The New York herald., 1870-06-16
WEST PolNr. June Is. 1870,

mer years IL was customary 10 hold the emony on
the parade ground where The cadets Usually drill as
Infantry but although the plains have many attrac.
uons for visitors on certain occasions, they were
always found 10 be a rather uncomfortable place
FOR the graduation day- solemnes In the first
place. they do not differ from ordinary parade
grounds IN being unsteltcred, and, although they
are hemmed in on the west side by magnihcent
background of lofty mountains that fact was never
known to prevent the sun from rising IN the east
1t will be seen, therefore, thai the ''pains'
arc by no means nee place for vi,i.
tors to sit for hour or SO during
the delivesy or address or for the graduates and
their comrades to stand az parade rest clos ly
bu'toned in their thick uniforms with the thermo-
meter at eighty degrees This fact was just as plain
to everybody years ago IL is to-day; bet people at
West Point DO not diner much from most other peo.
pie In The world In certain particulars, ano one OF
them Is that il takes them long While TO learn what
Is good for them. don know exactly how the
thing occurred 10 the Superintendent but, be that as
II may, be decided that this year the
DIPLOMA CEREMONY
should lie held In front of the library. The good
suit OF the change evidenced at the .event' to-
day. The ground chosen for the occasion is
beautiful grass plot, where q very, very long time
ago number o! trees t,ok root and were allowed
to grow until the present day, unmolested even by
good Old Norris "woodman," who Is supposed
to have lived inst across the river. They are
grand old trees, which stretch their branches,
now hidden from sight by the thickest OF foliage,
for many eet beyond the parent trunks. The sun,
that takes full possession OF the parade ground from
it, rising to It's setting never gets peep at The grass
beneath the leaves OF these trees, and so more ap-
proprate spot could not nave been selected for the
event Of the day. AdJutant Boynton was, as usual,
of
ping out the groundn had 10 be done. This
mapping was quite simple. detail of sappeys
under captain Mthan formed tie border lines OF q
given square ana within the charmed space chairs
and camp stools were placed in bataon.like order
1or the accommodation OF the lady visitors. When
the nour h1ed for The ceremony 10 take place was
near ut hand the spectators began TO gather
from all quarters but until the dlstngu shed
people wnom west Point for good reasons must
got within The square the soldiers allowed no
piebean TO put his or her unsanctfed foot within
It, The distinguished people made their appearance
Q few minutes before the appointed time. General
Belknap's pleasant face showed itself FIRST, beamng
with with Smiles nn s as thong S It was e. that Of graduate
features of the day. General schrlver spurred
as usual, next passed tie lire. and was soon joined
by Mrs. Presldanr Grant, Mrs. General Beiknap.
Admiral Porter, General Micher, General Meyers,
18th TIE e. AwKwAHg Squad.
fessors ana officers Of the post This Imposing
array or distinction once well seated and pro-
per cared tor the undistnguished majority OF re-
within the sapper lines, when Sergeant McNamara
breathed more freely. Then came the imposing bart
9l the occasion The corps Of cadets headed by the
1ull band In their White uniforms, marched within
the reserved space and formed In line, facing the
visafors The members OF tho graduating class were
arms, while the other classes carried their rifles as
usual. The scene that the whole surroundings pre-
6cnted as the cadets came to "Order armsn and then
stood sat ease' while the band played sweet air as
only the West Point band can play. was one long to
pc remembered by those who had the good fortune
n N tfnA hn~n n
there, as field with daisies ' with tn little title
groups OF girls, nearly all Of whom, by some
the brilliant background formed by the officers
who stood just behind them; the motioness column
Of cadets facing where the Secretary Of War sat at
table beneath one OF the largest trees in the grOve"
the hills beyond the barracks, whence the melody
OF the music returned in sweet subaued
that was perfectly enchanting. When the last note
Of the music had died away the Secretary
called he handed him tie much coveted Diploma,
the reward for which he had struggled against "de-
merits' and every other Ill that a. cadet is heir
say that every one OF the graduates looked particu-
larly happy when he felt the Illuminated sqeepskin
nurried. TO be sure one Of them did, in returning
to the ranks, first drop his hat and Ia
picking It up droppel the pompon, and in picking
that up dropped the hat again; but that was not the
cadets fault for, The dlploma was new thing to
him.. and in tying to keep hold Of 1t with both
hands the poor hat was for second or SO
forgotten entirely When the last OF the "immor-
tails" had marched up. just proudly as the leader
OF the class Tor his sheerskn, the Secretary stepped
forward and delivered the following
ADDRESS TO THE GRADUATES.
LEM OF THE M Glass or s
ever which BINDS the institution which has
n0%s fs
In 6rs, woras for feel nm my inability sS i'm.
Hs's s1 Ssa 'ns Jun ''E
Is you skilled as Save
r. w IN those subjects Of study which 4 has
have been in your course Of instruction faithfully with
whsTsyer the s' story say'e Of 'Rs rs
have BY hsbis life thought and and a&s sady
sssas;!; WITH hh aqcpaoRs and VIA heasaraSs
tcnderinss ome to you 70 can tell what VIII
Sa vi Rie % vii
w oer S % y s S q s
GUS and often complicated duties which Will command
vo0 m :. oopa oTsIcEns OF Tue AanX ,,,os
ssy0na antspatO6 Though vast, @ Siormston
% at the % @ MRS rs. Year
ns @ ta d se section know room everything s yoH
tie close OF, your second how much more there is
IN % with than % and w nj % a % when
ssa sSo a :ars sns% 81 at sn
cannot be shakenppon p which gathering from fruitful
principles ncucated within the walls OF this academy and in
spred by the memories Of all the historic associations which
cluster around this veneraed SPOT will command the
dence OF the people and mark whom they
roy Passing through war which exhibited to an aston
1shed world our wonderful military resources the nation
itself looked with surprise upon the great which
aprang TO life before the echo of the first Of the
the rebellion had died awayarmies which were mainly
ofncered by men who came from the walks Of
civil ife Side by side with the heroes who won the
diplomas OF the Academy as you have them and who
csed on this plain where your tents have been pitched the
Whether they cheered their to victory under the
ship Of that peerless young ocer-that knghy soldier
the Western your own whether they
IN that line which stood like rock at Chcamauga with
own Thomas whether they marched down to the with the
victorious columns OF your own Serma that other line
fought II out although took all summer under
Grant; though volunteers they never atered In rusul
obedience to their commanders, and remember friends
!hst these commanders lost faith in their volunteers
The written history Of the nations filed with the gal
LIANT actions of
C1rI2EN SOLDIERS,
WILL am sure, command willing homage to their he.
roc deeds while as long their lives last the volunteer
troops OF the army OF the Union will give the tribute of SOL
% Se,y praise b 10 me men who stepped from the ranks Of
Forget rot what that country whose existence
united ahors Of these offered to preserve Apart
he Uh,o