The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-17
wrsr PorSr, Jusr 10th. ls4s


Sunday at West Point- Tricks upon the Pie5es
Sunday of the pleasanest Of all days spend
West Point The daily academic studies and recitatons
Of course suspended and all the military exercises,
with the exception Of the usual guard mounting in the
morning. and the parade at evening.
In the morning the Cadets all required to attend
church service which is conducted in neat little chapel
just in the of the barracks The chapel contains
6no organ, with choir composed of cadets and deco
rated with beautiful painting by Robert w Wer The
painting in illustration Of the motto which placed
medatey under it." Righteousness exaltcth a nation,
but sin is reprosch to any people," Wo had yesterday
morning sermon from the text BY faith the walls Of
Jericho fell down." which listened to BY The cadets
and large number Of visitors. with marked attention
The usual service is in the Episcopal FORM although the
pulpit has been oden to clergynen Of other denomna
tons In the afternoon the cadets required to
attend church but go or remain in the barracks walk
within the limits as they please.
The recruits Plebes as those cadets in their first
year are called are fast arriving numbering
60 They are from all parts Of the country-delicatc
young from the first circles Of our Northern and
southern cities, and hardy, brown Hoosiers, from the
wilds Of the Western praires. Arrived here, all dis
tinctions of rank arc levelled and wealth influence
purchases no indulgence All are required to pass
through the same course Of nsruction-all subject
| ed to the same rigid discipline.
In an institution where between two and three hun
dred young men are brought together under however
strict government il would be strange if tricks were not
played upon greenhorns when occasion offered. The
Plebes" for two three weeks after their arrival
OF which are worth recording. Totally unaccus
toned, they to military manners and being very
abled discriminate between Nose which they should
obey, and those which they should not The older ca
ridiculous orders which they Is good cadets feel Sonnd
to follow out to the letter. One night last week. or
rather one morning about two o'clock, company
OF cadets marched into the corner OF the barracks
appropriated to the Plebes, and ordered half do
Of them to RISE The poor fellows taking themfor
officers, Immediately did and without having tine al
lowed them to dress, they were marched with Slow and
solemn tread-tlc cadets proceeding in front to place
arc placed used For the purpose Of sge
shells at target in Fort Clinton. The were taken
Off and three Of the plebesn ordered 10 get into the
mortar The bore is just about large enough to allow
person to squeeze in So the poor fellows thinking this
was part Of their duty to accustom them to hard sleep
ing, crawled into the morars best they could
Another furnished with the heaviest musket that
could be found about the barracks and ON guard
Ills duty pace up and down. in order to watch the
fellows in tho ortars Another was ordered to stand
guard upon Goes point dock upon the river, which,
at that hour Of the night disturbed only by the pad
die Of boat or the leap Of sturgeon. Another
placed over in dark path kcsiusco's monument;
and ell were kept in these interesting positions for about
racks hearth, glad Of having completed their frs, prac-
teal lesson in night service: The next morning, by
the alert to find the truckers but strange to say no
one could give any Attenuation ON the subject.
The examinations Of the minor classes are now In pro-
gressthat Of the graduating class being concluded
They all anxious to get but will be obliged
main here until the 20th for the purpose of undergoing
ply steal examination by medical board The other
aminafions will be concluded by evening and
the cadets will probably go into encapment by wednes
day morning.
Visitors arc constantly coming and going. The hotel
here is goriou. place TO stop at Mr. Rider, the host,
TO whom am much indebted for attention and means Of
informaon does everything in his power to render his
boarders comfortable and happy He furnishes table
equal TO hotel in the city aud air oil and
general comfort pcrvadcs the whole house,
The officers and professors Of them leaving on
thcir uaual summer furlough.
WEsr ForSr, June 10th, 1885,
a Journey up TO Gro Nest.
Tho examination will probably close either to-day or
tomorrow. Those in progress merely Of the
minor classes. There Is very little excitement here at
present. the absence Of the board which usually here
preventing those extra drills and exhibitions which are
given for their benefit We have amusc ourselves by
visiting the many beautiful places near us.
Among all the wild and romantic spots for which the vi
cnity Of West Point celebrated there probably nat
ural which is deserving Of attention as old Gro
Nest This mountain 10 situated the left bank Of the
river, and is base Is about miles from the hotel
mounted yesterday to its very summit and shall never
forget the glorious view afforded Its heights by ahe-
matical measurement 3ea Il and the ascent which Is
steep and rugged, 10 performed entirely ON foot The
dinculues Of ascending very great Sometimes us