GEORGE DEWEY 149 napofis. At that time appointznents were due to political influ- enoe rather than to competitive entrance examinations. An- other boy was first given the appointment but, when he decided not to take it, it was given to Dewey. Dr. Dewey accom- panied his son to Anniqpolis and before starting for home said to him: George, I've done all I can for you. The rest you must do for yourself." This advice Admiral Dewey says he has always tried to keep in mind. The four years' course was stiff, and of the sixty who en- tered in ^54 only fifteen remained to graduate in '58. In his autobiography he tells of his difficulty with history and geog- raphy which was counterbalanced^ however, by his excel- lence in mathematics and his facility in learning French and Spanish. When he was graduated he was fifth among the fifteen. At Annapolis there was then no system of athletics except the regular military drill, and the gymnastic equipment was poor. There was little or no relaxation from disdpline, so outbreaks occurred which could not occur to-day. Elvery midshipman had his nickname and Dewey's was Shang," though its origin he has forgotten. As was the habit of acting midshipmen Dewey chewed tobacco but, when he found that British and other foreign officers did not do it, he be- came convinced that it was a filthy, vulgar halnt in which no officer or gentleman should indulge, and consequently gave up all use of tobacco. " After graduation from the Naval Academy a two years' ex- perience in practical cndfiing was necessary before the com- missions were given. Dewey and three of his classmates were assigned to the steam-frigate Wabash which was the flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron. The Wabash left Hampton Boads July 22, 1858, and arrived at Gibraltar August 15. About fourteen months were spent cruising from i)ort to port, at the most important of which they had glimpses of life ashore and became familiar with the exchange of (^idal calls between nations. Li October the Wabash was in the Bosphorus where ships from every navy had gathered for the celebration of Mohammed's birthday. His first acquaintance with the Orient was, therefore, a memorably beautiful one. From the Bos-
