The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-21
WEST POM T.
Close of the Examination of
All the Glasses.
s-~-~~~->~S~-~~----~~--
STUDY VERSUS GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.
"A New Way to Master q DifI1-
cult Subject.
The Report Of the Board Of Visitors and
What II Will Be.
PLAIN TALK AND NO NONSENSE.

PLAIN TALK AND NO NONSENSE.
WEST POINT. June 90, 1871.
To the great relief OF the members OF the Board
OF Visitors, who have had the fortitude to remain
here until all
THE UNDER GRAZ UATE CLASSES
had been hauled over the Goals by the examining
professors, the annual excoriation came to an end
this afternoon. l am sorry to say. however.
that the second class viii renew Its studies
next September with depleted ranks, owing to
circumstances over which the '.unfortunates'' could
have had control had they paid more attention
during the past year t, their studies than they
actually did. 1t may not be generally known that
the examination OF the second class Is the Rubicon
OF cadet lie which, once crossed In safety,
makes q blue coat and shoulder straps almost
certain for every one Of the next years gradu-
Rtes Chemistry Is the great stumbling block OF the
second year, and the way the CADETS manage to
escape getting Tound" on the subject oftener than
they do Is one Of those mysteries which but few
people can solve The fact ls the chemistry text
books very rarely studied thoroughly, and
some OF the instructors have such little con-
6dence in themselves that In the eXamlna-
lions they are like fish out OF the water when
they venture to catechise the cadets on "chim."
without the text books open before them. had
conversation day or with one or the cadets,
who passed a good examination, on the subject
al didn't read chlm.' over once. let alone study
It," he exclaimed.
"Then now did you manager
~ went IN on general knowledge"
.'Of what?n
''Of chemistry, to be sure"
"Wasn't that rather risky9"
1T may be- but nine out OF ten do the same thing
AMI succeedn
''Supposing You were kept right down to the
exact explanations as gwen in the text books."
swell, then The might be different. That is
tried on; but when fellow goes In with pretty
STOCK OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
the subject there very little danger OF his being
trpped up so badly as to get zero. Now as to the
study OF the languages the cadets nave to suffer.
GLOW so?n
"l'n say French, for example. The cadet goes up
70 the blackboard and Is told TO write out sentence
IN French. He inadvertently puts masculine ad-
jectlve with feminine noun. That's wrong cries
the professor and the cadet is told to take seat"
"Where's the Injustice In thats"
"II Is just here. Wen say the examination is
beng held before committee. When the Professor
says That's wrong he doesn't take the trouble TO
say what Is wrong about the sentence but jots
down his bad mark, and the other members OF the
committee, who may not know French, and, conse-
quenily, are ignorant where the wrong Is follow
suit, and under the impression that the cadet has
:lessed badly, give him a zero"
i SIMPLY give this conversation to show In the
nrst place how in some respects q cadet has to
depend moro upon his general knowledge than
thorough study for success, thanks to the hamper
ing ways OF some OF the instructors, and In the
second place how cadet Is often "zerOedr when he
doesn't deserve anything OF the kind.
THAT OFFICIAL REPORT.
Now that all the classes have passed through the
annual overhaung, the Board OF Visitors will be at
liberty to close up their report. What this report
Will be Is the question which is already causing con-
siderable speculation. We all know what Board
or Visitors report amounted to every year for
long time past 1t consisted simply OF
few pamphlet pages giving dry account
OF the examinations from day to day, tedious
meraton OF he military exercises had almost every
paragraph winding up with some 1ulS0me quaifca-
tion oil praise II any suggestions were made they
were made in such mil and-water way aud about
would nave had more weight II they lad never ey
been made at all. Last year. 10 be sure there was
sort OF special board OF visitors. IN addition TO the
regular Board, composed Of congressman and Sena.
TORS Their appointment was looked upon as move
IN the right direction, and everybody who took an
nat their report Would i,e MT West
Tain and the mouse over again iet how could
II have been otherwiseS How could the report or
the Board OF Visitors that were here with them
have been other than in was, or differed In any way
from the pralsea style Of It's predecessors Hadn't
every Congressman and Senator on the special com.
mttee, and hasn't every member OF the Board
of Visitors from year to year heretofore allowed
sights ana enjoy himself in every possible way that
the Academy managers could invent for his enjoy
81 nospitaties right and left break the head Of this
officer and drink the wine of that one, and could it
be expected that any one of taem could turn right
FIND FAULT WITH ANYTHING
Rfterwardss OF course not. Then, again. II the
mp their minds to drop into the mess hall at meal
time. they always made certain TO give timely
Whenever they intended to look in upon any other
epace Of interest" in the institution. do not mean
changed from ITS ordinary aspect so as TO make
the visitors leave every '.pace of INTEREST,"
Hence. Oh, moi such things. I believe, have
been heard OF great public institutions where the
favor at West Point no DOUBT every cadet who
shakes his head ominousy when you sndeavor 10
btner thing, or as to whether some things are made
Eo@te,T De rose while the Board OF Visitors are
TOR the present the suggestion made by
h member OF Congress some time ago that
upon The institution every once in awhile and make
sworn report upon all they could see let us look
Mt what the Board OF Visitors OF the present year
ere to do There are three members OF the Board,
am happy to say. who mean 10 break loose from the
Pd aduaton business and take The bui right by the
horns. In the first place, they will not connne
themselves TO glitterIng generalliiess and the
and such drill ana how this and that high person.
age said every 6ne,r anu All that; but they
ATTEND to criilcse and press upon the attention OF
Congress- not merely suggest changes IN the
management and conduct OF the institution which,
had they been made three or four years ago. would
have made West Point what II was before the war,
q sacred thing In the eyes VI the people. Now,
most important one Is to make the sue
cess OF cadet and MS stay at the
academy dependent solely upon his ability ana the
way he conducts himself. To do 90 this 1t Will be
necessary 10 return To old times. customs, and
SHUT POLITICS OUT