CHAPTER XXX
GRADUATION
The annual examinations commenced the next morning and lasted throughoutthe week. It was a time of apprehension to some, of exultation toothers, and of tremendous interest to all; for these examinations,averaged in with the previous records made in daily recitations andmonthly examinations, were to determine the class rank of eachmidshipman. The examinations were written; they began at eight o'clockeach morning and lasted till one. In the afternoons hundreds ofmidshipmen were to be seen streaming through the pleasant grounds of theNaval Academy, many of them accompanied by pretty girls who seemed tothink that the institution's chief purpose was to provide them withpleasant times. For though the examinations took all of the mornings, inthe afternoons were teas, launch parties and impromptu dances. And happywere the midshipmen who were without fear of failure, and so couldafford these social pleasures. There were other midshipmen who, not sofortunate, with puckered brows and worried faces, feverishly worked attheir books, and among these was Harry Blunt.
The week passed quickly, and at its close Robert Drake knew he wouldgraduate fifth in his class. That Stonewell would graduate first hadlong been a foregone conclusion. The Blunt family were now out ofsuspense and knew that Harry had passed, his application to his studiesin these last days being well rewarded.
Graduation week came, and with it the Annual Board of Visitors, who aresupposed to make a serious investigation of the Naval Academy in all ofits parts. And for one week the midshipmen are required to show offtheir various accomplishments.
On Monday morning, the midshipmen as a brigade of infantry passed inreview before the Board of Visitors, and Robert Drake, commanding thefirst company, felt proud indeed as he snapped out the order, justbefore he reached the reviewing stand, of:
"First company--eyes right!"
After dismissal the midshipmen rushed into their working clothes anddispersed into different shops, and great was the hammering in theblacksmith and boiler shops as the Board marched through. In this weekof each year the Naval Academy is on official exhibition for this wiseBoard. And for its benefit sham battles are fought, young men scramblealoft on antiquated sailing ships and feverishly loose and make sail,haul on buntlines, clewlines, sheets and braces. They are mustered inthe different class rooms and the Board sees them at the blackboard,pointer in hand, in the act of explaining an intricate valve motion toan earnest lieutenant. What the Board does not see is the alacrity withwhich pointer, blackboard and room are abandoned as soon as the Boardhas passed on.
So this week there were, as there always is at graduation time, samplemachine shop drills, gunnery drills, electrical drills, steam enginedrills--and many others. And the tired, earnest, hard-working Board wasmarched through it all at a lively pace. This Board was composed ofstatesmen, professional men, and business men of establishedreputation; but it is not certain that any of them knew the differencebetween a Stephenson link of an engine and the club link of an anchorchain. However, they worked hard and wrote a voluminous report of fiftyprinted pages, which, covered with dust, is lying with fifty othersimilar reports in a pigeonhole at the Navy Department.
On Wednesday occurred the great day for Helen Blunt. At ten in themorning she was in the receiving stand gowned beautifully in simplewhite, and carrying a huge bunch of American Beauty roses.
Soon martial music was heard, and then the brigade of midshipmen was tobe seen across the parade ground, marching with its precise militarystride. Then loud vibrating orders were carried to the ears of tenthousand spectators and bugles rang out their harsh notes. In exactunison the seven hundred midshipmen, who had been in column of squads,wheeled into line, and marched steadily to the front until they werewithin a hundred paces of the reviewing stand, where they halted. In thecentre of the long line were the colors, unfolded and waving to thebreeze.
"Color guard to the front," was the vibrant order from Cadet CommanderStonewell.
"First company to the front and centre," followed immediately.
The old color guard with the colors marched slowly to the front, and onthe right of the line some quick, jerky orders were heard, and the firstcompany broke from the line and came marching toward the centre of thebrigade.
Thousands of spectators now saw a pretty ceremony. A young girl steppedfrom the receiving stand and advanced toward the waiting color guard;the Academy colors were handed to her, and the ex-color guard was thenmarched off.
Helen did not remain alone for many moments, but for an instant a prettypicture was presented on the drill grounds. A beautiful girl, carryingin one arm a huge bunch of red roses, and in the other steadying theglorious colors of the Naval Academy, standing alone, facing sevenhundred blue-coated statues. But in a moment another color guardapproached, the color guard of the company judged to have won theflag. And with it marched the captain of the company, Cadet LieutenantDrake.
_IT MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY PRETTY SPEECH_]
The new color guard halted a few feet in front of Helen, and then Robertstepped forward.
The air was very still save for the robins chirping to their young. Anabsolute hush fell over the many thousand spectators. It was evidentthat the young lady was presenting the flag, and was making a speech tothe captain of the winning company. But so far away she was, and sosoftly she spoke, that none heard her words; that is, none save RobertDrake and the new color guard. But people said it must have been a verypretty speech. After apparently saying a few words, Helen seemedsuddenly to pick up the colors and fairly throw them into the hands ofCadet Lieutenant Drake.
"Wasn't that pretty?" was an exclamation made by many of the onlookers.
