United States Naval Academy - Lucky Bag Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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History of N inety-N ine. 64 T,S a burning shame, roared Father Time, closing his book with a ' slam. I gave pages of history to Ninety-nine, and not a line has been recorded these two years. I suppose all will pass into ini the dark forgotten, just as did the hopes of Second Class summer at the Academy last year. How little people value the treasures of timef' Qlt was a bleak day for Ninety-nine. A black eye in lfather Time's estimation was worse than a bad name in the Commandant's office. XV ho was to take her part? An- other outbreak was imminent when in walked Neptune. There was no question as to whose part he would take, for Neptune himself was once a naval cadet. He bilged on his Plebe Semi-Ann, but squeezed into the navy through other channels, was twenty numbers ahead of his class when they graduated, and then, by rapid strides, made his way to his present billet-Ruler of the Seas. His trident was rusty from salt water, an occasional barnacle fell erustily from his clothes, and the threads of his long beard, usually so silvery, showed yellow and tangled from neglect during war timesg but for all that, he was the same old Neptune. The same warm heart that befriended the comfortless Sep QIq'lebe during the few raty days of his academic life Cfor he was a May Plebej, was ready now to befriend those in need of his aid. A friend in need is -- the sick list if pulled at the right time. Father Time fairly jumped when he saw Neptune. just the man I am looks ing for, he exclaimed, hanging l1is seythe on the bell shade. Have they silenced the batteries F Completely, replied Neptune. The Spanish loss is not known, but it is believed that many were killed and wounded. l suppose the victory is due to the skill with which our ships were handled. Precisely, answered Neptune. Largely due to a naval cadet named Mad- ison. He had charge of the poker deck, so the Admiral was relieved of a great deal of anxiety along that line. By the way, what's become of N inety-nine. They seem to have cut me com- pletely in regard to this history businessf, Never mindf' said Neptuneg wait till you see the third volume of McClay: then you'll hear of themf' Neptune was always ready with a jmffus gigantibus for his children. 28

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Vernou, Walter Newhall, Wal1ie. A px-iris to hear the rouyuemv whirh you IIl!l,bt'.,,-'DRYDEN Wells, Daniel Hamner. H l'VI..t'1I'!Illl marrim' In inmmrlrz! verxe. -Woklwswolwll. West, Arthur Stuart, 'I'rilby. A Ming' of bL'!l1I0' is ajfgf -flJ7'l ilK7'.',1KlCA'l'5. Wood, Robert Thompson. H1lllA'hf0lIL'!l' .va .l'fL'Htl'L'l'b', yditlllgr, lzmlro j?ziz'. --Hoon. Wright, Luke Edward, Luke. 1fVhnl'.r in a mum' ? Wyman, Henry Lake, Willie. I ll have my bowl. -SHAKRSPEAM-'. 27

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g Oh, well, so far as that's concerned, I hear about them now indirectly, Said Father Time. The doings of Woodward and Sadler constitute the society col- umn of the Aguadores Evening fo1r1'nal,, and you needn't tell me of the horrible way Condesa Marguerita Marie Asailho Qdaughter of the Generalj committed suicide because Buchanan wouldn't resign and marry her. But what I want to know is why they didn't send their history last year, and why it hasn't come this year. Well, like a good many people, Daddy, you've been misled. It wasn't their fault you didnit get their history last year. You can't expect that telephonic LUCKY BAG to stay in good condition in spite of misuse. The transmitter needed a general overhauling. As for this year's, 'I.'ve brought it along with me. Witll that explanation, Neptune handed him a roll of papers, musty, begrimed, powder stained, but still surrounded with an air of importance. Father Time relapsed into silence, while the melancholy click of Evans's chalk as he started on his fourth lJOZ11'tl at skinny recitation, came across from the other world with depressing regularity. Finall y, Father Time succeeded in casting off the knots that held the roll Qthey were Millerlistsj, but no sooner did he open the roll than his jaw drooped in abject terrorg his eyes seemed to start from his head. while his rickety old knees beat three full flourishes on the underside of his table. Visions of his father's hen ard 'lloated before l1is eves. Y . J-J--J-Jigger my jigger mast! he exclaimed as soon as he gained control of his lower jaw. VVhat's this? H That's Soennechenis round writing. I thought you'd like it. You see, it's only a modification of Courtney's line of beauty. The trident serves as a first-rate round writing pen, and, as for ink, aha! these are war times in the other world. one or two vain attempts at reading it, but iinally gave l t it he said. I suppose you've used some Father Time made it up. You'll have to trausa e ', cipher code. Oh, no, said Neptune, you don't see vip Princeis mark book. I-Iis code is nothing but ciphers. I'1l read you some parts Of the history now. In the first place, let me give you the situation when the Morzongalwla floated out to sea in a llood of tears for Second Class Summer. There was ,Buchanan on the uuarter-deck-preferably 11ear the bridgeg Kalbfus A it, I mean. It's hard to read by this light of her code anywhere but in the oiling his sextant-that is, handling YOl11'S. NVhat's the matter with it? 7 VVell, the same pipe that supplies me with gas goes to Sparrow s room. ' - ' 1 '- ff 'l e -li IeIe's up boning, though it's now ten minutes to two , so it docsn t a oic me mue lightf' Well, to go on with tl1e situation, continued Neptune. There were Beck- ner and lfiorman under tl1e boom-boat playing chess, thermometer Fair-en-heitg Fenner with his head between his knees answering each inquiry with a dismal, ' Oh no flfm not seasiclc. .l think 'l.'m going to get through this cruise all right. I-- hgh, myg' 1101111 was swapping jokes with his twin, the buglerg Hailey arguing with Shackford 3 Shackford arguing with Bailey. QThat vvaS the SOlll1d that was heard back at the Academy af ter she was three days out, and was thought tO be the sound of a gigantic circular saw.j I-Iatch s face beamed like full ' ' ' t ' ' ' l ' fiM1W1CtllC moon as he pored over ' The VVO1'lC111g' Curl s Oath, by the aut 101 0 1 gg , .