davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-09-22
Development ofHe Institution
From Small Beginning at Fort
SeUe,w to Greatest Seat of Ma
vaL EduCution in the WorM Is
ReUiezved.

Of the prescribed studies About 40
young gentlemen have already report
ed themselves, whose handsome ap-
pearance and gentlemanly department
give a cheerful aspect to the streets
of our quiet city, and elicit universal
admiration"
The first midshipmen were divided
into youngsters" just appointed,
ranging in age from 13 to Is years,
and "oldsters," ranging from 81 to
26, who had been recalled from sea
duty and ordered to the naval school.
The latter resented the association
with the little fellows and were in
clined to make things rough for them.
Thus did the hazing system, so long
plague at the Naval Academy, come
into being, though it had existed in
much rougher form on shipboard
There is little vestige of haZing at the
Naval Academy now, practically its
only form being in the rates" cheer
fully carried out by the plebeS.
FORTUNATELY Comdr. Buchan-
nan, the superintendent, was
stern disciplinarian. He served, how
ever, but two years, being called to &C
tive duty in the Mexican War. Dis
cipline was not always so strict under
some of his successors. The midship-
men seem to have been given con-
siderable liberty in the matter of visit
ing Annapolis, and brawls with the
townspeople were frequent. There
were also duels among the midship-
men, none of which, however, resulted
seriously.
One incident in this connection will
bear telling. Annapolis had an old
theater, said to be the first theater
building in America, and a dramatic
club OF midshipmen obtained the use
Of it. The visits to Annapolis of the
members of this organization were
not reliShed by the citizens and they
found a way of stopping them by
buying the building, having it torn
down and erecting church on the
lot. Anyway, we have furthered the
cause of religion in Annapolis" was
the comment of the leader of the
dramatic club.
Though the Naval School had started
without congressional authority, that
body recognized it the following year
by appropriating $4,000 for its i'm
provement, repairs and for instruc-
ton, and like sum was appropriated
the following year. In 1850 q new
curriculum and code Of regulations
went into effect, and ut the same
Evening star., 1935-09-22

buildings which liberal lawmakers
have provided for the housing and
training of the youths who are to be
the officers of the Nations Navy. II
little interest was taken in the Naval
Academy by members of early Con-
crosses, so that Secretary Bancroft
had to establish it without their au-
thority or help, this cannot be said
of the members of that body in more
recent years. Through their generosity
and far-sightedness have been erected
on the banks of the Severn the greatest
structures in the world devoted to
naval training.
QY SUCCESSIVE additions of land,
~ largely from the City OF Annapolis
and some made" land from the sur
rounding water, the Academy grounds
have enlarged from the few acres that
made up the old Army post to 1874
acres, on which are. located l40 build
ings, representing a total investment
of s28, 900 900. Auxiliary grounds are
for the hospital. rifle range, post
graduate school and dairy farm, bring
ing the real estate attached to the
academy to 855 acres.
The splendid chapel, in the crypt
of which lies the body of John Paul
Jones, the father of the American
Navy, dominates the group OF build
ings. Bancroft Hall, with accommo-
dations for 2,400, the number of mid
shipmen now provided for by law. is
the home of the midshipmen. and is
connected by colonnades on the one
side with Dahlgren Hall, which houses
the department of ordance and gun
nery. and on the other side with Luce
Hall, with the departments OF seaman
ship and navigation and MacDonough
Hall, in which is the department OF
physical training and the gymnasium,
is one Of the largest masonary build
ings in the world, and its front presents
probably the longest continuous ma
sonry facade.
The buildings which contain the
library. laboratories and other equip
ment for the cultural training of the
future officers, recho the great names
of the Navy, many Of their bearers
being alumni of the Naval Academy
They are sherwood Hall, Luce Hall
Dahlgren Hall, Sampson Hall and
Maury Hall, grouped as the Academic
Building; the Marine Engineering
Building and the Electrical Engineer
ing Building. Thompson Stadium, ir
which the big match games Of fool
ball and other sports are played; Hub
Evening star., 1935-09-22

