The New York herald., 1870-06-18
WEST POINT.
The Departure Of the Graduating class-Bentz,
the Bugler in light Place in Conse-
quence - The Alumni Dinner and
the Veterans Present at It.
A Goodly Company.
WEST POINT, June II. 1870.

to-day at twelve O'Clock, and thus forever severed
their connection with the cadet corps as cadets
Every member, with but one exception, was in the
highest spirits OF course, at revee. doubt If the
clock in the tower the academy building ever got
such staring as 1t did after the drums mad beaten
every graduate out OF bed. 1t is not very attract
i've looking AFFAIR this academy clock under the best
Of circumstances but the graduates thought it this
morning worthy OF their greatest consideration
They had always found it a good tlmeplece, every
since, as pIebes they had been tr0ted into the Sec
tion rooms with the jecrs Of the cadets ringing In
their ears at every step they took. and had never
known 1t to go back on Old Bentz, the buger,
who is supposed to to0t by the hours the old
clock strikes for his special benefit The thought
had entered their minds before that after all,
the clock fallibe, and that 1t might be Bentz n
the long run, who had always dictated to the clock,
and not the clock to him; for long after reveile,
when It stuck It's face for the FIRST time out of the
mist, and when the graduate would have sworn 1t
was eight O'Clock there were the old hands on the
dial pointing to one half hour and twenty eight
seconds after six. What could be the matter?
Was not there put up job by somebody 70 make the
hands travel a second in minute and keep losing
ten minutes every houf9 1t looked very much ike
1t; and yet there stood old Bentz nonchalanty
ever, gazing upon the face Of the confounded thing,
and waiting patiently until the time came for him TO
BLOW HIS BUGLE.
What right had he to mind the clock when it got
itself out OF order-for out OF order the "grads''
were certain 1t was. "IIo, Bentz !" cried one from
his room; 'theres no use waiting, old fellow: fix the
time YOURSELF there's a screw loose somewhere in
the tower to-day.n Bentz grinned placidy, and put
the bugle 10 his mouth. The graduate gave Jump
and a wloop that Red Cloud would have been proud
of, and never complained Of ache or harm when he
found himself on the broad OF his back between the
wall and his trunk the presence of which latter
article he had entirely forgotten. Bsntz didn't blow
the horn, however. He had only placed IL to his
lips TO humor his huge black mustache out Of an
uncomfortable twist. The graduate lay for a mo-
ment behind his trunk, and no sound coming from
the bugle he got on his feet ''Io, Bentz p but
Bentz only grinned and shook his head, as much as
to say ave been here blowing this buge for
twenty-five years or more and can't be fooled no.
h0w.o The graduate looked at his watch 1t was
a bran new gold one, genuine Jurgensen
a present from his mamma who gave II to him be-
cause he didn't lead his class at the foot lie knew
1t good timepece, and yet there 1t was in per-
feet accord with that good for nothing clock Could
It be possible? lie knew he was ready to swear that
1t was nearer twelve O'Clock than the watch and the
clock told him, and wasn't graduate, who had
studied astronomy and who had cen taught how to
tell which way the wind blows and how many cadet
stars 1t takes to make moonshine, as good Judge
OF time as any wat ch or clock mere inanimate In
fallible things that they were9 He thought So and
looked at Bentz, who, he knew, did NOT think So
What good was the superiority OF the cadet mind
over watches or clocks. then? That was the ques-
tion. There was that clock and there In his hand
was the watch. They both told him that 1t was ten
minutes past eleven; and there was Bentz whose
to make mistake. The bugle couldnr tell time
without Bentz putting the breath Of life into
It, al1 Bentz was man he knew We'll. who couldn't
si e naa it, 4 @as sa e gy ss dSgss Sg
little deXterous movement OF finger on the fnce 81
Ma 1ee e s & Re @R f Re rensa Ss@
been clerk in store once. and had performed the
wanted to 90 home earlier than usual, ana he had
always succeeded. Surely Bentz wasn't airy smarter
than
so the new watch experienced the dexterous
movement, ana the graduate went to Bentz and
n@ its Ben ooKed a e wS wae and
then at the clock, end hastily put the buge to his
mouth. The graduate felt like turning two or three
sOmersaults and falling on half dozen picbes. But
tue bugle was lowered without q sound coming
from. from It and putting his haa1 beneath MS
% aal fnI abeea naas Wiz G ae % soSs a yss Sa
grinned most triumphant grin as he put It in his
pocket ana Iaia the 6nge q. on the gtoand The
to ae 81 Saack Sa IN
We're awaiting the result OF the strategy TIE story
OF his roat was told and court martial" q as.
sem6led TO Try Benl. Meahw Iie, without the
SSHy ps5ssyps s6sS svea IT, sowv Ss na9as 5
crept the long al1oW-pointed minute hand, till 1t
reached the top Of the circle The court had come
TO a decision and the presiding genius Of the Occa
sion had risen to pronounce
THE WORD OF DOOM,
when the hammer of the clock began to strike and
a
Bentz knew what the court had done and was de-
termiDed to have as little breath left in his body,
for tie death scene, as possible The blast OF
the trumpet OF the priests with Joshuas army
laid low the walls Of city, but the sound from
and while cheer upon cheer rent the cir and hand OF
friend clasped hand OF friend as the words at asJ'
uttered in tones of gladness the class Of 10
was memory Of The thing that were. Bentz was
saved and the army Of the Union made stronger.
THE FAREwELLs
The graduates had their baggage all packed and
sent to the dock long before the clock had struck the
knell Of their cadet life, and so the Transportation
scene was thing OF a moment and so in the twink
ling Of an eye, when the final hour had come, where
had been a few minutes before 'boys" in gray
and bell buttons there appeared men in artil
on their heads all vain with the freshly
won crossed swords and ordnance. Everyone was
eager to leave the academy at the lrst moment but
the joyful leave-taking was mol altogether joyful;
and as the newlymade officers in pairs and parties
went from one officers house to another to bid good
bye 10 those who had encouraged them year after
year IN their trials to struggle on manfly and only
look forward to the day they had finally reached
the unbidden tear started to many an eye and words
that were to be spoken found no utterance. The
final farewells were said when the boat steamed up
to the dock. 1t was with trembling lips that the
God speeds were uttered by those who remained be.
hind and 1t was with trembling lips that the good
byes were pronounced by those who were leaving
perhaps nevermore to return. There was mingled
Joy and sorrow among the graduates when the boat
left, but there was naugh but sorrow Tor those who
went up the mn to the haH deserted barracks with.
out their old comrades.
THE ALUMNI DINNER
took place this evening, and was, as predicted, an
occasion which was made very enjoyable by the re-
union OF old classmates, who had, IN many cases,
never met since the day they had bidden their fare
wells to the Academy years ago. Professor Dawes
presided. The two oldest graduates present took
their diplomas over ifty years ago, and 1t so hap
apurely social organization, and has no political COM
piexion whatever, its bylaws prohibiting ausion IN
speeches by members at reunion or business meet
ings politics things political. Colonel Parsons
who had been since the idea Of the alumni was
started, OF its most active lfegvers supervised
all the arrangements for the dinner, and,