The New York herald., 1868-06-04

OF the severest kd hre in every denartment OF the
ayaiishls aan vhorties for years have by every
condition IF ps snS sSsn
ndividS yes are upon the cadets, that sOrey tried
bodv ,. enjoys perfect tranquility Of mind and
!. 90 nut they can't watch the cadets every second
ssesy minute q the day. and therein lies the pebs
tMh.s.ort1ne. thne. Still must say and speak from a
when sl shs Ps p.B Bse q sss ess
fSs ESe, sy:ss% S yssSass Rssi sss rev .s ss%s::
OF night and leaving them almost iifeless nom fright
ana perhaps half drowned by the contents Of many
geo, has been broken down; and that not by punish
menus awarded the 'yankers,n but by compelling
eacn class to make an animation which is as bind
g ~ an oath to cadet not to disturb the plebs by
the vllanous practice rendered 60 dear to them the
cadets not the plebs by the repetition OF many years.
many changes in almost every phase or ordinary life
IN the states has done great deal in producing for
West Point quite different class Of plebs from those
freshness OF their worldly ignorance 1t
was at one time the rule that an applicant for ad-
seventeen and under twenty-five years Of age; but
now 'any person who has served bOnorably and
1atn,1y not less than one year az an officer or en-
nsted man In the army OF the United States either
as volunteer or in the regular army, during the
war for the suppression Of the rebellionn is eligible
provided, OF course, he he sound in body and mind
IN every respect and at least i've feet in height.
rlens formed OF such material as are our young ex-
soidlers are above annoyance by any system OF 80
ph0mOrical persecution, and what cadet can teach
them Ia practical Jokes is not worth the learn
ing: The wholesome Legislation OF Congress,
which has thus thrown wide open the entrance to
the Academy to such plebs as these, has
the class OF 49, nearly every member of which mad
been fighting soldier and every one of which grad
aated with exceeding distinction. Moreover, the
erauuatng class or this year s and in fact all the
present classes are, largely made up of young men
who have deserved well OF their country because OF
services rendered her in the hour Of her need. or
such material are made great military men, and OF
such - not the "hobbledehoy," green from the family
ireside.
COMPOSITION OF CADET
1t may not be generally known that, besides the
annual examination OF the cadets at which that
ful study graduates, and which is called the first
Glass; there Is for each class very severe examna-
.on .ha every January 1t Is at this examination that
vions has been considered sort Of military
infant, for long time tolerated in garb that indf-
Gates not the ambitious military views he has in
prospect comes first under the full fire OF battery OF
rigid caeclsers. II he pass unscathed, his conduct
having been uneXcepti0nable in every respect he
becomes cadet and takes station in his class ac-
cordlng TO his merits as evinced in the catechng.
or course it must be understood that every new
conner undergoes preliminary examination when
he first enters the Academy But alas for the poor
pleb, or even cadet who is found ''dedcent." No
power on earth can save him. The tears and protes
tations OF all the mothers in the land backed by all
the influence OF official origin or the highest degree
would nave no more effect on the examining officers
tlan II they were band OF sphinXes deaf to all
sound and blind to every visible thing Ii is
rather hard, for cadet especially, to have tramped
along successfully for say three years. and then, Just
as the vision or the blue greets him in almost tang
BILE proximity, to hear his doom pronounced, by
which he is ordered to leave the Academy-not In
disgrace it Is true but with all the fond hopes of "a
young Lille crushed under foot, like the leaves Of
budding flower. But there is remedy for this sort
oil thing unless IL is one and that is for one 10
come here as cadet unless lie knows that he is
pable OF standing all the tests OF the four years.
struggle suppose you know tnat cadet now
gets SAL 66 per month, with one ration per day,
rom the government This is not given him vir-
tualy as wages, for he cannot draw the money,
Dut he can draw on 1t at the colnDlissary in
the way OF all things necessary for his well
being and appearance as military student, such
as uniforms and other wearing apparel. If the
amount allowed by government be overreached the
cadet is considered debtor to the government and
has to make up the deficiency; but, in order to pre-
vent such contingencies he is permitted to get only
. certain number of coats and pants, &c., during
Ine year, no matter whether the books show bal
ince IN MS favor or not.
A BOAT RACE ON SATURDAY NEXT
There is to be boat race on the river here next
,onesting boats being members of the third, second
md graduating classes. The course to be pulled |
over is to extend from point near Washington Val
ey 10 tne ralir0ad bridge opposite Gees Point and
back. The festivity viii close by tub race |
between twelve members Of the cadet corps, the
distance TO he one hundred yards. The amount Of in
baths on the occasion win OF course depend
upon circumstances. The first class is to enter for
the two mile course siX-oar lapstreak she'll and
the following crew:-Bow oar, Snow; second, Thomp-
son; third Wiley; fourth c. +. Roe fiith, Kodinan:
sixth, @. M: Harris. The second class will enter a
second II. l.. Harrls third, X. N Price, fourth Rea:
hlth Nye; Sixth, Hardy (stroke), The crew. the
second class will also enter siX-oar light barge,
with the following crew:-Firsr, Taylor: secpad,
Augur; third Lyle; fourth Leggett: Gfth. Braten:
sixth, Carter tstroke); Miller Xswain. The third
class VIII enter fouroar shell, with the following
oar Green; second, Reed: third. Chap.n:
ourth, Homer lstroke The whole corps expect 10
nave Jolly time on ihis occasion, and il is expected
hat General Grant will be here by that time TO enjoy
he sport.
The cadets had a battalion drill this evening,
which was executed in their usual fine style. Attha
request of General Franklin, chairman the Board
,f Visitors Colonel Black requested during the
lr To have the battalion drilled by one of the
,adets when the Colonel called cut cadet Wm j.
Hamilton, OF New Jersey, who made the corps exc
,ute several evolutlOns. When General Franklin was
cadet he was once called OUT in this manner to
ir the corps, and he thought he'd try the call
ng part himself this time
Major General Robert Anderson, OF Fort Sumter
anne. arrived here to-day and left in the evening.
Mr.. n. w. Edwards one OF the Board of Visitors,
whom announced in my last letter being absent,
oined the board last evening. Quite "a number OF
Students IN uniform, from military school on the
hudson, several miles below here attended the
Examination in body to-day.
The weather IS, as the ladies say, ''ovey.r