New-York tribune., 1870-09-07
WEST POINT.
THE SEPTEMBER EXAMINATIONS.
LARGE NUMBER OF REJECrIoNs-" HAZING u
THE COLORED CADET QUESTION.

concluded Saturday aNe
extensive slaughter" OF aspirans than did those OF
About go out OF appointees who reported in
June were rejected OF thobi young men who presented
at the late examinations to take the places OF
those previously rejected only 25 were admitted They
were altogether fne-appearing body OF young men,
and they came with ample warning as 10 the dcuites
before them 80 that II conscious OF deficiencies 1t would
eon, that thew would decline the test As rule, they
nassed the physcal examination well; but many were
tripped In the rudmentary branches OF scholarship
fDeAcient in grammar" was the verdict against sew
eral Though not held TO be alone cause OF re-
lection IL was noted that hrgo proporuoh OF
them were very bad speLers Ths) deficiency Is
one which has OF late been very commonly alleged
the rising generation. One OF the candidates ex-
cited smile among some Of theveteran officers who saw
their first service under scott and Tayor NY stouty
maintaining that rst battle of the war with Mexl-
CO" took place at New Orleans. Appointees IN prepar
ing Themselves for examination, are apt to neglect to
frebep their memories az 10 the simpler studies Of their
Juvenile days and are taken by furprise by questions
which cont, ., 10 tner expectations rarely give them
opportunlr -splay their requirements IN the hgher
branches n - yourg fellow nom lar western state,
but OF Old KnokcriS descent, exceedingly alhlete,
bright and spirited entered under the farest auspices
for succes IN the denominations If powerful personal
and poal influences together with bis own proposes
sing appearanee, could have been OF avail the way
would have been clear before him. But he had not been
10 school for three four years. was not upto the stand
ard In scholarship, and fell under the Impartial rung Oh
the examiners. |
Numerous 2, ncn, from various states near and
far had acconp, : their sons 10 the Point, and In
some cases even - of Congress were present Win
constituents who had sought their aid and influence IL
ia OF course TO expect that any one can oe OF
assistance in securing admission to the Academy ai'ef
the appointment has been made. Congressnen under
stand t,, very well hut constituents apt to he
little slow in comprehendng that there may be limit to
the potent influence Of the honored member The rea-
tyes and friends Of the appointees gathered about the
post headquarters last Saturday afternoon ana a&
oly awaited the announcement OF the result OF the ex
amnations which had promised. Upon the Super
ntendent Commandant, and Adjuant, fell the duty OF
answering innumerabe inquiries of nervous, soicltous
people who equally dreaded and desired to hear the
verdict Men could not be kinder, more consderate, OF
more delicate than these officers were Needless to say
ID was painful duty TO have to announce In many cases
the final defeat high hopes and cherished ancpations
The new cadets told that they would shortly re-
ceve the coveted new uniforms, and were assigned TO
their permanent quarters The unsuccessful ones pre-
pared TO leave at once for their homes where they will
doubtless find open to them which they will u
mately consider preferable to the life OF army Off
GERS, which is generally unsettled and monotonous.
Many Of them glad to quit place where they have
for week undergone probably the most disagree
able experiences OF their lives They have been hazed
yet have had the satisfaction OF being advanced
to position where they may haze others. The June
men, well az these made well acquainted Win
the tormenting power Of barracks full Of students
Surprising say the most active prosecutors OF the
September were these same June bugs as they
are called As incident growing out OF the cooca-
tion of large number of lively boys In the playground
and dormitory, hazing" has long been accepted
as an unavoidable evil, varying according TO the
degree of the average depavity Of boy-hnd.
West Point officers say, in palliaton of the present
oenses that they not aggravated as those OF
the kindgweveRye This, perhaps establishes
the fact that the homes of those OF the present classes
influences have been eXerted to curb somewhat more
than formerly the instinct of boys to persecute lame
dogs sick kittens and other feeble and helpless
lures "Hazing is of the things which boys learn
to practice before they West Point the fact Of
continued existence of the practice at the Academy
greater eproach to the authorities there than would
be the at any college, for the severity of the disc
pne and close military surveillance bring the habits OF
the cadets thoroughly within the control Of their
rlor officers That the evil is still a serious one is shown
by the indignant complaints OF those gentlemen who
recently accompanied therons to thelPoint. One
will for illustration Of all others, generally
business from of the Middle States presented
his for examination, and himself waited the result
The boy about sixteen years Of age-we reared |
thoroughly subordinate, vet manly. and for a
number OF years had been rather the friend |
and daily,cOmpanon ofs his father than simply
Let father tell thestory himself the facts being
derstood to detailed Friday evening pre-
tions "My son several certificates of competence
from teacher Of the institute in our town. He has
already passed the physical examination and have
had little doubt Of his passing in the examination 10
scholarship But he tells that he don't more |
than half wish to enter, and / growing Indifferent
about II myself. He put in room with nine others,
and had TO sleep the floor with single blanket and
has been put thoroughly out OF sorts because he has MT
been used TO such hardship. But that do MT make any
particular difference to him. does he complain of it,
He has been harassed and nsulted much though not
struck that he is becoming out. The first address
he received in the barracks from young cadet who
called him by vile He wanted TO fight, but he
afraid it would Interfere with his examination.
During the day, when in his rOom he was continually
ntcrfered with by cadets, who seemedtohave no other
object In doing except to exercise their powers OF
command over himso he gave up the attempt to read,
he found t impossible. When IL night OF
the cadets put the through as |
they called IL, and IL was all very disagreeable. When
they In ne IN the drills aud parades, marching
meals and SO on, they continually bawled at and
yawped at by the cadet corporal in command Of them,
singled out and insuted by for everything they
did though they all anxious TO do their best and
were treated just like lot OF roustabOuts. feel that
my son has been treated with needless indgnes by the
young cadets around and in command of him-and |
have never taught him TO submit to such things from
anybody without resentng them. II he only |
through the examination, wouldn't much mind IL,
perhaps but the effect Of this sort OF thing todamage
him and UNFIT him for examination and do not feel that
he is having fair test" The boy did ultimately fail.
Other gentlemen related similar Of affairs in
gard to their own and II is doubtless in effect the
same story that has been told thousand times before
Some portion Of the complaint course rather of inn
agnsy and trivial greyances and OF necessary Incl
dents OF the passage from civil into military life. The
evil however, which clearly must be reformed is in sub
iecting young gentlemen these
they are admitted TO the Academy andturng the criti
cal period OF examination OF unaccustOmedbsence from
home, and Of becoming familiar strange scenes and
customs. II cannot be otherwise than injurious to a |