POINTS OF VIEW ON THE NAVY

IT HAS BEEN a pleasant change" commented Joe Burgess, his voice mild, his blue eyes smiling, "to have the Navy here."

The Executive Offices of the Naval Indoctrination School are located in College Hall where Joe has been janitor for twenty-three years.

"But I'd just as soon have the students back," declared Art Kendall, his eyebrows bristling. "In New Hamp we have more than twice as many Navy officers as we used to have students." Art has been in charge of New Hampshire Hall for thirty years.

"But they are so well behaved," said Joe admiringly, "so well disciplined." Art snapped his suspenders severely. "There are only about thirty bluejackets in College Hall. And—and just those offices on the main floor." "Well, all of them, even officers, make their own beds," persisted Joe, "and clean their rooms."

"That's so," admitted Art. "But I have to issue sheets and cups and keep the head supplied with paper. Don't know where all the paper goes," he sighed wonderingly. "The head," explained Toe, "is the toilet—"

"Yeah," Art broke in, "and the floor is a deck and a wall a bulkhead."

"And," Joe added grinning, "the stairway a ladder."

I noticed there were no squashed cigarette butts littering the stairs or floors. "That's right" agreed Joe. "They keep everything shipshape. And," he added emphatically, "no drinking in the quarters."

Quite a few of the trainees, judging from their thick drawls, are from the deep South. "Why," snorted Art, "they're complaining already about the cold."

"What will the bunch do," worried Joe, "that's going to be up here in January and February?"

"Just freeze," said Art with finality. "And when that front door gets open and closed by all these guys troopin' in, why," he chuckled, "why these mates will be howlin'."

There is a mate in charge, stationed on each floor to see that no one loiters in the halls.

"Then," Art added wryly, "they won't be checkin' up on me so much."

The trainees have reveille at six and lights out at ten and what with a full day and strict discipline one might expect greater decorum in the dormitories.

"That's right," said Joe making a quiet gesture. "No fire hoses pulled down nor anybody falling out of a window like that boy—he's a lawyer now—in College Hall—."

"Nor turfing the toilet—l mean head"Art interrupted, "like they once did with a load of dirt dumped out front." Art's voice was full of complaint but then he pondered a moment and spoke wistfully; "You miss those things though. These fellows are awful tame."

Just discipline Joe corrected mildly but with conviction.

A shipment of rifles recently arrived in Hanover. They are stored in brackets lining the walls of the Gym's east wing.

"Haven't seen them yet," said Art. "But I bet most o' these fellows never seen a gun anytime."

"They'll learn quickly," nodded Joe. "And look fine too marching with them."

There was a sharp "Hep, two, three, four," muffled feet and brusque commands.

The two men picked up their equipment and went about their chores.

USN JANITOR Joe Burgess is an old timer on duly in College Hall, Navy staff headquarters, whereCommons is the Navy mess.