time the name was changed from the
Naval School" to the Naval Acad-
emy'-the name which it has borne
ever since.
The midshipmen stationed at the
Naval Academy took their first Sum-
mer cruise in 1851. The itinerary
covered only a portion of the Chesa-
peake Bay, a 'crab-cruise," as the
midshipmen would call it now. Ninety
midshipmen took the cruise on the
Sloop of war Preble and the small
steamer John Hancock, the squadron
being commanded by Lieut.. T. T.
Craven. The following year the
Preble, again commanded by Lieut..
Craven. carried the midshipmen on
cruise to the West Indies and Ma
deira.
AS measure of safety, the Academy
was removed to Newport, r. l., during
the Civil War. The midshipmen were
taken there on the U. S. S. Consti-
tuition, then stationed at the Academy.
In September, 1865, the midshipmen
were brought back to Annapolis.
where, under the administration of
Admiral David Dixon Porter, as su-
perintendent. the institution took on
new life. Extensive additions and
improvements were made to the
grounds and buildings. the curriculum
broadened and the department of
engineering established, providing a
different course of study from that
for the midshipmen intending to be
line officers.
Admiral Porter also introduced an
honor system, encouraged athletics
and social diversions, such as dancing
and theatricals, and was said to have
changed the Naval Academy from
high school to a college" Under
other superintendents many changes
have taken place to adapt the courses
of studies and teaching methods to
the changing needs of the service pro-
duced by the rapid growth in sci
entific knowledge and the political
development of the United States into
a world power.
TN REGARD to the scholastic and
professional training accomplished
at the Naval Academy, Rear Admiral
David Foote Sellers, the present su-
perintendent, has called attention to
the fact that this institution is called
upon to accomplish in four years
J what 1t ordinarily takes other insti.
Evening star., 1935-09-22

tutions of learning just twice that
time to accomplish-namely, both the
academic and professional training of
the student. He has pointed out
that to prepare for most professions
the student attends college for four
years and the professional school for
a like period.
To obtain the proper balance among
the branches which are taught at the
academy has been the subject OF the
most earnest thought and discussion
among those having the school at
heart, including the officials of the
academy and the Navy, of many mem
bers of Congress and the Navy De-
partment and the members OF the
Official Board of Visitors. which each
year inspects the academy and re-
ports to the President and Congress
upon its needs.
In 1928 the curriculum was con-
siderably revised, greater proportion
of time than before being given to
those subjects termed cultural.
Those branches are now allotted 3l.6
per cent of the whole time given to
scholastic work. Science and mathe-
matics take up 31.2 per cent OF the
time and technical subjects occupy 37.2
per cent. Previously the cultural sub
jects had been given only 2l.6 per cent
of the time.
The activities of the midshipman
outside of his scholastic work are
many and various. There are daily
drills, including at different times In
fantry, Artillery and physical drills
under arms, seamanship, small craft
under oars and sails: ordnance, which
includes rifle and pistol practice; gym
naStics and swimming.
Athletics also is an important ad-
junct to the life of midshipman.
Each one is required to take active
part in some branch of sport. A spe-
cial department. that of physical
training and athletics, supervises the
midshipmen in these lines and they
are highly regarded as an important
form of physical, mental and char
acter training. The Navy's repre-
sentative teams in various lines main
tain a high standing among the col
lege teams.
Extracurricular activities include a
literary club, dramatic club, choir,
glee and musical clubs, dance band,
dances. the publication of the weekly
Log and the annual Lucky Bag, the
Evening star., 1935-09-22

men to "cram" for examinations. In
structors were schoolmasters detailed
from different ships. Attendance by
the midshipmen was voluntary.
The most ambitious attempt at edu-
cation ashore took place in the Phila-
delphia school. The school occupied
the old Naval Asylum. now the Naval
Home. In 1841, there were "a mid
shipmen at this school. The instruc-
tors in the Philadelphia school were
transferred to Annapolis when the
naval school was established there.
On March 4, 1845, George Ban
croft, the historian, became Secre-
tary of the Navy under President
James K. Polk. His biography does
not disclose that he had any close
touch with the Navy or with naval
affairs. He was a New Englander
native of Massachusetts,, patriot
trained in public affairs, and i'm
pressed with the miserable system OF
naval officer education then in vogue
Without waiting for congressional
action, and in spite of the fact that
that body had on several occasions
refused to sanction an institution OF
the kind, Secretary Bancroft estab-
liShed a naval school," laying the
foundations of the present Naval
Academy. He assembled the midship-
men and established a corps of pro-
fessors from the officers and school
masters.
TWO boards of naval officers ap-
= proved the selection of Annapolis
as the seat of the Naval Academy
Secretary Bancroft appointed Comdr
Franklin Buchanan as its first su-
perintendent. OF the seven instructors
who were selected, the names of Profs
William Chauvenet and Henry H
Lockwood and Lieut.. James H. Ward
all from the Philadelphia school
stand out. All were brilliant men.
The school opened with 40 midship.
men in attendance. Commenting or
the opening of the school, the Mary.
land Republican, weekly newspaper
published in Annapolis. said: 1--WE
learn that the school is being organ.
lied with all the rapidity consistent
with methodical arrangement. Tht
various buildings have been repaired
and surprisingly improved. consider.
ing the small expenditure and the
brief time allowed, especially the quar-.
tiers allotted to the midshipmen; and
the professors are busily engaged in
classifying the sailor students agree.
ably to grade, merit and the nature
Evening star., 1935-09-22
By Hugh J. Riley.

