Show r rr r Student Life at Annapolis II By STEPHEN W. W WALLACE I The life of a midshipman at the Naval Academy has been treated by various writers and from many different standpoints Yet all of f these articles have dealt largely with w e tw 4 K r 9 OR ORthe the routine work of a midshipman which is in fact his very existence However he frequently gets glimpses glimp glimp- ses of the pleasant side of life and it is is' is my purpose purpose after giving a brief outline of his routine life to tell tel something of the class organizations the hops and the athletic spirit which exists at the school At six o'clock in the morning re reveille reveille re- re is blown and the midshipman has until six thirty-five thirty to get up wash dress and get to breakfast t I I formation Breakfast lasts until about seven fifteen after which we have until seven five fifty-five to make makeup up our beds and clean the rooms The first hour class is now sounded and recitation lasts until twelve twenty and is followed by dinner formation at twelve twenty Dinner is over a little after one and then comes a short breathing spell which is followed by recitation work until 3 30 and drill until 5 oo 00 An hour and anda fa half of leisure fol fol- lows This time is generally use used in working the athletic teams into shape Supper formation comes at six thirty and is followed by a study period which lasts until nine thirty The next half hour may be spent by bythe bythe bythe the midshipman as he pleases but most of them turn in before that time It is during this half hour that most class meetings meeting are held and during the football season it is often devoted to the practice of songs and yells During their freshman or fourth clas class year the midshipmen have no class organization but they may be called together by permission of the superintendent As a matter of fact the superintendent has to be notified of all class meetings During the latter part of their first year the plebs hold a number of such meetings meetings meetings meet meet- ings and agree on a class crest This class crest is placed on the class writing paper the class ring an anany and any other nov novelty the class may se se- lect This is the only action taken by the fourth class Shortly after their return from leave the now a 1 third class meets and elects class officers officers officers of of- and and members to act on the midshipman's athletic and hop com com- The class officers consist of ofa a president a secretary and treasurer treasurer treas treas- mer combined in one who are elected elected elected elect elect- ed for the remainder of the course This year for the first time the class has a football team a baseball team and tries to frame up a class yell or song A class novelty such as a pipe is usually selected youngster year and the following year a class ring is chosen All rates or regulations are made by th the first classmen through their president and with him they settle all troubles arising between the low lower r classmen Such in brief are the class organizations of the school Societies there are none and consequently the school and the various classes are not split up into factions Another matter of interest interest interest inter inter- est is the class supper which is usually usually usually us us- held at Washington just before before before be be- fore going or returning from leave Athletics at the school are strongly strong strong- ly supported by midshipmen and officers alike The football season begins on return from leave early in October The candidates for positions positions positions po po- are very numerous last year we had a regular squad of forty and even more are expected this year Most of the practice is done between between between be be- tween five and six thirty but before an important game the members of the teams are often excused from drill for practice I It t is wonderful the brilliant teams which are turned out by this small amount of train train- ing The baseball season opens as soon as the weather permits The candidates candidates candidates can can- for positions are almost as numerous as those for places on the football team The thinning down process is very effective and after j di I 1 t 51 i 7 9 two or three week less than a couple couple couple cou cou- of dozen remain of t the fifty or sixty aspirants Competition for places on the crew and track team is also very intense N Now ow the question arises How does the brigade of midshipmen support the teams and the answer is is' given with all possible spirit During the football season the midshipmen midshipmen midshipmen mid mid- spend many an afternoon out on the bleachers practicing football football football foot foot- ball yells and songs of which there are new ones every year Moreover Moreover Moreover More More- over football meetings are held in inthe inthe inthe the evening when coaches and captain captain captain cap cap- tain speak The meeting ends with an outburst of yells and songs When a game is played every midshipman midshipman midshipman mid mid- shipman is found on the bleachers and continuous yelling and singing marks the course of the game Every fellow feels it his duty to support the team and to support it with his whole soul The first second and third classes each h have ve their football and baseball baseball baseball base base- ball teams Class games are played and are the occasion of a nat good up mix-up between classes Each team is strongly supported and the the players are urged on by class yells class songs and natured good-natured chaff Such a thing as a fight class is impossible impossible impossible im im- possible as order must be maintained maintained maintained main main- under all ll conditions Moreover Moreover Moreover More More- over the senior classmen may report report report re re- port and it is their duty to do so any lower classmen to the authorities authorities authorities ties if order is not kept The midshipman's social life consists consists con con- principally of hops given fortnightly fortnightly fort fort- nightly during luring the school year except except except ex ex- during Lent The ladies come from Annapolis Washington Baltimore Baltimore Bal Bal- and other near-by near towns The big social event of the year is the graduation ball at which time the fellows have their sisters and ti 3 a y J. J lady friends There being no classes classes' the week of this this hop the mid midshipmen ship ship- l' l men have more time to spend with their friends and take them out sailing sailing sailing sail sail- ing or go for a stroll around the grounds Saturday afternoon the midshipman is at liberty provided he lie is not on grades to go up town or to spend the time as he pleases During the football season there is generally a game and if so he can be found on the athletic field Sunday afternoons are spent in the rooms asleep out sailing or walking The library is open and many spend the time reading Before closing a word or two may be said about the way in which the Ns NV for the various positions are given The football N is yellow and is awarded by the athletic committee committee committee com com- to any man who has played on a winning team this team this means the team must have been victorious inthe in inthe inthe the West Point game A yellow star is also given for every game played with West Point in which the navy is victorious The baseball baseball base base- ball N is white and is awarded by the athletic committee The crew N is red and is awarded to members members mem mem- bers of a victorious crew The track N is green and is given to any man breaking any Academy record in a track meet The fencing fencing fenc fenc- s ing N is gr grey y and is given to members of the fencing team To sum stem it all up there is a class organization among the students but societies are excluded We have football baseball fencing and track teams and a crew Every team has numerous applicants many of whom are willing to sacrifice their chances of high class standing to play Some do not miss bilging very far though a man who is un sat is not permitted to play on a team Every team is firmly supported supported supported sup sup- ported by the brigade and for the amount of training they get our teams do wonders V I I 4 |