Second CLiss After the month's leave they take up their' ife at the academy as second.elass men and new begie to take up the study,or professional subjects. In the de partment of mathematics they study Mechanics and hydromecitanics. They c6rIthillt the' study of Englials, French and Spanish 'treed begin the study of ordnance, navigationand and magnetism and lay. the fousdatioa for engineering in studying the of •ech anism with marine engines and berthas: The practical work continues thitiag the 'drill pe riod and has advanced that the midshipmen are well prepared for the pro fessional subjects of this and the following year. This is their last practice cruise and by far the, most important one, as they are now carefully instructed in their duties as officers. They are required to perform the work of officers at sea in handling the ship and manag ing the motive power, both' steam and sail. They must work hard at practical navigation with instruments and charts. In their last year as first-class Men they continue the study of French and Spanish, while the periods assigned to English are devoted to public speaking and during the first term they have a course in physiology'and hygiene. All other soidies ate prufeSsional. They have seamanship and naval tactics, orcinante and gunnery, navigation, com pass deviations and surveying, engmeering mate rials, designing and naval and electrical engineering. The practical work goes hand in hand with the theoretical during the drill period. The first class are the o6hcers of the regiment of midshipmen and under supervision•perform much of the work of offi cers.
Athletics.— To discuss the training of mid shipmen at the Naval Academy Without men tioning athletics would be to leave out a most important factor in their Character training_ Boating, football, baseball, fencing, track ath letics and gymnasium work are all encouraged. The various competitive games are a source of amusement to all and of healthy exercise to many. Courage and skill ate gained and self denial must be practised by those silo train foe the various sports and athletics furnishes One of the most important aith in training a youth to become an officer.
Academy Buildings.— In 1895 was com menced a new and improved plan of construc tion and reorganization of the school buildings at Annapolis. The new buildings are largely
due to the efforts of two men — the superin tendent at that time, Cat. Philip H. Cooper, now rear-admiral, and Col. R. M. Thompson, who graduated in 1868 and was in 1895 a mem ber of the board of visitors. The board rec ommended the rebuilding of the Naval Acad emy and the energy of these two men pressed the scheme upon the government. The depart ment was induced to order a board to consider and recommend a comprehensive plan for all the necessary buildings and Colonel Thompson persuaded the New York architect, Ernest Flagg, to consult with the board and with Cap tain Cooper. A set of artistic plans resulted, recommended by the board and approved by the department. But the Spanish War inter fered and it was not till 1898 that an appropri ation became available and the cornerstone of the new armory was laid by Rear-Adm. F. V. McNair, who had succeeded Captain Cooper as superintendent. The plan as viewed from the sea front shows the midshipmen quarters extending 729 feet, flanked on one side by the armory and on the other by the gymnasium. These buildings are at right angles to the direction of the midshipmen's quarters, are 428 feet long and similar in appearance. They are connected by colonnades with the quarters. This gives from the sea a harmonious group of buildings extending in a northeast and southwest direction for 1,278 feet with the high roof of the main building of the midship men's quarters as a centre. Thirteen hundred feet in a northwest direction, with the main line of buildings parallel to and facing the first group, is the academic building with the chem istry and marine engineering buildings on either flank and with the high roof of the academic building in the centre and balancing the group to the southeast. Between these two groups, facing the Severn River and forming the west side of the rectangle, is the chapel with the superintendent's house and the administration building on either side. The fourth side of the rectangle is formed by the basin. From the steps of this basin and facing the chapel is the best view. On either hand is a handsome group of buildings with the dome of the chapel as the centre. The new buildings involved an out lay of approximately $10,000,000.