"You have done very well, Mr. Drake," faltered Helen; "your company hasdone splendidly. Oh--I had a good speech made up, but I've forgottenall about it! Father wants you to come to dinner to-night--he has asurprise for you--oh, dear, what am I talking about? Won't this do?Haven't I said enough?--Oh, take the flag!" and Helen threw it atRobert.
The next day the papers said that Miss Helen Blunt had made an eloquentlittle speech of well chosen words when presenting the colors to CadetLieutenant Drake, but of that one may judge for himself.
"Thank you," said Robert, simply and gravely, taking the colors andhanding them to his color sergeant; "the first company is honored."
And then Stonewell, in clear ringing tones shouted:
"Three cheers for the girl who has presented the colors."
"Hurrah--hurrah--hurrah!" rang out in perfect unison from over sevenhundred young throats.
Then Cadet Lieutenant Sam Blair stepped to the front and proposed,"Three cheers for the winning company, and its cadet lieutenant," whichwere heartily given.
"What's the surprise, Helen?" asked Robert that evening at seven o'clockas he entered the Blunt house.
"I won't tell you; you must find out for yourself," replied Helenhappily; "come into the drawing-room."
"Mother--father--oh, what a happy surprise," cried Robert a momentlater. "Captain Blunt, you have had my mother and father come to mygraduation!" Indeed Robert could hardly speak for sheer joy.
"Yes, Robert," said Mr. Drake, "Captain Blunt has asked us to visit himfor your last days, and here we are; we thought to give you a happysurprise."
It had been many years since Mr. Drake had visited Annapolis. He vividlyrecalled his own midshipman days, the joyful strife and the friendlyrivalry. These had long passed, but he found classmates and many oldnavy friends with whom to renew old scenes and almost forgotten times.
The first class german took place that night in the Armory, and onlyfirst classmen and their chosen partners went on the floor. Thesemidshipmen had donned for the occasion their new white officeruniforms, and the young ladies all wore pure white dresses with ribbonsof old gold. Stonewell led, and with him, radiant with happiness, wasNellie Strong. The first classmen, seventy in number, were all present.
On the balcony overhead were thousands of visitors enjoying the pretty,novel figures made by the handsome couples on t
he floor below.
The next night the evening promenade concert occurred. The grounds weremade bright with numbers of lighted Japanese lanterns hung among thetrees. The Naval Academy band played beautifully, and Robert, walkingbetween his father and mother, followed the crowd of happy promenaders,talking of his four years within the Academy walls, of the difficultieshe had had, and of the friends and good fortune that had come to him.
And the following day was Robert's graduation.
The brigade was formed with the band on the right; next came the firstclassmen about to be graduated, without arms. Then came the brigade,with rifles, the temporarily appointed cadet officers of the secondclass wearing swords. Soon the brigade marched off with slow measuredtread to the chapel, the band playing all the way that tune, full of joyto midshipmen's ears, of: "Ain't I glad to get out of the wilderness?"It finally had a special meaning to the young men about to receive theirdiplomas. In the chapel the chaplain, dear to generations of midshipmen,made an eloquent, heartfelt prayer, and then the superintendentdelivered a short address.
"Young gentlemen," he began, "your lives in the navy are now to begin inearnest. You have been here for four years, surrounded by a navalatmosphere, and drilled in those things required of our naval officers.From now on your work will be on familiar lines, but yet there will be agreat difference. Here, at the Naval Academy, if you make a mistake inyour navigation work, you will receive a low mark. Aboard ship you willdo the same exact kind of navigation, but if you make a mistake you maycause a ship and hundreds of lives to be lost. The great difference isthat in the outside naval service you are at all times under greatresponsibilities; here your responsibilities have been but slight.Here, if you drill well, your company may win the Academy colors, andthat is what many of you have worked for. Aboard ship, if the enlistedmen under you do not drill well, it will be your fault, and it will meanyour men do not shoot accurately, that your engines are inefficient,that your ship is neither an honor to the flag, nor could an admiraldepend upon it in battle when the interests of your country were atstake.
"Here you have been under instruction. You have for long years beendrilled in the duties of the private in the ranks, of the fireman at thefurnace, of the machinist at the lathe, of the electrician at theswitchboard, of the gun pointer in the turret, of the helmsman at thewheel--there is no duty that an enlisted man can be called upon to doaboard ship that you have not been drilled in at this institution. But,besides this, you have designed steam and electric engines, and builtthem with your own hands in the shops; you have gone deeply into themathematics of natural law and can not only operate a machine, but youcan design it and build it.
"Gentlemen, you have been under a most expensive instruction here, forwhich, as yet, you have rendered no return.
"You are now splendidly equipped for your life-work in the navy. Youwill find that aboard ship your principal duties will be the instructionof enlisted men. You were gathered here, not only that you personallymight become accomplished officers, but that you might receiveinstruction for the purpose of imparting it to others. You must provethat the earnest efforts spent upon you have not been wasted. You mustapply full benefit of the training you have here received to theenlisted men who will soon be in your charge, or else the purpose ofthis institution has failed.
