Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-06-22
Life ut West Point.

A correspondent gives some items OF
interest from West Point, Of the cadets
he says The cadets enjoy the place,
and verify believe relish the discipline.
In the outward circumstances of life they
are much better off than most young
people indebted to public institutions
Their rooms are spacious, well furnished
and never crowded. Their table is
excellent and the quantity of food in no
way stinted. Each student is allowed
$50 month, and from this he is expect
ed to support himself and dress in the
regulation uniform, and have moderate
nest-egg when his four years term is
ended. The students are trained by
their very surroundings to an almost
preternatural consciousness of their own
high mission and the duties and respon-
sibiities therein involved. Every day
they take their training in halls hung
with the captured banners of Great
Britains army, or drill in sight of long
rows Of cannon, captured on the fields OF
Mexico. There is not rock or tree ON
the 2,105 acres but suggests some remi-
niscence dear to the soldier, from the
relics Of Kosciusko to the monument of
Sedgwick. Here remain the relics of
works Arnold tried to betray into the
enemy's hands. Here the presence of
that unhappy Andre, legend has it,
haunts the scene of his woeful late.
Here Washington trained those battalions
whose work ended ut Yorktown. Each
lad, from his study window, can see
lunumerable imperishablc memorials of
the valiant contest that wrested this
cherished citadel from the British. Every
building, nook and Granny of the leafy
place is eloquent of the valor of our SOL
diers and the achievements of our arms.
Just now, however, there is enough Of
the gay outside world here to school the
most unsophisticated minds. The cadets
enjoy it amazingly, and when the harsh
tyranny of discipline relaXes for mo-
ment, there is no lack of attention to the
bevies of girls who wander through the
innumerable leafy collonades. But dis
appointment has befallen the graduates
this year. Like the Lady of Shalott, the
punishment is still upon them, and strug-
gle as they will, the meshes cannot be
broken. For this they are deprived of
that great entertainment which annually
brings together the first fashionable
hegira from the cities. The great ball,
given at other times by the graduates, is
this year forbidden.
The new appointees muster bravely.
Outraged parents are murmuring loudly
against the semi-hazing through which
the boys are rushed. Said an indignant
Kentuckian "They took and COM
PEELED him to stand on his toes, with the
end of a string dangling from the ceiling
in his teeth, and kept the poor boy there
until he nearly burst blood-vessel."
And again "The son of Gen. X. was
pointed to an open door by the sentinel
Walking in cadet Of pepper-box pro-
portion shouted, Leave your hat out
side Complying, the poor fellow re-
turned, and the irascible urchin, unmol-
lifted, again imperiously commanded him
to knock before entering. This done,
he demanded of the badgered boy,
What State are you from 2? Kentucky
he answered, simply. Kentucky, Sir,
shouted his prosecutor. Say Sir, when
you answer us.
"This works not going to do" said
the irate narrator, wnthfully the whole
Board have been watching things, and
they mean to pat stop to this bullying
of the new boys by the Others" A re-
port to that effect will go to Congress
when the proper time comes so I am
informed by leading members.