The Military Schools of the Pacific Coast [pp. 465-481]

THE MILITARY SCHOOLS OF THE PACIFIC COAST.
done in a military manner. Thus the
cadets march to and from meals, classrooms, dormitories, chapel, etc. The
uniform is worn at all times and is like
the West Point cadet uniform, except
that the National Guard button of California is worn instead of the West Point
button. The organization consists of
two companies with a band of fourteen
pieces. The church has also a right to
claim this excellent academy as her creation. The head master is the Reverend
Alfred L. Brewer, and he is as zealous a
disciplinarian, and as great a lover of all
correct things military, as he is a true
soldier of the cross. The present commandant is Andrew Kirk, major of the
California National Guard. A thorough
disciplinarian, a fine soldier, and cultivated officer, Major Kirk possesses the
respect and confidence of the cadets as
well as all connected with the school.
Under the guidance of these two gentlemen, the school is bound to grow and
increase and become year by year a
greater and greater source of pride and
deep interest to the people of San Mateo
and all California.
There is projected another school at
Stockton, of the same class as St. Matthew's, but it is as yet still on paper, but
if the present plans are carried out, it
will prove a worthy rival to St. Matthew's
and Mount Tamalpais. There are quite
a number of so-called military schools in
other parts of California, but the only
military thing about them lies in their
names and the uniforms, half worn in a
slovenly and unsoldierly manner by their
students. It has not been thought worth
while to give a description of such institutions, as the sooner they are eradicated
the better for the communities they are
in. The kind of discipline inculcated by
such schools is of a bad and injurious
nature.
Good schools are undoubtedly the
highest mark of a community's culture
and wisdom. But when such schools
teach the attributes of a soldier and inculcate true discipline, they are doing
the highest possible good to their fellows,
since they are thus molding sentiment
and forming habits in youth, of the men
that are to guide the destinies of the
nation. They should be supported to
the full extent of the appreciation and
sympathy of a generous and wise people,
and were the State to recognize such in
an official way, —as well as the general
government, — it would result in building
up the strongest bulwarks of strong and
loyal minds against all enemies of the
Republic. There is nothing that appeals
to the true American like the beautiful
"Old Glory," and when its story is
told in the only true way - by medium
of military drill and discipline there is
awakened in the minds and hearts of
Young America a sentiment and love for
the glorious flag, that trembles and waxes
in unison with the wave and rhythm of
the Stars and Stripes as they float to the
breezes, over the land of the free.
William R. Hamilton.
481