The New York herald., 1869-06-02
WEST POINT.
The Reception Of the Board Of visitors-The
Boat Race-Husband Hunting and What IL
Amounts To.

WEST POINT, June /, 1869.
In pursuance OF the order issued yesterday by the
commandant OF the post the reception Of the Board
Of Visitors took place this morning, with all due re-
gard 10 the manner and form maze sacred by years
Of repetition About halfpast eleven O'Clock the
academic stafr-the military members in all the glory
OF feathered chapeaux, golden epaueis and all sorts
of paraphernalia more ornamental than useful-pro-
ceeded to the hotel in body, where the superin-
tendent welcomed the Board to West Point,
and endeavored, in as precise terms as pos
sible consistent with military discretion, to
express how great was the desire OF
every 0icia on the post TO do all that Law in his
power to make the visit OF the Board pleasant one.
The Board, through its chosen mouthpiece, replied
Of course, in the usual way and gave everybody TO
understand that it felt confident that it would have
jolly good time during its stay amid the highlands,
and that 1t would, with the greatest Of pleasure,
cept OF all the courteses that would be extended TO
It, and for al q WHICH u would feel very grateful
indeed. Then the time-hOnored salute Of fifteen
guns was fred, and the Board, arm in arm with GER
tain Of the academic stan, proceeded to examine
the apparatus OF the various departments OF the
Academy and then settled itself composedy to
await the review OF the cadet CORPS which took
place about one O'Clock.
THE REVIEW
proceedings, not even excepting the general hand
shaking that followed the formal Introduction Of the
the academic staff to the Board of Visitors. the
fact that the cadets on the occasion appeared for the
first time this season In white pants added an addi-
tional interest to the event-at least in the opinion
OF the ladies. who for some reason or another best
known TO themselves, pvegh against the gray cloth
with all sorts of saucy nveciyes and never fail 70
go into ecstacies over the appearance OF the white
goods. And yet men are sometimes blamed Tor
admiring the symmetry OF pretty ankle Be That
as it may, however, the day when the white
as sas awaS e in I mes Been
as something less than agreeable to the clerk
Of 'le weather In fact, the day was certain to be
the forerunner OF rainy ''spell' and was always
associated with mgdded boots and certain amount
Of military profanity, which, Of course followed as
delightful Consequence TRa9ks no%eysr T.
eTa rae for e sunshine Wbc g baSt and
cheerful as 1t ever when the white pants order
long day afterwards, and the review consequently.
passed OF In splendid style. The entire Board OF
Visitors ana the aeadem aa stan n sns fhs @
said great deal less as to what they thought about
the exhibition II was most assuredls sight that can
at West Point. ! really believe the State
government would find 1t to its advantage to send
iookers.on when the cadet corps parades or goes
through battalion drill for many OF them would
certainly leave the place knowing at least the di
ference between the stock of musket and the muZ-
zle OF cannon, which is decidedly great deal
more than several know at present
between the rs ssgE1nS E SCa1d AID fa classes will take
place next Saturday. The race will be between
three sixoared sculs and the course on the river 10
be run over viii be from the dock at this post 10
Cozzen's and back, making good two mile race OF
the contest. 1t will be remembered that when the
cn9lGe AeaSemS U was made exclusively from the en-.
gineer corps all such "dlssipatons as boat races,
and great many other manly sports when are tne
features OF all collegiate institutions now DAYS,
were vigorously excluded from the recreative reper.
toire OF the cadets. In fact in those gloomy times,
rapgn re ne preas to the utter exclusion Of
all the other branches of the service, Tor CADET
to have suggested boat race between Two OF the
classes wonld have been probably TO nave run tne
risk OF court martial dose OF vlllainous salt
petre at the explosive point. But since the scales
an 's mas engineer
s s,ms aSss ans nSi Sst west ST Pn.
s''S as BY the aagers." heaiihf% Pastimes such g
rowing have been allowed and the cadets nave py
fSe s that was
between the classes took place last summer, tne
'6o-the graduating class-expects to win this sum
mer; for IL would certainly be rather severe num
with flying colors in the matter Of boating as well
in that Of engineering One thing is certain, DOW.
h 40 win hes w aSe TO e napS
every leisure hour they can get, and one OF them
should win the champions nag, the graduating class
West Point itself: the Following are the crews
Of the three classes:-First class, Frank T.
SS Garter OSE Charles sa1 prodsn sn'VS Charles H. Rs Arthur
Hardy (stroke); second class, Edward 8. Chaplin
(bow oarl. Samuel W. Fountain, Henry A. Reed
Horner (stroke); third class, Wallace Mott bow oar
James R. wasson Thomas KnoX g. sIroEs Eaeon
a. aSS Sa9 General is to be pres
ent when the race takes place.
HUSBAND HUNTING
has already begun here Your readers are ne
doubt well aware that a great many Of the many
ladies' who come to West Point to spend tht
are not 's msd but TO pe nsrseS
pSSSaeai %oTd q t9sS co%mand S Now cadet may no
handsome young fellow who happens to be under III!
spca tuteiage Of the government here Is not destined
better ge than the husband hunter True the cadet
always special object OF admiration to all females
but to the marriageable woud-be married one. VII.
comes here the metallic eruptions In the gray uni
form coat are something beyond all description r
| resstible. why this should be so is neither her
@ ine OF past seasons is on lncontestble proof IN,
proestations OF delighted mammas to the contrar.
notwithstandina Now the West pSInt ns Snsosn, an,
| dently believes that inertia is property OF min'
| as well as OF matter, and acts ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thing else being equal, is very charming, 70 say tn
| least. She dresses well, fixes her hair-or some
body else's-1n the most beWltcnmR style, anu
always trying to look pretty, which, as genera
thing, costs no inconsiderabe artistic effort. As
| rule she IL one Of that kind OF women whose pros
poets fade with her beauty, which may be compli
mentary 10 the true art OF masculine appreciation
| not, as you like 10, and che consequently hates Y
hear people prate OF years gone by, when she ant
| somebody else had such times in Filtration Ramble
Whenever cadet s In her tolls he is made TO feel tina
he is nobody and that she Is somebody. with wel WEI
lied purse at that; and will say, IN justice TO he
class that In nine instances out OF ten she has NOR
money than youth or beauty she generally has
| mamma or papa along, who comes apparently, as
sort Of escort to that poor cadet or officer dare
| to propose the awful question: but they com
| really to hurry up things as quickly as possible
after graduation day, If gray coat should succum
| In the unequal struggles and you know somebod
| says that loves wings, when tinRed with gold ar
beautiful TO- view, and am sure hand that cal
draw check for $40 900 has more than once blinde'
the cadet eye 10 facial female ugliness. In fact IN
husband hunter at West Point works In mysterlou
ways her wonders TO perform, and IL very oltel
trinmphont despite the natural difficulties che ha
| to contend against. Indeed, II perseverance iron
year to year deserves reward many OF the nus
| hand hunters Qnuht Qet n big one, an,