~ OCTOBER 10, at Annapolis,
the United States Naval
J Academy will celebrate the
~ ninetieth anniversary, of its
foundation. Development of the in
stitution from small beginnings to its
present status will be the keynote OF
the occasion.
George Bancroft, Secretary of the
Navy under President James K. Polk,
Is rightly called the father Of the
Naval Academy" Secretary Bancroft
in 1845, entirely without authority or
support of Congress, obtained old Fort
Severn at Annapolis from the Army
and established naval school.
AS early as 1900 Secretary of War
James McHenry suggested a compre-
hensive plan for the training of Off
GERS of the United States forces both
on land and sea at military univer-
sity. His plan proposed a "funda-
mental school, school of engineers
and artillerists, school of cavalry and
infantry and school of the Navy" The
Military Academy at West Point was
established two years later under this
plan. but the school of the Navy was
omitted and had to wait more than
40 years before it began operations.
T TP TO 1888, midshipmen were ap-
pointed in uncertain numbers by
the President-taken from private life
with little consideration as to age,
education and fitness for the service
After appointment they were SUBJ
jected to severe and often brutal
discipline at sea, according to the
character of the officers who were over
them, and forced to pick up theil
naval education in almost any way
they could.
There was nothing like prescribed
course leading to commissions, though
the training in the technical side OF
the profession. gained in the hard
school of experience and in morale anc
discipline, were of high order. Still
fine naval officers were trained in this
school.
AS to general subjects, the educa-
tion of the midshipmen was COM
mitted to chaplains or to school
masters" civilians appointed by the
captains. Facilities for training were
inadequate and Interruptions con-
slant. Sometimes a ship carried
neither chaplains nor schoolmaster
The establishment of a school OF
naval instruction ashore was strongly
urged, both by those in and out of the
Navy. There was also a large number
of naval people and civilians who con-
tended that naval education could
take place properly only at sea. These
folk defeated all efforts to establish
O naval school on land.
In 1927, President John Quincy
Adams made strong recommended
ton to Congress that an act bt
passed establishing the naval school
The proposal failed to pass the Senate
by a single vote Supporters of the
institution for educating officers kept
I'D their fight, however, and the pro.
posal was urged by number OF occu'
pants of the position of Secretary Of
the Navy. 1t was also strongly sup.
ported in newspaper articles by the
great geographist, Matthew Fontaine
Maury.
NTAKESHIFT schools had been es-
AVA tablished between the years 1921
and 1898 at Philadelphia, Boston, New
York and Norfolk. These schools were
born within the Navy itself and were
for the purpose Of permitting midship-
Evening star., 1935-09-22

Upper, left: The United States Naval Academy at An
napos in 1875. Upper, right: Air view of the academy
it looks today Extreme left: George Bancroft father
of the Naval Academy. Left, center: The Navy foot
ball squad of 1884. Right CENTER The team of 1884
Extreme right Rear Admiral David Foote Sellers pres
ent superintendent of the Naval Academy Lower lett:
Glass in navigation in 1865. Lower, center: Comdr.
Franklin Buchanan, first superintendent of the Naval
Academy. Lower, right: Naval Academy Chapel.
Evening star., 1935-09-22

~ OCTOBER 10, at Annapolis,
the United States Naval
I Academy will celebrate the
~ ninetieth anniversary, of its
Evening star., 1935-06-22
AirConditioning
Comfort Through Hot Sea.
son for Those Who Heed
Equipment Advice.
nv LAWRENCE TUCKER