"We expect to hear good reports of you; we are proud of you, but we willknow our confidence in you is not misplaced when we hear that your gunsshoot straight, your engines steam well, and that the enlisted men underyou are contented and believe in you. When we hear that we will becontent, for we will know our work here has produced results.
"For a last word, never forget the glorious record made by our navy inevery war; and may it enter your hearts that you all have a special dutyto do your utmost to keep bright our naval history."
As the superintendent sat down the choir sang:
"God be with you till we meet again."
The midshipmen were now marched out and formed a line near the bandstand, the graduating class in front of the brigade, who stood at "Orderarms." The superintendent and other officials proceeded to the bandstand; the superintendent studied his watch anxiously. "He should behere now," he remarked. "Ah, there is the carriage." The carriage helooked for stopped on the walk in front of the band stand, and RobertDrake's heart thumped when he saw who got out of it.
A rather thick-set, not overtall, fair complexioned gentleman jumped outof the carriage. Everybody about glanced with much interest at him, andall hats came off.
"I couldn't help being late; I had much to do this morning," remarkedthe gentleman; "did you receive my telegram, admiral?"
"Yes, Mr. President, and we went right ahead," replied thesuperintendent; "but you are in time to give out the diplomas."
"Good."
Stonewell's name was the first called out to come up for his diploma. Astorm of applause broke forth from his classmates and friends as thiserect, manly young officer approached the President. Cheer after cheergreeted him, for by this time Stonewell was appreciated outside as wellas inside of the Academy.
The President shook Stonewell's hand warmly and handed him his diplomawith a smile, saying, "We all know you, Mr. Stonewell; I feel likejoining in that cheer myself."
Farnum came up next, then Sewall, then Ryerson, and all receivedgenerous cheers. Then the name Drake was called. Tumultuous shouts andapplause now broke loose. Robert was liked and respected by the entirebrigade, but as the captain of the winning company in the flagcompetition he had sixty devoted champions in ranks who were not willingthat any graduating midshipman should receive more applause than theirown popular cadet lieutenant.
Robert's father and mother in front seats were filled with happy pridethat their son should graduate so high in his class, and with suchvociferous evidence of warm regard. And then a strange thing happened, alittle incident that overwhelmed not only Mr. and Mrs. Drake withamazement, but also thousands of spectators.
When the name Drake was called, the most famous man in the world of hisday left the platform where he had been standing, and rapidly approachedRobert, meeting him half way. He greeted him warmly, and said: "Mr.Drake, one of the reasons that induced me to come to Annapolis to-daywas to have the pleasure of personally handing you your diploma. Thesuperintendent has told me your father and mother are present. Are theyclose at hand?"
"Just in front, sir."
"Present me, please."
The President said to them, "Mr. and Mrs. Drake, I am delighted to meetyou. I congratulate you on your son. I am proud of him. A year ago atthis time he rendered signal service to his country."
In this way the President of the United States showed that his formerlyexpressed appreciation had not been lightly forgotten, and thus hepublicly performed an act of kindly recognition.
That their son should be so wonderfully honored filled Robert's fatherand mother with a deep happiness that outweighed all other thoughts, andthey were much affected by the President's attention.
One by one the remaining members of the graduating class received theirdiplomas and a hearty handshake from the President; and soon thegraduation was over.
But one more scene occurred in Robert's life as a midshipman atAnnapolis. That night the much talked of graduating ball, given to hisclass, was held. The great Armory was beautifully decorated with flowersand plants, and in between and overhead were flags and buntingtastefully arranged. And on the floor were beautiful girls and manlyyoung men.
"It has been a wonderful life to me, Helen," said Robert to his partner;"as I look back it seems that I never lived until I entered Annapolis.I've had glorious times; my life has been full of hard work, but theresults give me intense satisfaction. And besides the work, there hasbeen almost complete contentment; it is so satisfactory to work hard andwork successfully. And in addition to all this are the friendships thathave come to me, that of you, and your family, Stonewell and others."
"Yes, Robert," replied Helen wistfully, with half a sigh; "all this
isso, but to-morrow you are to leave us for those dreadful PhilippineIslands, and how we shall all miss you! That is the sad thing aboutnaval friendships; we enjoy them daily and deeply for a short time andthen suddenly our dear friends are torn from us and we do not see themfor years. And then--oh, then things are changed and nothing ever seemsso happy and bright as it once was," and Helen's voice trembled and hereyes filled as she thought these happy days could not continue.
"Helen, you will let me write to you, won't you? And you will answer myletters?"
"Oh, yes," replied Helen sadly.
"And, Helen, I am coming back to you, just as I am now; nothing canchange the thoughts that are part of me."
Helen suddenly looked at Robert and a glorified beauty shone from hereyes. They walked slowly around the Armory satisfied just to be witheach other. And a beautiful content rested upon them.
Other Books in this Series are
AN ANNAPOLIS PLEBEAN ANNAPOLIS YOUNGSTERAN ANNAPOLIS SECOND CLASSMAN
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends