The sun. [volume], July 18, 1915, FIFTH SECTION SPECIAL FEATURE MAGAZINE, Page 4, Image 45

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i
THE SUN, SUNDAY, JULY 18, 1915.
HAZING PROBLEM
AT NAVAL ACADEMY
AND ITS HISTORY
Difficulty of Detection Due to Point
of Honor of "Plebes" Not to
Betrav Their Persecutors.
MARJORIE STINSON. THE YOUNGEST WOMAN AEROPLANE PILOT1
'HAT arc you doing with
those red eyes?" asked
friend In Annapolis of a
fourth classman. "Why
I tiavo been under the ithower ImUd
tourteen times In one day nnd had ib
go to bed In wet pajamas!" i
This is supplemented hy the ex
perience of Midshipman Tliomnn 1.
Wynkoop; .Ir.. of Ohio, who wns made
to stand on his head In the , Naval
clan, forced to the wall, oaMldered
rebellion. Tlioy would have had the
delighted Country behind th'em, but
the fact that they would be "put on
the pap" and were In danger of not
graduating deterred them. When h
midshipman la placed on the morning
report for n violation of regulations
tho word of tho midshipmen In an
official capacity Is taken against tho
explanation bf the accused. Ho rigorous
Academy, upper class 'curriculum of'"8 ,ne course of tho Naval Academy
educating the "plebes," a course for- ,,mt .vt,ir fd yearn ago an officer
hidden by academic regulations nnd
act of Congress, so many times that
he 'fell unconscious and. had to be
taken to the' sickbay for treatment.
Now "standing on the head" In
midshipman .parlance Is not the usual
gymnastic performance of altering
the posture of nature, but consists In
the performer getting down on all
fours and kicking up both leg In
tie air as fast as he can. There
must be no relaxation or the actor
will receive a rude reminder to pro
ceed with tho exercises. On the 150th
or 200th time the victim is near to,
or does, collapse, as did Midshipman
Wynkoop.
Tho plebes aro not allowed after a
day of strenuous work In the "setting
up drill," "at nrs," Infantry tactics
or gymnasium exercises to eat In peace.
They aro made to sit at the table
on tho edge of their chalra. throw
back their shoulders nnd bo erect
as ramrods and eat. If they un
bend for a" moment an upper class
roan will call to them: "Ilrace up!"
One midshipman was required to sit
up with a tumbler of wnter on his
head and eat his meal In this awk
ward position. Then tho "plebes" are
required to tell stories, nt the end
of which they are told by their "su
perior ofllcer" an upper classman
that that "story was rotten." If this
does not furnish enough amusement
for tho "gentlemen nt the table" the
plebes are required to get under the
table and finish their meal
These Incidents have nil occurred
In tho brief life of the new fourth
classman, whose practical organiza
tion began about n month ago and
Is not yet completed. The masters
of the ring, In which the "plebes"
pave their show, were upper classmen
quartered at Bancroft Hall for being
on the sick list, midshipmen In attend
ance on tho court of Inquiry Into the
theft of examination papers and others
on leave from tho practice squadron.
They have paid dear for their mis
chief, some In not going on the prac
tice cruise, being left behind to answer
charges, and others will In, tho. end
be dismissed from the navy.
Even midshipmen of the next grad
uating class have !ecn caught In the
meshes. One of the midshipmen now
on trial before the board of lnvestl
gMlon appointed by near Admiral
on duty tliero said, "No midshipman
would ever graduate If every Infringe
ment of regulations was counted
against him.
Discipline. Is difficult because It
maintenance Is assailed by the "rates,"
customs and usages among the mid
shipmen that take the place of
academic rules, naval regulations and
the Iawb of Congress.- The first class
lays down tho rules,- nnd all classes
are expected and are required to, obey
the unwritten law even though it flies
In the fact of regulations. A "first
class rate" Is that a first class man
must not report another first class
man for violation of regulations.
Several years ago two midshipmen
on a Saturday nftemoon when the
corps had their recreation period rode
bicycles to (Menton. fourteen miles
from Annapolis, boarded a train nnd
went to Washington. Thnt afternoon
Assistant Secretary of tho Navy
Hockctt was on business at the
academy and after finishing his duties
asked to see one of these two midship
men, with whom he was personally
acquainted. The midshipman could
not be located. Tho authorities
thought It very strange, because the
department of discipline Is expected to
put Its tlnger on any midshipman at
a moment's notice.
A special Investigation followed that
resulted In the detection of the es
capade. It could only have happened
by some mdshlpman who was on duty
falling to report the absence of the
two delinquent midshipmen. He was
found. Then ho boldly told jhe
academic authorities that he would
not report a classmate. That is a
"rato" among the midshipmen stood
higher with him than his duty to the
academy.
Not so with Richmond Pearson Hob
snn no "rates" kept him from the
performance of his duty. It was said
of him. "He would report his room
mate." if It was his duty to do so.
Many good rules and "rates" obtain,
but others that find their way Into
"tho code" are ridiculous.
Following Is a set of rules for
plebes:
"No plebe must walk In lover's
lane unless ho has his mother, with
him.
"Only first and second class men
may sit on tho benches on tho main
wolk, first clans men on the northwest
bench nnd second class men on the
northeast one.
"lltit. Vvjf' pppppppppppppppk! C '. ' feEllo
I aPaPaPaW .J&OPaPaPaPaPaPaPaPaPaPam,l I 'PPW H.'S'
upppk mm
Marjorie Stinson.
TO Miss Marjorie Stinson, known
among the aeronauts as the
"baby avlatrlce," belongs the
distinction of being the only woman
to become a member of the United
States Aviators Reserve. She still has
another distinction. She Is the young-;
est woman In the world to pilot an
aeroplane. I
Miss Stinson became a full fledged I
flier last August, and has been recog-1
nlzed as auch by the Aero Club of
America, which has granted her
regular license. She has followed
the footsteps of her sister. Miss Kath-
erlne Stinson, who won her degreo
two years ago. The elder sister went
to San Antonio. Tex., where she con
ducted a school of aerogautlcs and
totd the school children about aero
planes. The Stinson sisters are the best
known women filers In this country
at present, as the pioneers have either j
Nearer view of the youngest girl aviator.
Above Katherine Stinson at the wheel of her machine.
met with fatal accidents or given up nnd hairbreadth escapes. Miss Harriet
the adventure after exciting moments jQulmby, the first woman nvlator of
Plebes must not look at the bul- invthlna- but a nleasure. end ronsn-
letln boards of the upper class men. quently auch an Inquiry was a great
Plebes . when ordered must wind offence and would cprialnlv h nun.
up tho clocks of upper class men. ghed when the unner class men re-
"Plebcs must not 'fuss' with the I turned to the Nnvnl Amrtemv.
'rlSa I Trt .h.t. .tin HUM, I !.
:lW".:,V,lr8 1 he bes.h'nnds: married or
In .Bancroft Hall close to tha wall.
'"Ptenea must;-not look upper class
men in.ina race.
Kullam, U. S. X.. superintendent of .7, " .
Ihn Vwi! An.it.mv I. nn e . "" '"'" ' -nirring n
high ranking naval offlcer and another ' 'l ti"" , "tand Up
Is the son of a Governor of a Southern
State. Between the court of Inquiry
on the theft of examination papers
and the hazing Investigation nlout
eventy-flvo ensigns nnd midshipmen
combined failed to start on the prac
tice voyage.
I and turn his face to the wnll.
"Plebes must not Inugh at any Joke
told by nn upper class man.
"riches must turn corners square.
"They must answer 'sir' In their re
plies to questions by upper class men.
"Plebes on coming out of their
BUBBLES
rooms for n drink of wnter must nn
How the hazing came to the eyes 'on their caps nnd gloves nnd button
nd ears of the authorities ha not ' up their blouses beforo going to tho
Vet been made public. Hy act of Con- cooler.
gress the hazing Investigations now
ari all In star chamber courts nt thi ' -
Naval Academy unless the nccuwd 1
lemands a naval court-martial for his
trial. No midshipman accused of haz- '
Ing has ever asked It. Publicity of his
misdemeanor Is, apparently, regarded
by the hazer as worse than dismissal. ,
Two statements are current as to the
way In which the present hazing was
Jlscovered. One report says that I.leut.