ia LIN w As8SANSS n S>0~-@""
The extremely hot weather which
bore down upon the Capital the early
part of the week can certainly be taken
as a. warning that Summer is ready
and waiting to make every one thor
oughly uncomfortable in the very near
future.
Working on the age-old theory that
those who are forewarned are fore
armed we should Immediately take
steps to protect ourselves against the
onslaught of Summer heat.
Residents Of homes equipped with
modern heating plants Of the forced
air type are able to turn on the
electric blowers and circulate cool
basement air throughout the various
rooms. This circulation viii give ade-
quate comfort for the great majority
of people, but 1t Is also possible to
60 q step further and provide definite
cooling equipment.
Coil In Conditioner.
BY the simple method Of placing q
cooling coil in the air conditioner,
and connecting it to either a refrig-
Grafton machine or ice tank, the air
being forced through the house can
be properly cooled and dehumidided.
The equipment required to serve the
entire house is apt to be too expensive
for the person Of average means, but
it Is also practical to cool only those
rooms which will be occupied most,
thereby reducing the size and cost Of
the machinery required.
Houses that are equipped with old
fashioned hot-air systems are easily
converted into pleasantly cool havens
of refuge by installing forced-air
Evening star., 1935-06-22

that 1885 transfers may run from
900 to TOO ahead of the preceding
year. s sEf
Although no record Of new construc-
ton work or improvements Is kept in
any county department, the commits
sioner Of the revenue has declared
that he expects real estate valuations
to show their greatest increase to date
when the new work Is added to the
county assessment books at the end Of
the year.
The commissioner stated that while
building operations began tc assume
marked proportions toward the end Of
last year, yet the increase In valua-
ton this year would hardly reflect the
true amount Of construction work
under way at the close Of 1884, because
buildings are not assessed until they
are completed.
Evening star., 1935-06-22

well water Is available, it may be
pumped through q cooling coil or
spray arrangement and utilized In the
same manner as ice water or refrigera-
ton equipment.
1t is now possible to rent portable
room coolers by the week, month or
Summer season. They utilize ice for
cooling, and 1t is merely necessary to
supply them with q large cake every
day and drain of the water and con-
densate after the ice has melted.
These units may be rolled from one
Evening star., 1935-06-22

blowers on the old furnace, utilizing
the sheet-metal ducts already in place
for the distribution Of the conditioned
air.
Either Of these systems could make
use Of source Of cool air such as
a shaded spot near the house or the
interior Of q nearby well. It would
only be necessary to run an insulated
duct to q place Of that sort so that
the refreshing air could be sucked
into the house by the circulator.
If a quantity Of sufficiently cold
Evening star., 1935-06-22
FAIRFAX BUILDING
|NSMOMENTUM
New Construction Starting
Daily, and Realty Trans
ferS Keep Pace.
gpecial pigpatch 70 The star.

Special Dispatch 70 The star.
FAIRFAX, Va, June 22.-With
every indication Of continuing for
some time, Fairfax County's building
boom, described as the greatest in its
history, continues with new construc-
ton work being started daily.
Keeping pace with the rapidly ex-
panding building operations, real
estate transfers likewise are far ahead
Of the same period last year. Records
Of the local county clerk reveal that
through June 20, this year, 1929
deeds and deeds Of trust had been
recorded against LOTT to the same
date In 1894, an increase Of 312.
May Record Large.
For the month Of May alone, such
recordings were 81 ahead Of the same
month last year, o boost from 1888 In
1894, to ass IN 1885. It Is estimated
Evening star., 1935-06-22

Members Of the Washington Real
Estate Board enjoyed q day Of fun
and frolic at the Congressional
Country Club Tuesday.
Upper left: Lee D. Latimer, for
mer president Of the Real Estate
Board, having a rest.
Upper right: J. w. Cumming has
Just tossed q horseshoe, and A. N.
Miller Is awaiting his turn. Miller
was chairman Of the horseshoe
contest.
Below: Garfield Kass safe at
third base In the builders-brokers
game. Star Stan Pnoto.
Evening star., 1935-06-22

place to another and will keep the oc-
cupants Of an average-sized room very
comfortable.
These deyices should find wide
Evening star., 1935-06-22

spread use IN hospitals where patients
are made even more uncomfortable
by the heat If they are compelled to
lie In bed continuously.
The Washington times., 1935-08-19
Will Reside
In Capital

