The New York herald., 1869-06-06
WEST POINT.

WEST POINT.
-~ooD~o~1~o~-~o>o.>o~.>~o-
| The Examination in Spanish-PrOficiency of
| the Cadets in the Lnnguage-The Boat Rnce
Postponed Till Grants Arrival-A Church
| Question-The "Stundings'' in Engineering,
Law and Ethics.
| WEST POINT, June s. 1869.
The examination in mneralogy and geology was
completed to-day, and all the sections were over
hauled in Spanish in the usual catechlsing fashion
| The members of the sections examined gave evil
dence OF familiarity with the language which was
quite astonishing, and when 1t Is taken into con-
sideraon that 1.-THE scholars have but three recita
tons week in this special course their proficiency
rebounds all the more to their credit Some way or
other Spanish has not been treated fairly for several
years past at the Academy 1t has for long period
been made particular branch Of the ratio studiorn
OF one class one year, and then transferred to
another for another year, in a manner which
has all along been quite as mysterious Us q good
many other things at West Point which need look
ing into. It is now taught in the third and first
classes-that is in the class which years to
remain on the post before becoming oficers and in
the graduating class; but the transfer system which
was first put in operation about TOUR years ago. has
now reached such point that 1t has been decided
take Spanish out OF the graduating class entirely
and confne 1t as speciality to the third class, on
the ground that the first class is too ''crammedn
with studies. However, any person who knows
anything at all about the subject must be aware
that II Spanish be limited to the third class alone by
the time the members graduate they will have
forgotten pretty much all they may have learned OF
the language while in the third class On the other
hand as long 1t Is retained in the first class the
graduates who JON their regiments the frontiers
Of Mexico, for instance. and in Texas, few weeks
affa rlaav w nd eir kpo adU
OF the language not only ornamental, but exceed
| valued assistants IN the army were those oficers
who were acquainted with the language and no
one knows the fact better than General Grant him
| self. Besides, 10 may not be O very long while to
| come before our officers may be garrisoned in Cuba
and then the practice OF having Spanish taught to
Spanish sections Will be appreciated to its full value.
The following are the names OF the members OF
the last section In mneralogy and geology and the
subjects upon which each was questioned:-
Acknowledgement and iceberss.
Brateu-rray various rocks.
Thomas. Volcanoes and earthquakes
Brady0rsanic agencies producing geological changes
Bacon.-Trsy minerals.
FOURTH SECTION.
Gerhard.-AtmOspherie agencies producing geological
sprie.-origin and distribution of sold.
s%aii%ooiHfray' p%o mineras.
Purviac.-Tray tmineralsei
Hushes.-Tray minerals
Ro5inson-Typical forms OF continents.
Legret.-rray (minerasl
MsTon.-Metalic veins
smith.-ongin mode OF occurrence OF unsrati1ed
rocks
| THE BOAT RACE
which was TO have taken place to-day and for which
three classes who intended TO pull for the champion
rag has been postponed until the arrival OF General
Grant IL Is understood that the President IL very
anxious 10 witness the race, and that he to-day In
communication received by the Superintendent, ex-
pressed desire that 1t should be postponed until his
/ .I Al ma n wa9
piled with, and the contest Will come OF some ne day
| during the coming week-probaby ON "Wednesday.
the President will be here by that time. Notwth
standing the fact that II generally known here
| when the postponement was announced that the
time for the race deferred as special courtesy
\ to General Grant. there was no nconslderable
grumbIng among the visitors at the various hotels,
! many OF whom had come from New York by the
early morning trains for the especial purpose OF
witnessing the contest The ladies' were especially
pat out and. a. might be expected. pouting lips
| parlor and how could II have been otherwise
| for hadn't many OF them chosen their oolors with
the greatest OF care, and been hugging themselves
with joy all the forenoon TO what cadet such ana
such a one would say, when be would discover his
crews emblem wound about delicate throats IN such
| atdainty way and pinned 80 temDtngly on cloves OF
boDnets ~ iWhat indeed, was Grant TO them or they
TO Grant; but wheo five o'clock, the time the race
had been fixed to come OF, came about and The ram
poured down In torrents they settled down and
| tired 10 console themselves that even II Mr. Grant
had been here, the sport could not have taken place
ans yhowa consolation quite worthy oil the occasion
| truly.
| A
| Speaking Of the anticipated arrival OF General
Grant and hearing that stranger u 20 preach the
sermon IN the church here tomorrow recalls to my
| mind a nice little row, which has been grow.
ing more interesting from day 70 day ever since
| II first broke out on this post Your readers
are doubtless aware that the principal IN fact the
| only established church at West Point with the ex
ception OF the Catholic chapel II the little stone ed
nce that n sandwiched between the Academic build.
| ings and the Library The residents hereabout3-
that h. the families OF the officers and professors
aud the major portion OF the cadcts--attend the
service IN this building. which service has always
| been conducted according 20 the Episcopal ritual.
some months ago the chaplain was compelled not
exactly 70 resign but 10 retire from active service
a. minister, aud the question OF getting proper
person 70 take hls place was at once agiated when
lion ~ Wes eGe Se.l p,Sas Su EPseopai
chosen man after his own heart 10 n the va.
cancy-a Methodist preacher Imagine the conster.
grade from the Senate, and was ordered 10 report
here for duty on the LIST Of last month; but some
| busy individual informed him as 70 the reception he
| might expect, and how no person would attend the
| church while he orlciated. The gentleman being
an eloquent man. who had never been used 70
preaching 10 empty benches had decided objec.
iion 20 trying what effect such course OF preaching
would have on the moral status OF West Point, and
40 resigned hrs commission. Then, indeed, did the
nock rejoice aud consider victory theirs. However,
to make assurance doubly sure, they went TO WORK
and drew up petition 20 the President asking MIN,
for the regard he IL supposed 10 have Tor the
ton OF souls from birthstone, TO give them an Epis
copa minister for throngh hls ,nlsra,ons =, alone @
Promised Land But Grant was not easily TO be
moved. lie had not relished the way ms appoln,ec
had been disposed of, and so he made short answer
TO the petition. 'swait till come" he wrote, and
now he Is coming and there Will be high old time
generally. Grant evidently thinks that the Epsco-
paans have ruled the Church roast here about long
enough and that Meth0disn should have chance.
Meanwhile the cadets who are a decided majority
OF the resifenis don't care pin who gets the best
Of the fight Church-gOing with them is all the
same, no matter what service is performed. Grant
Will, no doubt, take note Of TINS and act accord
ingy.
THE GRADUATES "sTANDfNas.-
The following 'standngs' OF the graduates In en-
Rineerins snd law and ethics tbe SUBJECTS upon