A. M. Cohon, U. S. X., of the executive
lepartment, formerly called the "de
partment of discipline," whose special
luty Is to look after the order of the
N'aval Academy, unearthed the "run
ning" and hazing which brought Into
lelng the present board of Investiga
te, whose powers only extend to
the finding of a verdict of guilty or
not. If guilty, the cases will be passed
upon by the superintendent of the
Naval Academy nnd the Secretary of
Ihe Xavy. This Is almost a formality, I
is the act of Congress provides for
the dismissal of all midshipmen found 1
sullty of hazing, and even of those
pretont while It Is In progress, though
they take no part tn the proceedings.
The second account gives the credit
sf the detection of hazing and bringing
the knowledge of It to the ears of the
luthorltlea of the academy to nn Irate
Wow York father, whose son was given
loap and water with which to wash
himself, and, at tho end of repeated
iblutlons, "was ordered to drink the
:ontents of his basin."
It transpired that an uppor classman
ivho rated tho hazer prevented the
order from being carried out, but the
father of tho pleibe learned of It and
Informed the ncademy authorities,
Naturally, It In asked, "How can the
upper class men do theso things nnd
the officers not know It?" The
inswer Is there are COO rooms In the
living house of tho midshipmen, Ran
:roft Hall, and often only one officer
5f the day on duty, with a fow aids.
Thus It Is Impossible to watch every
point nt once In this, one of the
ongest buildings In the world. Then
ihe hnzcrs sot out sentries to give
ivarnlng of the step of authority.
Uesldes nil of theso precautions the
plfbw generally would rnther die
jiuler his treatment thnn tell on his
Inzer. This bus been carried ho far
ihut It Is now said tho plebes
iro ovon sworn not to Inform on their
urmentors. Then tho lust weapon of
Jefenco of thn hazers Is their official
luthorlty. When a plchn resists their
Jlilawful orders they put him on the
morning report for any offence he
jommlts ii ml he may soon fucnn charge
t "Inaptitude fur the naval servlco" by
navtng inoro than thn allotted number
u rarit'. and la then subject to
llsrnlssal. This Is culled "putting a
midshipman on the pap."
Onco In tho history of the Xaval
Academy the fourth class did robel.
l'hcy massed for tho fight In tho
jppor corridor of their quarters, The
sfllfer in charge heard the noise and
r. me up arid Mopped tho open nets of
t.liiuwciity. Tins prubcnt fourth
single men?"
v .To pell their nanvs aftr the or-
The plebe IWmpOWUht year'p L'?r"?"J "' " mnnnrr ot ,n wosnip-
class, according to tharlavestWatlon UV f , "pngr.
now In progresa at the Xaval Acad.wiT.".? . ' """""'r. icu ouj
m,v hv h..n .mMiut! . nnr m tms manner: "sir-.M-sir-e-.
To stand.face to the wall, with arms lr-n.lr--air.e.sr.r-slr-Menor.slr."
outstretched, since all plebes. roust T? climb on top of his wardrobe and
face the wall as soon aal an 'upper mske a dive from It to his be 1.
class man enters his room.' To get up several times In the night
To tell where they come from and i and take a shower bath,
to give a personal history of them- To dance, sing and mako speeches,
pelves. To act as an ordrrly nnd k '. under
To write letters to upper classmen a bench In the ncademy grounds,
on board the ships In the Roads of To report at gunfire, 9:30 P. M., nt
Annapolis composing the summer an upper class men's room and tn stand
practice squadron asking th?m "how on his head, after the Naval Academy
they liked the cruise In the Chesa- fashion.
peake." The detention In the bay was j, To bend over a chair and b spanked.
Drawn by Rene Bull
With apologies to a well known brand of soap.
In the repirtee contests In which
plebes nre allow -d to Indulge when In
terrogated by upper class men one
tmart fourth class man proxrd so su
perior In his replies to a second class
man thnt It delighted n llrst ilnss man
to thn extent thnt he took the naval
neophyte under his wind and when the
second elil! men attempted ti molest
tho pk-bf' again thi llrst class man
raised the finger f nuthftrjty afhqpiu-.
manded the nnnnynnco to cch" '
An amusing incident of the present
epidemic of hazing occurred within' tho
outside portals of Itnncroft Halt. A
civilian, accompanied by several of
his fourth class acquaintances, was'
pnslng the northenst corner of one of
the angles of It.mcroft Hall. Me saw'
a number f midshipmen gathered In
Its alcove, and thinking some public
function was In prnsresi stepped ln
Mlo nnd looked. There h" saw two
plelos on their knee. surrounded by a1
crowd of uppiT class men. They were
butting he.idx toKcthor like two mad
coats. Finding that he was trespass-1
Ing the civilian beat a hasty retreat,'
but he found himself cnmpanlonless. '
Tho plebes that were with him, ob
serving what was In progress nnd
frnrlng that tlu-lr services might be
required In the play, had fled the,
scene. The hazers hnd sentries out'
watching for the approach of any onei
In authority.
f'ne of the Incidents of the passing'
wave of virulent hazing- It always'
exists In a chronic form--Is the pnic-
lice of Mime upper class men of coming I
into a plebes i om and seeing some
thing they need - from stamps to
shoes and of taking possession with
out the usual forms of barter and ex
change.
From the establishment of the Naval
ti.uM'iiiy, in-niiifr in, i -in, to its re-1
movat to NewMirt. It. 1., In lSfil.j
hazing as a custvm was unknown at
tho academy. Rear Admiral Mahan Is I
authority for this statement. Having!
been raised nt or near West Point,
where the system was In vogue, he
wns surprised on ccmlng to the Naval
Academy tn find thnt the usage did not
exist there.
When the civil war broke out the
first nnd second clnsses were ordered
to aea, and the th'lrd class wos the
only one that went with the Naval
about to go before a court of Investi
gation as a witness was hazed by an
upper class mnn until he fell uncon
.'clous. Ho wos revived by water and
hazed anew until he again lost con
sciousness, Ills condition lelng dis
covered by nn olllcer, .the Injured
youth to sent to.the hospital, where
the surgeon fiMUdtVMKfcpjielr.i stnte'i
1 1 1 '1 HI- Wtn nhi hUM.Vbm' V .-, . V, I n ,
couM Induce :hc plebe' tovtell what
was the matter with him. There was
'ottlcr testimony, however, and the
hazer was dismissed" from the
nendnmy.
The present board of Investigation
Into hazing at the Xaval Academy
I Academy In 1801 to Xewport. This1
I class had not been sufficiently lndoc-
I trlnated into the good fellowship of
j the Institution to keep up the old cus-i
torn of seeking out n new nrrlval and
'offering to him acts of kindness and'
( friendship; nor were the seniors there
I to enforce the nmlnblo rule. Tim mi.i. '
shlpmen nt Newport began to Indulge
In horseplays nt the expense of the'
plebe class, nnd so hazing developed.
When the academy returned to An- 1
napolla In ISfifi hazing was nn estab- i
Ilshed system. Tho authorities of I
tne school set vigorously to work to
stop it. nnd so earnest were they about '
the matter that an upper rlnssman tn I
great Indignation exclaimed. "Tliey ,
won't let you look nt a plebe now!" I
Then, as now, there were upper class !
men who oppased the system nnd ono
high minded llrst class man having
caught some midshipmen hazing plebeM i
and having reported them to the oili-
cers was soundly berated by his class- '
mates. Hut there was no more hazing
of plebes when he wns on duty.
