“Navy Department, Washington, D. C.,
“June 4,.
“Sir:—
“You are informed that the court before which you were recently on trial found you guilty of hazing and sentenced you to dismissal from the Naval Academy and the naval service. This sentence has been approved. You are therefore dismissed from the naval service. A formal copy of the court martial order in your case is hereby enclosed.
“Very respectfully,
“Henry Brown,
“Rear Admiral, and Acting
Secretary of the Navy.
“Mr. Ralph Osborn,
“Late midshipman, second class.”
Well, it was all over. There was nothing more to be said or done. Poor Ralph! There was a lump in his throat and an utter forlorn sadness in his heart. He was thus rudely torn from the dearest ambition he had ever had; and until this moment he had not known how dear this ambition was. And he was to give up an association with beloved comrades, and to enter fields in which they had no place.