The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-09
EST POM
Continuation Of the Examination Of the
Graduating Class.
A REVIEW BEFORE THE PRESIDENT.
The Cadet Eop and Preparations
for the Event.
ARRIVAL OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

WEST POINT, June s, 1871.
The graduates have managed up to to-day to get
through with the more difficult branches OF their
studies with the greatest success and what remains
OF the excoriaon Is 80 insignificant in comparison
with what has already been successfully accom-
plished that even the .'immortas' who hold up the
class from the lowest rungs OF the ladder now wear
SMILE OF TRIUMPH
that betokens great deal OF glory for the nnaL
WIND up. Judging from the way all the members OF
the class have so tar succeeded In getting safely
through the tolls laid for them by the professors the
class or II will leave the institution without a
solitary one OF their number falling by the wayside.
As for young Fred Grant, he has done.
splendidly. l had occasion few days
ago to call attention to his examination
in engineering which was brilliant one,
and since then he has been overauleu in mineralogy
ana cavalry tactics, and, am happy to say, has
not been found wanting IN any particular. so the
talk that has been INDUCED in concerning Fred's
chances OF being slaughtered. unless he was i'm
mensely favored by people who depend upon his
father for their hold high official life. have
amounted to nothing in the long run, and the
record will have proven that even Presi-
dents son can 40 his best when he likes, and
not be hindered IN the successful doing OF 1t by
crOakers and carpers who are ever ready to malgn.
abuse and caumnlate when there Is the least cause
for either. BY the way, speaking Of the last branch
OF the studies-cavalry tactics-which the cadets
were examined upon to-day reminds me that some
OF the officers who profess 10 know great deal about
the subject took great deal OF pains during the
examination to bother the cadets with questions
which were meant TO give outsiders grander idea
OF the extent the said officers wisdom than that
OF the cadets. One OF them tried his best during
the ordeal to puzzle the gray coats by asking them
all sorts OF questions, which had as much bearing
no rv oct ~ "
THE GROWTH or CABBAGES.
One OF his summers was tins, when Is horse's
nonsense stared AT the Onicer for q second as
though to determine in his own mind whether the
claimed, ii can't explain that, SIR" The ofacer
snickered and the cadet went to his seat as If lie
world had not died yet. He was NOT the
only one OF the same opinion, and doubt very
much II the calculation OF the many mysteries OF
the conglomerated cavalry tactics which the corps
are nowadays supposed to solve with care and COM
Tort is made any tue more an obec OF ambition by
such utter bosh as this. The temptation to appear
smart upon the part OF some or the shoulder
strapped gentry here, at the eXpena of common
sense, is too strong sometimes to b, overcome.
Mores the pity.
TIE CADETS IN CoNCER
Nilsson gave the cadets grand IRE ..st night.
As IL was totally unexpected IL was all the more
llghtful. she dned with General Upton, and then
to me e., new man. WHERE the e cadets had
Colonel hascal and his wife, by some means or
other not yet known movie, to the Inc, discipline
into the room covered piano, and when Nilsson
arrived the masked battery was exposed TO view
aud a tiger would be saying nothing, for the cadets
grew wild In their enthusiasm, and would have
the post IN triumph had the sudden appearance OF
President Grant ana his wife not brought the boystO
their cool senses The sweet songstreSs bowed her
Acknowledgements, apparently greatly embarrassed
by 1he overwhelming demonstration. and Tor q tune
posed fI and opened WITH swealisn song Of sThe
Seasons ana then sang 'Old Folks at Home"
Ba." CaIes WEBSTER Of the Graduating casss
then sang 81 am Dying, Egypt, Dying" and the
entire corps followed N grand cnorns WIN the
then closed with a Swedish song, which she used to
sing when she was little girl and went about with
her violin In hand The pleasantest part OF the
whole concert was the presentation to the song
stress OF a necklace OF bell buttons-each button
being taken from the uniform or each cadet-as u
THE CADET HOP.
Extensive preparations are being made for tho
grand hop which, is 10 be given TO the graduating
class on the 18th inst. at CoZzenS' Hotel. The ball
given 10 the gradnales Of the class OF last year was
by all odds the most magnificent AFFAIR OF the kind
which West Pointers ever had the happiness OF en-
loying and Mr.. sylvanus Cozzens, who Knows
. hop and what young ladies Ike who
like young cadets, ana, IN fact what every balgoer
buttons champagne and plenty Of gold lace Is de-
termned tins year TO Guido the hops Of the past IL
he can lind room Tor the hundreds who to be on
hand, and provender enough to satisfy the delicate
palates OF the fasidous bellies who VIII swarm
ABOUT, as tliCk as beeS ABOUT u nlVc 10 eaten a
military husband before the season bids them q.
goodbye.
REVIEW BEFORE THE PRESIDENT.
A battalion drill and review were given before the
President this afternoon, and after n1ghfal the rst
class entertained the visitors with an exhibition IN
the explosive bombshe line the exhiDition as a,
pyrotechnic display superb, and attracted hun
ureds Oh visitors from all parts OF the surrounding
country. IL should be said that the shells used
the occasion were MADE by the frs.clas5
during the past year. III The "boys'
hereafter In the army make as much noise and
throw such an amount of light into dark places as.
tnelr smells did tonight they will certainly have no
reason 10 regret Their West Point experlence-that
Is, II the noise and the light combined serve TO nI
empty cpauets with colonels' eagles and generals
stars.
ARRIVAL OF TIE SECRETARY OF WAR.
General Belknap, Secretary oil war, arrived to-
day and was welcomed with the usual salute.