There Is one part of the code thnt
obtains well nigh universal obser-
vnnce- secrecy about acts of hazing
and running. There is n common con
sent nn tho part of all the mldsbpmen
to protect a hazer whether or not they
tnke part In such acts or approvo or
disapprove of them, i
As soon as It Is lenrneel that an In
vestigation of hazing Is on foot by the
academy nulhorltles tho plebe who Is
summoned before a court-martial or
commission of Investigators Is waited
on by upper class men and inducements
In the way of Implied promises not to
molest him again nre held out to him
to go light in his testimony, 1
In one case In 1905 a midshipman I
0k 1
America, lost her life. Miss Matilda
Molssant. another famous air explorer,,
after many wrecks nnd a fire that'
destroyed her machine, retired. Hut
knowledge of the dangers of aviation
does not daunt the Stinson sisters, who 1
regard flying as the finest sport In
the world, and who would be glad to
have an opportunity to show what
they could do should their services bo
required by the Government.
A few weeks ago Miss Katherine
written records of the Naval Academy,!
The old, old custom of "cussln' out" I
has still to be endured by the present
plebe class. The upper class men do I
this to them In a style that would ,
make the ordinary man shudekr. Thy
nre Ingeniously Inventive In coining
profane expressions thnt border on the
ihlamWicntnu, while still showing n re
markable Ingenuity of expression.,
Moreover, plebes nre required to "cuss
out" others nt the order of the hazer.
While the midshipmen will not vol
untarily erndlcnte hazing, it Is a curi
ous and suggestve fact that of twenty
officers asked to give their opinion on
basing by the Congressional com-
consist of Commander .fohn Fore mlttee that examined these conditions
Mines, r. S. N senior memhr: Com- ' In the Naval Academy In 1P05 no, ono
mnniler .loel R. p. Prlngle. I". R. N.. 'approved of it. Not only wns It their
and Commander James J. Tinny, V. S. -opinion thnt only the mean and des
X.. members, nnd I.leut, A. 'M Cohen. ' pica bio In each class indulged In se-
1'. S. X., recorder. ,vire and brutnl hazing, but an officer
Seventeen midshipmen are charged . "nw connected with the staff of the
with the offence of hazing. The pro- "'1V' "nil once a midshipman sold that
ceedings may unearth more offenders. evpn should n hazer be graduated bad i
The duties of the bosrd ar. not easv ,li,ck nni1 dishonor generally follows
Heslde Judging otherwise gjod and ,llm ' service. i
capable midshipmen, they nre called A large part of the hazing Is snld i
upon to pass Judgment In (.(.me cases oy some to be due to the pusillanimity
that may ruin the naval career of the t the plebes. "Why oldn't you as
sons of their own friends. ert your manhood?" asked Rear Ad-
No tlndlngs and no recommendations ,"l!lnl Mahan once when he wns on
frilfll fho nrtillir Hlltierlnf en.lpnt ef th
a board of Investigation when a plebe
Naval Academy, t'apt. I.lovd II. Chnnd. ,nM nlm "f tnP indignities tint
lor. I. S.X., have yet been made public. 1 !' suffered. The fourth class men,1
The character of hazing virles ac- k.iwever. enter the ncademy expect-'
cording to the mind of the hazer. It '" ,Hkp ,ne Insulin nnd to have I
has been snld by graduates of the ,:iplr self-respect lowired with the
Na.il Academy over nnd over again 1 ltirR ,nHt 11 ,s Justind hy custom.
thnt the meanest hnzers in their sev- I'or R Mft tim" hazing ceosed after
eral classes were the pygmies, physl- tn Congressional Investigation of,
rally nnd mentally, of their organiza- ,',,"r' Tlle" onlor rlnss promised not1
Hons midshipmen who never grndu-M" ,",z,' Thr h' rln,s would not
ated. Knowing their bodily defects f'omlse. much to the disgust of the
they took advantage of ths sentiment Congressional commlt'ee. They re- ;
that made the class membership sup-' f'rrr(1 tn th action of this class In
port each other and gave atrocious or- ! ,nplr' T01"1 and said thnt that class'
ders to see them executed by men fii- , i,'1 to be wa tithed
perlor In form nnd tnlent. There Is. The midshipmen allege in defence of !
