New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-17
MIDDIES ARE UNIFORMED
Mother of One Objects to This AS
pect of Annapolis.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The letter by Mr.. Willoughby II. Cross
n your issue OF March strikes home to me
specially, as am the mother OF one OF the
nidshipmen he speaks 50 harshly Of and who
is now at Annapolis. | am public school
teacher and widow. I very fortunate
through the influence OF friends TO get my
boy into the Naval Academy, and pray ne
may remain there. Under my guidance ne has
become very proficient in mathematics, and
his reports show progress along these lines
According TO my instructions he has taken no
mart In athletics, but he enjoys the social
festivities greatly. / do not consider 1t al
all conducive TO academic training to devote
hours of precious time to games. was so
happy when he passed the recent seminar
nual examinations that thanked my Heaven
" Father for his goodness to me.
Mr.. Daniels has been very kind and con-
siderate 10 the boys in my sons class (pleoe).
Among other unusual privileges he granted
them Christmas liberty, and he has taken
firm stand against any running" by the older
students. Ny son writes me that one-tlme
plebe named Bagley, who vas related TO the
Daniels family, was so Inundated by the up
per classmen that Mr.. Daniels has always re-
sented il, and | am very glad my boy VIII
reap the benefits Of H. He says every one
saws the academy is running down, but know
ing boys as do realize that 70 make gentle
man il is first necessary TO insist on gentle
ness and kindness to others from boy.
There is one thing that bothers me, and 1t
is what induces me 70 write you. In my
class of forty boys, of twelve and fourteen
years Of age, the subject OF the European
war is worn threadbare by constant talks
with me and our principal. When | wrote
nv son, who expects TO be sailor By prote'-
sion. and asked him what ne though OF Lieu
tenant Berg and the Moewe, he answered:
"Who Is Lieutenant Berg" and then added;
as he a prof."
wrote him at once the detailed account
Of the taking Of the Appam. We are all
American" but we are broad enough to ap-
preciate an act OF those who are not OF US
when Il is entitled to appreciation.
He wrote me back that he had "hunch
was put out, but he had no time for news
napers. and seldom saw anything but inc
headlines. and often not those. II | thought
the "profs" and instructors conversed VIII.
common middies about the current events Of
the times as did with public school KIDS
was mistaken; that he had never been spohen
10 by A professor except in class, when called
on for a recitation, and then only just called
on; that the officers never thought OF open
conversations with the middies, and the in'u
dies were not supposed to approach an OF
fcer for any such purpose.
7 may be wrong, but it does seem 20 me
that a matter like the capture of the Appam
.bou,d be freely discussed among the future
officers OF the navy. Would it not be more
N the purpose if the authorities cut out GER
tain sports. which are the reasons for so many
failing. and devoted that time 70 the unprece
dented happenings in the world to-day? ma
that the quiet. studious boys in my class ana
those upon whom may depend to pass all
tests are not those who bring their bats ana
baus to school, eager for dismissal time and
the game. MlDD
New York, March 7, 1916.