The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-06
Brigham's Hopeful and Lord
Napier Escape Slaughter.
Beginning of the Examination OF
the Graduates.
YOUNG GRANT ON THE STAND.
Incidents Of the Examination and The Way the
Board Of Visitors Took the Ordeal.
wrsr POINT. June 6. Isl

The learned individuals whose especial and highly
agreeable duty II has eeen during The past week
to separate me chan rom the wheat ont OF the
huge bundle ol pebe sent here this year 10 be made
oicers IN 1878 at last completed their onerous
labors and washed their hands OF all blame IN the
matter or disappearing the aspirations Of the fend
parents OF tweEty-one gnoramuses. Fortunately
for the peace ard quiet o. West Point for four long
years 20 come
he OF the Srispy locks ana ebony complexion,
was not one OF the unfortunates. He came here to
stay, and Re wasn't gwne to git II good stock OF
HAIR, inherited from white ancestry-who couldn't
have been democrats or the modern negro hating
school log long od6s--was 10 he counted for any
thing liz the tussle for Uncle SANS quarters. The
doctors, as predicted they would, d,d not hggle
much about that love-lacerated heart ot his which
they found undcr three Weaknesses OF waistcoat.
The mental examination turned Out 20 he a mere
bagatelie for him. and although the professors gave
him some very kuotty problems TO work his way
through ne ddnt scare Continental and outhanked
them at every move
BRiGuAM's HOPEFUL,
too came OF: OF the ordeal unscathed. much 10 the
exceeding great JOY OF his polygamous self; Tor,
unlike Naeier. he mad idea OF his own wea kness
and want OF ability to get through all right that OF
Itself might have been the means OF swanipinf him,
are II ne can now hold the bitter end have
doubt that he viii ma the cadets not among
his enemies; Tor. all statements 10 the contrary not
outstanding, ne has far received and
welcomed As good fellow well met, aud Is by no
means regarded ny the gray coats an unit
associate simply because his father happens the
father OF great many other boys who are not.
strictly speaking. tins particular sons brothers.
THE EXaYINArIoS or TGE GRADUATES
hoc biz
the fate OF the plebes. All the prepara-
hons 10 commence the proceedings completed
yesterday afternoon while The professors were
airing sneir pieiy IN church. and early TINS morn
ing the first section IN englneerns! taken hold
Of. Now, II there lac Thing more ridiculous than
another during the examination OF ths first class,
70 Is the way the Board OF Visitors Try TO LOOK ana
Act wise aud profound enough for The occasion
without ever beng able 10 attain their Object. II
Q mistaken idea with people who are moi very wen
acquainted with tic mJGa.' oOrrntt3' 0i tAe cNan
nations That the system OF yearly visit 10 tie
Academy by
FEW uNwAailkE GENTLEMEN
was created for the special purpose of having the
status OF the graduates defined by persons hot coii-
nected with the Academy. sucn was not the case.