however, a proviso in the code that 'hazing that It takes the conceit out
allows n plebe, when he thinks that an ,of the plebes. The reason why hazing
Improper order has been given him, to persists, said an ofllcer on returning
appeal to the president of the upper from a session of a court-martial try- 1
class men to have Judgment rendered 'ng hazers, seems to be that no third
whether or not the order wns a legal , class wants It said that hazing ceased
one and should bo obeyed. This regu. "'hen their class was the younsMcr
latlon Is seldom' Invoked. The plebe r!as. Midshipman Churchill Hum
generally obeys or fights, Sometimes ,Tnrey, president of the senior class In
he does the Istter, nnd more thnn once ,!l06. Mid, to the Congressional com- i
he has come off moro thnn victor. 1 "'"Ice that the system existed because
Midshipman Do I.any in tho eld ncad- i'TPt class men desired to show "Inject
fitly days, resisted. He hnd several ""thorlty" over the pie! es, j
combats nnd showed such pluck that Tno nKkt of all nights In the hnz- j
the upper class men stopped hazing ln,T w"nn l! tl,n evening of tho llrst
him. much to the disgust of hli fellow Rrxmnn. This takes place on the
classmen, who were Jenous nnd Indlg-,'.y ,"fr commencement day. On'
nont at his exemption. 'V "n n" ciawes left behind nt the
""" v -n-ii ii 1 1 it i,ice. i ne
or Ihi-d
to the
Katherine Stinson.
Stinson went out to California as!
brought back the famous motor whlcll
the late Lincoln Hcachy was tu:n;j
when he took his fatal plunee Sh
ims had It installed In h'r ll.uni mi
dline, and expects to do spcet.icuV
feats with its aid.
"Afraid? No, Indeed," say the Ptir..
son sisters. "Why worry? We
only die once." And I! socnn mo.
philosophy, even though It does c.ir.
frotn two young girls who lonk tn r
life might mean a great deal to their
man nleht hazing. Her son toil he
so the icport goes, whnt was pf"j'n. .
and she went straight to the ..!!,'.
and uncovered the Intended raid
the plebes. That nluht there w,i e
hazing, for every uppnrclns manscrr
in the corridors of Hancroft Hal', hi.
to give on account of hlmse'.f Tt.'.
ploUeH curiously were most Indignan:
with their classmate who had give
his mother Information of the .5-
tended foray upon them.
Capt.John H. C.lbtions, I. S .V.
was superintendent of the Nnvnt Aa'.
emy from May IS, 1911, to February'
1914, made a vigorous effort to ij
press hazing, He told the fojrt'
class men that he would punleh ftir
midshipman who even Mibmlt'ed l
hazing, No plebes were made pubi
examples, The bozed midshipman '.
ways thinks it a point of honor t
protect the hazer. It is only !
ho is under oath that the, tri;!1
comes out.
No foreign student nt the nra.lerr
Is ever hazed. There used to be Jar
nnese midshipmen there. A pie.
working hard to catch up to the pas
lug mark Is seldom nn leste 1 aid
plebe who has made the fontbi'i tear
s exempt.
-D'
A few years ago a plebe wns hazedlwi 'V'"5' VnZ"ll B
during the summer out In the open '? nlTm nm. ' n"tm. r
it , ii . f inPB mn, ami can, ncvnril nc
Ulllll III' 4114 UIHllllllllHI?, Ill Will .M .tahlU.-,l 4 . .
smuggled into Hancrof, Hall without "M
- ...i .in nmir. lull
th Imntl'Mn f tho ,.(ll -ev, IMIn, ,1 more.
next morning at breakfast an' upper !?. !" .."I1'" !'!m". W.1,Pn
class man. as the plebe took the salt Z ' , i "'"T1'""
1 tTZTTVV T""y- -tper'l;! is's'' w" s I Z
I gaxo up a 135 n week Job to come 1lnrpi, who , It, exten-'
here J can lick you and your whole ltnnor'ft ,Jn,1,lnw 'n;
unw' table "rough house."
