New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-09
PLEASURE DAYS AT VEST POINT.

ILEdDChE DdIS ~ ULcf IVINb'
REvIEw-ARRIvAL OF THE SECRETARY OF
wAR-CADET GRANTS PROFICIENCY AS
STUDENT.
WEST POINT, June Seven pleasure here
seems TO assume a languor and monotony, not wholly
OF keeping with the prm obseryances OF the place
There is nothing lacking TO make the place In every
way attractive to travellers for peasure-"For all
Etrurias nobest are round the fatal plaee"-the
head and front Of the nation, the Minister OF war,
eminent minister and professors perfect galaxy Of
the names that delight the soldiers heart to hear Sun
ming themselves in the sunshine Of tho great hghts como
troops OF bellies and demure mammas, wisely Thought
full OF that first maxim Of war, "aways do just What
your enemy don't want you TO-" The gayetes OF Sara
toga and Newport are combined here IN
the : magnificent drives and the dehghum
water views During the whole of the sunny days in
Vulnerable carriages filed with curious visitors detle
In continual succession before the shady balcony OF the
West Point House. The President evidently enjoys the
place, and, sitting during greater part OF inc
day on the yeranda, unc0nsci0usly ATTRACTS thlS
cavalcade of the curious 1t must be an unspeakable
comfort to him to find spot in which his life IL not
rendered burden by Fostering pace-worshipers Here
notwithstanding his reputation TO the contrary he Is not
in the remoest way retcent. Filled with good humor,
and Enthusiastically resling this annual revisitation OF
his boysh mseres and mysteries, he turns an ear OF
courteous attention, and seems anything DuC d Silent
man.
To-day the brazen monsters that frown from the eN-
trme battIemens found need their oudest uproar
Rather uneypecedly the Secretary Of War Gen. Bel
kuap came join his chief and the usual salute shook
the hills announcing his arrival Gen. Grant had de-
sired the diplomas be awarded by the General OF the
Army, rs it is the appropriate custom, but
Cen Sherman, OFF on the plains could not
be TRANSPORTED hitler in time for the occa-
ant Sheridan
in rank was also of the question: and the grave and
grim Maor-Gen Meade WILL If he Obeys the summons,
be called on give the class their sheepskns Just
why the President docs not make the awards himself Is
not known further than that he proposes leaving on
Monday, and the diplomas will not be conferred until
Tuesday
The rain OF Yesterday delayed great deeds, whereon
all mind, and hearts were set but the brilliant sunshine
of this morning restored confidence, and an order from
the Adiutants Office informed all whom it concerned
that q grand battalion review, In honor OF Gen.
Grant or the President, rather, would be given
on the campus at in the afternoon Inc
order did concern great many more than the
amabe Adjuant bargained for and bright eyes beamed
benignantly at the prospect OF such sweet DOOM
The uttered and unuttered melody here is just now
Jaime e Mdire," which the unmuscal bluntness or
the cadets renders into, :" love the Millinery" sung
with ndscreet vehemence the plains and under the
naples.
The longdrawn agony OF examination still continues
and the cadets come tIe tiresOme work with unhag
gng couac interest and intelligence. The directors
OF the institution have TO disTust the Judgment
passed on their four years work. II this is any auguy OF
the rest Certainly, thorough examinations, so far
as they co. could not be expected OF students required 10
master mental details Of sciences so complicated
az those that cOntriye TO form the Art OF War; In
Ordnance and Gunnery, Cadet Grant came on the ros
trum to-day again, and acquitted himself with the same
excellent good and intelligence that have marked
his recitations hitherto. He is by means the fore
most lad I'm the class but he Is not far from the front
his public examination and evident excellent parts
arc taken as the ground work to Judge from Describing
the by no novel principles acting toward the de-
sructon Of guns in active service he raversed the sci
entfc points involved with succnctness and precision
and won as be has in all his efforts, warm commenda
ton This is the result Of being well abused Had the
good lad never been pushed out conspicu-
Dusty by his peculiar position, none would ever
have been specially moved TO comment on
him. His classmates speak well Of him, and bear testi-
mony TO his modesty and selfrestraint He avoWs his
purpose OF entering Col Mackenze's 5th Cavalry sta
toned In Texas and thereby gives evidence that the
golden spoon" will not keep him in the easy lap OF in
dolence when he shall be freed from the rgors Of the
Academy.
scene as Of grand jubilee befe, whensthe time for
narade and the grand review came about have before
feeby attempted to give picture OF this wonderful
corps in the action of review and parade Two hundred
lads trained TO the minutes nicely of time and notion
moving like clockwork over an Incompatible green
syard level billardtabe. and 1.-THE whole group so
eunningy aligned that no difference can be detected in
their hight and discrepancy in the step, or the
SWAY and swing OF the body-the picture is
beyond description and am told that military men OF
the highest rank from other countries admit that there
IA no other such practical corps in the world Such
Amusement as this fills up good share Of the time, while
in the shaded squares countless equpages are packed
with the bravest decked Of all the ladies In the
land to give appropriate setting to the animated scene
Even Nilsson lends her illustriOus presence,
and as usual, shares the lions place with the
modest gentleman who efficiently holds him
sa,f I'm the background The vivacous move
meuts grow languid, the grand play plays
out and the light OF life and beauty vanish from the
brilliant scene Then OF Derby day comes
ON with grand rush-locking and clashng OF wheels,
mpolite undertones deafening roar OF guns, chaos,
and the pageant has passed stl the mass of the
crowd is not satated and the daylight dies the groves
fill with whispering SWANS and impressonable trihers
Tomorrow will end the formal examination, and by
Tuesday next the standing OF the graduates Will have
been ascertaned and published TO the expectant friends
OF the incipient warriors.
EXAMINING ARMS FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD !