Northern Lands; Or, Young America in Russia and Prussia

"Northern Lands; Or, Young America in Russia and Prussia" by Oliver Optic is an adventure that follows young American tourists on the Academy Squadron as they journey through the Baltic, taking in the sights of Russia and Prussia; the story emphasizes themes of youth, growth, and understanding political ideals in a new way. The story starts with the group of young cadets enjoying a picnic on an island in the Baltic, where they have heavy debates about the leadership on their ship and a new election idea to pick people for the job. Characters like De Forrest and Beckwith show they are worried about Cantwell being a leader, opening up a discussion about what makes someone fit to lead, power, and fairness. These student disagreements about rank and power shows questions about political systems.