Ho began It. Fight after fight or-' on the night of Monday. Mnv 31
iirred. Ills roommate, frlghteneil at of this yar, after the perfi.nniin'ce of
his boldness, changed rooms, but the. the Masquerailers, the dramatic as
aroused plebe fought on until his tor- soclntlon of the midshipmen, had been '
mentors called off the contest. given, nt 1 A. M., when the regiment
The most noted of all the brave acts of midshipmen had been up until after
of resisting plebes happened soon nfler midnight, a giant fire cracker was o.
the civil war. A kIn fooler from Ten- ploded in Hancroft Hall. All h inds
nesseo was ordered to ring the bell on wore nroused for a night Insperth.ii
the old I'nlted States ship Satitec, ' or n "pajama parade," as the mlMiln.'
moored at the academy wharf, out of men call It. This done, the cpi. .ri
Um. Ho refused. The fourth class of the bomb confessed and was sent to '
wns then quartered on the Ranter. At the Relna Mercedes for Imprisonment 1
gun file, !;30 P. M and release from nnd punishment. A plebe wns the
rooms, twenty-six midshipmen of tho'culprlt. The onlv reason alleged to!
third class appeared on shipboard nnd'noeoiint for his rash conduct was that
one laid hands on the Tennesseean's he had been hazed toe, often with hot i
hammock. He Jumped out of bed, with I shower baths and that he turned tables
a bowle knife in one hand and a re-'and hazed the whole of the regiment to
volver in the other, and chased twenty- ge' even.
six third class men up and off the I A few years aco one of "the nv" c-s
wharf. This Incident Is among the 'of the plebe ckuii," stopped the gcr-1
ON THE BRINK.
li you see that man fta' !
Ing lrreolutely hv y
water's edge"" asked
man who has theories for all opi
nions and a habit of dlsrinine tf."
to whomever may be within e,ir?n;
The two acquaintances with who'
ho was watching the bather, ar
with whom he had been spending
week at the seaside, f.iw no way ''
avoiding the admission thnt the f.c
tire in quest: n was w.th.n tbur clr -of
vision.
"Well," proceeded the mnn w w
about to enunciate another the' r
is quite evident that lie hrsntes t
enter the cold water be .rise. 1 e 1 it
dlttlciilty in screwing b's determ'.-a-Hon
up to the point of nuik r. th
plunge Now some people, tniv r .
pie, In fact, would be !.!!. .'. !
ride his timidity, but t me ,t ..' sr
assured evidence of un is'in' Mer
gence. He Is In nil preib.ibll.tv n wir.
of greater intellertunl de ebprnrr.'
than the bathers you fie already 1
the water.
"His fr.ir of the shock tui : f
come i-hows him tn be of n fur.i'.ve
receptlM- and Impress .-nKe ! it'ir'
and It Is tnese qiia'lties tn.T 'eirt t1
success tn most walks of fe '"'IS1
nt the present moment I' .s trie '""
ilo not (ilme him In t'i. tn--' 'nv '
able light Those who et w't1-.''!'
hesitation Into the Icy wives o v
better animals, but mere pM'IM
hardihood Is of small va'ue ' ir
telle, tu.ll age.
"Therefore," he continued T f.m'i
belleie thnt in the hn'her v
befote us we hale nr. : . ml 1 rP'"
tunlty to pick out l' 'itert'ti
siinerior liv the nnntirr '' u
fiotiriiteh tlie w.iter Vow '"irklv
.Mr llr wn." be a-ke,i - t (!i
tlie man nt his right '
think'of mv theory?"
"If you li.sist on n frnk
wns Hrown'M slow nnd " ''if
ih, ' I thnk It N plain i '!'!
Ill v iiMphitiisophlcnl tnlr 1 t1 '
tell'geut II 111,111 Is tlie Ii re
Is to plunge right i'i I
shoi li er Ith lit the e'ir'
ble moment "
Tun ,nu. ."till hopi fM' . '
lit his left the p "M ' '
a.sKi il. " Viid w but do i t
es Mr Sinbii?'
"I'on-'derliiB th '
chnnged your mlr.U ' 1
the water on tL i-n V v
donned your bathing - "
came to the beach.'' n , . ' '
be arose and stirte 1 f - '
house, "and consider'.!' '
a week's anei.ii " "'
given me the ph
tno I mil n- ret '
resnureet il1 tin I.
Justiileation." -
they
y e.'
y"J
tor "
. T3
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i veu
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