OF interest to WaShingtonian
will be the marriage tomorrow
in Pittsburgh, Pa, of Miss Mary
Eleanor Comes, daughter Of
Mrs. John T. Comes, Of Pitts
burgh, and the late Mr.. Comes.
to Mr.. James Mention Maloney,
of this city and Boston, Mass,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. James T.
Maloney, of Boston. The mar
riage will be solemnized at $50
o'clock at st. Paul's Cathedral
and will be followed by a wed.
ding breakfast at the home Of
the brides mother for members
of the immediate families and
a few close friends.
Miss Comes has been a fire.
quent visitor in Washington.
where she visits to be the guest
of her brother-in-law and sister,
Mr.. and Mrs. William Randolph
Winslow, who make their home
at 1922 @ st. She is a former
student of Trinity College in
Washington and has attended
school in Pisa, Italy, the Gren-
oble in France, and oxford Uni
versity in England. Mr.. Maloney
is a graduate Of Harvard Uni
versity and is a member of the
Harvard Club, Boston.
Bride to Wear Ice Green
The bride has chosen a frock
of ice green lace for her wed.
ding gown and with it will wear
a shoulder-length veil of the
same lace. She will carry a
white leather prayer book, the
gift ofthbreed-i cmfwy shrd cm1
gift of the bride-groom's father.
Sprays of orange blossoms, sent
from California by her uncle
Mr.. George Ellis, will mark the
prayer book. Mrs. Everett Clo-
rams Of Bridgeport, Conn.,, will
be the brides only attendant
and will wear a frock of bois de
rose chiffon with matching &C.
cessories. Mr.. Maloney will have
as best man, Mr.. Wallace M.
Rogerson, of this city.
Following the wedding break
fast, the young couple will leave
for a motor trip to Canada and
will make their home in George
town on their return.
Mr.. Maloney and his parents
and sister, Miss Miriam Ma
loney, who visited with him in
Washington during the past
week. accompanied by Mr.. Rog-
erson, left on Saturday for
Pittsburgh
The Washington times., 1935-08-19

the household of the Ambas-
sador of Cuba, Senor DR..
Guillermo Patterson y de
Jauregui.
Even though Washington
takes on the appearance Of a
deserted village in the sum-
mertime, one very lively and
popular person who perforce
remains in town and enjoys
it is the genial Representa-
tive from the Golden Gate,
Florence Kahn. She was
glimpsed at luncheon with
Representative and Mrs.
Harry Ransley Of Philadel-
phia and Mr.. A. G. Matte,
of San Francisco, all of
whom are fellow Mayflower-
er-ers. Mrs. Kahn had OF a
cool costume of gun metal
sheer crepe, and a small
black turban Of straw
trimmed on the left side
with a touch Of pale pink.
Mrs. Ransley was attired in
pink, which she wears so
well.
From the enthralled ex-
pressions upon the other
three faces, the lady from
the West, who is famed for
her storytelling ability, must
have been telling another
amusing incident.
4 II
Intrepid Amelia Earhart
1Uhile visiting at the Cap
itol learned of the tragic
deaths of Wiley Post and
Will Rogers. She had gone
Over there to see some of
her friends and 1UGs 9UeGr-
ing a brouUn silk suit aUitb
a 1Vhite polka dot, and her
brimmed strGW hat had a
band of brO1Un.
The Washington times., 1935-08-19
z09Q1l Topics
MISS MARTHA ALLEN
Grade Marx RegiSt0radI

Kendall and Dorothy Ban
ming, until recently "of
Washington" but now es-
tablished in their pictur-
esque home in Old Lyme,
Conn.-the name of that
town has always had a par
ticular fascination for me
are right in the middle Of
a celebration. Old Lyme is
having it's tercentenary and
all Of the houses have pla-
cards telling when they
were built, the ladies of the
community are dressing in
old fashioned costumes and
the townsfolk are attempt
ing to do old fashioned
things. Dorothy writes that
she is happy to say they
didn't ask her to wear a
sign bearing her own date.
Billy, the Bannings bril-
liant son, after receiving
honors at Fort Adams, New
port, has gone to West
Point. all enthused about
embarking on a career in
the Army.
Mrs. Arthur D. Smith,
jr., Who with Mr.. Smith
has a charming home out
ON the East-West High-
way, is visitimg Mrs. John
Gardiner, jr, of Brym
MaoOr, Pa., at the summer
home of the latter's mother,
Mrs. Tremchard Emlem
NeaUbold, at Watch Hill,
r. I. Mrs. Ne1Vbold 1Uill
return this week from a
North Cape cruise.
Teddy is a very delightful
creature. He has a way of
putting his head on one side
and regarding new acquaint-
ances with his deep brown
eyes that is most fetching.
He is ten years old and in
spite of his having first seen
the light of day in the Brit
ish Isles, does not have any
decided accent. It was just
ten years ago that a fat little
chow puppy, with just loads
of personality and appeal,
was adopted by the Patter-
sons, who were then in Lon
don. Thus it is that Teddy is
a very prominent member of
sCHO0T0 Ann COTTTnTS