" for four months.
Once or twice a week during the summer the
three divisions" of the fourth class attend
regular evening conferences, with three IN
structors or professors, who are severally in
charge Of discussions Of current events based
on the material IN the current number of
The Literary Digest" During the last month
these discussions take the form of debates
/ =. During the summer in squads Of ten. the
new midshipmen are given special instruction
in the intelligent use of the Naval Academy
Library. The professor in charge assigns
topics to be Cooked up" in the card cata-
/ logue, and after explaining the method of
finding references, takes the squad around the
library, showing where books are located. At
the end of the hour the squad reports in writ
| ing the references found, and at least two
books must be brought TO the professor from
the shelves by each mdshpman. The library
| is available TO all midshipmen during recrea-
/ tiou periods, and a large number take adj
vantage Of its unusually good facilities. All
/ important magazines, the world over. are on
file there. or spread out on the reading tables.
/ 3. As the library is not open evenings. all
the leading newspapers and weekly magazines
are kept on file in Recreation Hall, a room in
the midshipmen's quarters, to which all mid
shipmen have access when off duty, and moro
especially from $3.50 to 10 p. m.
1. A. $3.50 every evening. all who choose
to do may stand at the windows in Ran.
croft Hall and read the lantern signals
I )Ardois code) sent from the tall wireless
mast, and flashing the latest teiegraphic news
Of the world TO all who can-as officers must
read this navy signal code.
.. On Sundays, by unwrtten law. no mid.
Ishipman can study until the evening study
hour. Most OF the day the Sunday editions Of
all vell known newspapers are available.
6. During recitation hours the midshipmen
are required. in the line Of duty. to write
themes for the department Of English and 10
practise public speaking" in that depart.
ment on topics OF current interest. Here ARE
few such topics actually assigned this year.
"0ur Mexican Policy" THE Plight Of Neutral
Nations" "Tho Submarine Versus the Dread
nought" "A Letter from the Trenches. -