Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1904 — Not Honor Men. [ARTICLE]

Not Honor Men.

One of the characters of the old navy was Captain Percival, familiarly called “Mad Jack,” whose waggish and irascible saying not only amused his contemporaries, but are still going the rounds. At one time, says the New York Tribune, the son of one of his old friends was appointed a midshipman. As there was no naval academy in those days at Annapolis, the lad was drafted to Captain Percival’s ship.

The father wrote at once to his friend to announce the fact that his son was on shipboard, and after the usual parental recommendations to mercy, he closed his letter with: “My son has entered upon a profession where he will go down to' his grave, wept, honored and sung; or unwept, unhonored and unsung.” The young midshipman had not; been on board long before he aroused the wrath of bls ktommander, who at once sat down and wrote to the lad's I father:

“My Dear Sir. Your son Is going to the grave unwept, uuhohored and unsung.” ' At another time, when Captain Percival was a member of the board for the examination of candidates for midshipman's warrants, a son of another friend came before the board. After the examination Percival, wishing to announce the result to the boy’s father, wrote, w'th delightful implication: “Dear Old Messmate. Your boy has passed. Do you recollect our taking the Columbus out of dock? She just grazed.”