fhe board, or rather board, appointed every
simply to be present and report upon what
see ana hear while they enjoy themselves on the
post al the government expense. They have neither
voice nor vote in determining the standing OF the
graduates or OF the other cadets for Tue professors
lave AL To- say about IT, Just though there
was sucn thing a. an official visitor III existence,
Under the circumstances the men who are APP
pointed on the board are not 10y any means APP
pointed because OF any particular genius they may
nave for the military art or ANYTHING else that Is
toll ana labor tits mol 10 he expected therefore That
they should know any more than the general run OF
outsiders about the subject matters OF the military
examination or the cadets. One would naturally
think hat "a view OF This iact. the wisacres OF the
uoard would fare better by holding Their tongues
lhan trying their hands trade hcs strangers
"a. II Is their want OF common sense III this matter
which makes mp the rid;cuous part o. the examlna
uon. The board this year evidently pent upon
following IN the wake Of It's predecessors, and to-day
gave several evidences Of their desire ~ nave their
httie say III what was going on No one enjoys thls
KIND of thing better than tpe cadets ana the
IN. Mt a "plapk" Is discovered buting in hrs
Ore they make up their minds do all
they can individually, not oniy To ret up a splash
Tor the oar DIP, out also 10 allow the plank
10 take plunge on hts own account mo waters II
can't naturally 1oat III. rms afternoon one OF tue
Board busted himself a actively rs though he was
In duty bound TO commit To memory every word
that each OF the cade.s uttered IN answer 10 ques-
lions put 10 him. hut found IL job to caLch at
the meaning OF the subject at issue. Every once in
while he had 10 tlirn 10 Of the professors and
pester MIN half 10 death with questions Ike these:
." nat do you call tnat subject - ''Ah just SO,
ing OF this term - Several times the amoiious
visitor was kindly supplied with one OF the text
DOCKS on enaipeei ing, ana the page ana Dne
pointed out 10 nun where he cond see
for himself just what tnis or that thing
really looked like III print Even alter these acts OF
Kindness lad been abundanii, shoNered upon TWO
three OF The Board they looked iDqurln2iy about
tlonary OF military terms. When the graduates are
examined on Law ana ethics. have no doubt the
.panksr may shove themselves INTO the stream with
more certainty or floating than they dld TO-DAY, but
even then taxing copious notes OF each Individual
question and answer mag require text boot and
man 10 turn the leaves al more oiiclal elbows Than
one.
TOO MANY STOPS
The cadets who We're examined up 10 the time the
Professors Lard down tner merit ana dement,
marking peucils for Tie day iId exceedingly well;
and haw through his answers, as though the ART OF
expressing ones self clearly and without hesitation
was one OF tue many tilings which are tabooed mere
by red-tapec order and regulation. Let Inc gNc
you az example. one Of the young gentlemen IN
describing a certain battle, went through his de-
scrptlon after the following lashon:-"Lee-
ahnad loo guns-si-stationeci-ahalong on these
for ah-ah-three hours" Another got OF Il
Q sentence as oliows:-"iisa all iDteptiouah was to-
All toah 10 throw a heavy column against thi-a0-
an and-ah pierce-ah this me Lee-ah anticipated
m THIS move and an drove bini-ah Out OF the-ah
not of the particular way OF expressing Themselves
Of the TWO gentlemen whose language quote. but
~ samples OF the way each cadet, without soil
tary exception, hats aid hcsiiates when explaining
problem or Answering question Every ''al' ~
almost dead stop. aud indicates either ono OF two
things: that the CADETS get their minds completely
cloggeo with technical knowledge thai they dad lt
impossible on tie jump 10 seize upon tue words
Necessary to show what that knowledge amounts
TO- or tnai IL Is considered III the Academy matter
0I no consequence whether siudent ~ compelled.
for OF words, 10 stumble over every wurd or
every sentence he utlers long AS lie stumble ON
the rlght Thing IN the long ruu.
FRANK AND FEARtEs-.
There were some very remarkable specimens of
candor displayed during HE examination. one OF
the cadets, alter explaining certain sulJect very
clearly until he came 10 pat winch ne might have
at Toast endeavofed to sgmbie aail, after q well
known and well worn college fashion. land down
his demonstration suck. and abruptly turning round
from the black board aud iaclDg tne faculty, eX-
CLAIMED
81 don't think can explain those points,
Every wen; tnats enough muttered Professor
Mahan, taking mp that terrible pencil OF his. winch
has made many cadet aci,iian and many another
an o11ceT by a single stroke.
r 1ne cadet at this turned 10 the board again and
uttered Two or three words OF explanation az 10
what he thought The points were, and was about
20 20 op the fOrlorn hope plan ihfough the uhhg
when thc old engineer Interrupted MN
lyon needn't mind. cir. II you can't explain
them " VIII not be very easy Tor you 10 w."
I1ns WAS squelcher, and the cadet TOOK ms seat,
looking rather GUM. i,
Another cadet was questioned as 10 the nature OF
reconDoissances. lie explained ,hat recommending