The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-16
The Suspension Of Smith What
He Says About It.


half hour after five every one Of the graduates had
thrown aside every vestige OF his former uniform
aud donned civilians garb or an
"ARAY BLUEi
outf1t, much 10 the envy OF The members OF the
other classes. who were destined to remain behind
The entire forenoon spent by the new officers IN
settling up their accounts and IN visiting the pro.
essors and other residents OF the post. Several of
them were so impatient to get away that they took
the early trains without waiting to bid goodby to
anybody, and not q few actually left their trunks
and valIses at the barracks in their haste. totally
obIivlous Of the fact that trunks and vaiises do
not generally take themselves to trains or boats
unless they get little human aid in the
attempt. AS in years past quite large
number banded together and made up a lively
party to go 10 New York to enjoy themselves before
separating TO leave for their respective homes. This
party, which composed all the choice spirits Of the
GLASS; left by the Daniel Drew in the afternoon, and
were accompanied TO the wharf by few members
OF the second class and the unhappy fellows of their
own number who had been put back to other
classes from year to year after their pleDen Lie
had ended and the class had fairly started on Its
academic year.
THE PARTING
between these members and the graduates was very
affecting, and one or two Of the cadets broke down
completely as the boat moved out into the stream
and were unable to artlculate q word when tue
goodbys were spoken for the Lass time.
Sad hour at parting too quickly here,
Spirits to sever linked by each thought,
Bringing thy ANGUISH Tsy by S,.s st' :sa teal"
THE LEADING STAR.
AS had occasion TO point out in my last letter. the
graduating class which has Just left was one OF the
very BEST as tar as study record was concerned
which ever graduated. The leaaer, Cadet Wasson
strange to say, never went to any academy
before he came here. During the war he
joined of the Iowa regim ents and was in active
service for upwards or eighteen months. All the
schooling" he had before he got his appoint
ment West Point he got little Western district
school; so the idea which generally prevailsEamong
people who think that the leader OF graduating
class here must OF necessity have received o very
thorough education In some other academy before
coming is not always a correct one. On the other
hand, several OF the members OF the class
who did not graduate even among the stars,
had passed through regular academic course be-
lore their "plebe' lie began ut this place. WATSON
Is very fine looking fellow physically, being tall,
well proportioned aud as straight an arrow. He
was born In Onio, but went TO Iowa when quite
child where he was brought up among the hardy
people who make up the bulk OF the population or
years and six months Old when he entered the
academy IN june 1867. 1t will thus be that his
active military career as
PRIVATE SOLDIER
during the war must have begun when he was
about sixteen years OF age Owing TO the action OF
Congress u year OF 50 ago, the Engineer Corps has
been completely shut against the present class and
IN the ordnance branch OF the SER Ice there are
vacancies; so WATSON and the four stars' who fol.
low him order OF merit Will be compelled, despite
themselves, TO take brevct leutenancles, If they
Saa Possibly s get ne n on hs e WHICH
least this Is rather rough on the 'stars" OF the
present year. Their fate might have been a
less TO do with the regulation OF the destines OF
graduates than they mad four years ago, when not
only the five stars OF the graduating class
made engineers but the seven VINO followed them.
This innovation was brought about to reach the son
among the s.sars-n Had only the usual number Of
graduates at that time Deen made engineers there
might have been chance for the classes which
have followed TO be represented in the corps by at
least their head leaders, Speaking OF the various
branches OF the service reminds me that
FRED GRANT
is his father did before him, 10 begin his military
career an infantry olcer. This would be mat
ence was Tor another branch, as his graduating
standing was too low to allow OF his being made any
nng sse ne may ge INTO cavalry
should prefer the infantry. He would certainly
make an excellent cavalry. ofrcer. TO be
the cavalry tactics standing, but that was
because he did not do as well In explaining the
studied harder. There is no better horseman In the
graduating class than Fred, and In the squadron
more steadily than he or who was able to cut right
and left with greater accuracy with the sabre when
In inc Sauule. HaQ u CONVERSATION Win MIN
terday, and asked him whether he intended to re.
main In the service.
WELL" said he, ~ do intend to remain IN the SER
vice-at least Tor tlme-Just 70 get good taste
for it,
Il suppose your father wishes you to remain in
the armyYo
'Not he.n
''Why not"'
II don't know. He would like to have me leave
1t at once. but don't see H. and Fred laughed In
his good nalured way, much as TO say, dad may
be President but he can't make me do everything,
you KNOW"
by the way asked MS was about to leave his
room, and came very near tumDling head first into
his open "Saratogao AZ wheeled suddenly about,
you've read a good deal lately about you're gong
con, yes.n
.'It's all true, every word that las been published
about the engagement w and tried TO look very
solemn as lasked the question.
Fred stopped packing MS trunk, and, rolling his
sleeves up to his elbows, as he prepared for
FRESH DIVE
into the depths or an old military chest in corner
Certainly it's all true. Why they didn't tell all
they ought TO have told while they were about II.
The Princess TO have been here to see gradu-
ate II she hadn't mad too many domestic matters to
fix up In her mothers kitchen TO admit OF her
absence. Besides, they should have told how she
intended to buy cottage at Long Branch and give
her money away 10 the village Tor the support or
travelling EOnemians rom New fork and Then that
being eccentric she intended TO live near the beach
In stone nut during the wintcr.r Fred kept poking
away at the mysteries OF the military chest and
transferring them TO the trunk as he ratified OF THIS
news" that nobody had ever heard OF before. and
ended by saying,
and when fellows about 1t he ought TO stop at
nothing.u
"Who started the story first ~ asked, as ] en-
dcav0rcd To suppress a broad grim al the contemp-
tuous way in which Fred looked at an old PAIR OF
gray trowscrs as laid heavy stress ''bosh.n
.4tt. 1.nff Nm IN car "A