The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-01
W e ST PO1N T.
Opening Of the Season at the
Military Academy.
The ssPlebas'' Taken I'm Hand
as n Start.
THE GRADUATING CLASS.

WEST POINT. May 81, 1871.
In years past when red tape technlcality and war
ONCE nonsense ruled the roast at West Point the I'd
day Of June was always associated with the
"OPENING OF THE sEAsoSp
ut this delightful summer Indeed last year
was no exception to the general rule but 1t would
that the experiences OF the past are
not to be thrown away as good for MOTH
ing this year, and that more attention 10
he pad to the interests OF the institution Than the
punctiiiOs OF old established customs In other
words, the folks VINO pull the Academic wires az
Washington have set their hearts upon much
needed reform this year, which, though It may
knock in the head many or the stiltcd notions Of
years gone by, VIII prove In the END OF great benefit
to many people whose welfare ought TO be cOnsld-
GRAFTON with the authorities thai be- 1t used to be the
rule chat the examination of the graduates should
begin before the "plebes'' had come to nand. What
was the consequence Need say It was rather dis
astrous TO the pockets OF many OF the newcomers.
viii tell You why 'pebe," as everybody who
has ever been at West Point knows, Is an individual
who comes here by the grace OF some Congressional
influence or other, to be turned into Grant or
sherman by due process of most wonderful trainlng
lie Is not always an extraordinary specimen Of
humanity mentally and 1t sometimes happens that
he has toe that nature didn't care much about
making a. perfect Us the ordinary run OF toes,
shoulder so out OF gear that shoulder strap in the
world could lend u solitary grace TO it; he may
even have pair of lungs that will persist In cutting
his wind short whenever he wants to
TAKE a LONG BREATH.
Wei, when the Old rule was liz working ORDER such
'plebe.h on coming West Point, was slowed
away with other "pebes" somewhere In the bar
racks, where nobody could annoy hm but those
VINO had a mind to- Wiener he was sound enough
TO pass the doctor or bright enough To get through
his rule OF three without stumbling was mystery
a
weeks had passed by after his arrival Meanwhile
he studied as hard TO get ready for examination
as seyen-year-old scho0lbOy would TO get into an
apple orchard without meeting the old mans dog
or the old man himself. Then he had to do as
the matter OF showing what superb soldier he
could beif there were no ifs 10 prevent every plebe
or no surgeon Thus, when he desired TO
cross the barrack yard he had to do so In
his sides and his chin elevated in such way as to
make perfect stranger Of his home-sta rciied shirt
collar. When he went 10 get
A BITE TO EAT
he was compelled 10 ge5 into u crooked rank OF hG
Fellows that no amount OF cadet pulling or hauling
could regulate. II he dared meanwhile TO think Of
home or smile bandly at the thought OF wnat his
fond parents would say Y they saw him trottei
which everybody gave u wide berth to accord
ingly, he was certain to get nabbed just when the
smile was al its broadcast and equally as certain to
get tucked under his painfully elevated chin In a
way that made nis tongue wonder where he had got
his teeth sharpened last Now this kind of rhing stI
goes on, know. ana Will continue TO 20 so long
there Ia such thing as plebe In existence. But
then there is just this about the reform have re-
ferred to In the matter OF examining the new
corners before the graduating class Is taken hold of
at all, and that Is that tue greenies who will
havetO Sufer will know that they certain to be
cadets and that their suerings and bitterness Will
END when they are stuffed into gray uniform,
with half ton or bell buttons AS a Rlifterlng en-
Enlistment. But the principal thing about the new
arrangement Will ne in the matter OF expense and
time TO the "plebes' who are not genluses Instead
OF having to wait an entire month nearly-whlle the
nrsJ class Is beng examned-to ascertain their
i Is W ,e . DECIDED at osce fs and
horcs chat are always strong will be dashed in time
70 maae tner rea,izason sometimes possibility
neCti0n, however. let me say that because OF this
new arrangement, which may postpone the opening
Of the military season, sO-caed for few days. that
the season at West Point Tor visitors whose enjoy
ment does not hinge entirely upon the appearance
Of the cadets at dress parade, has not by any means
been postponed. To be sure the attraction OF the
animation Of thevraduating class has always proved
10 be one or the most powerful TO draw hitherward
visitors from all parts OF the Union; bur the time
has gone by when that alone was essential TO make
the season an enjoyable one. Nature has done her
work so well In making West Point beauty spot
that think even II the Academy were a hundred
miles away the
CROWDS or PLEASURE SEEKERS
who throng to IL every year would he undiminished
s ser nice ssns te aaes mere say the paradss are
TO draw cadet INTO her net that for years she has
sat in vain elsewhere such must be the case. In
season are deservedly immense with certain class
OF fishers OF men, Judging from the present aspect
VI thiS stisou Will Dc Ouc VI the
most brilliant we have had for years. and
this notwithstanding the arrival or another negro
boy who II "a black as the ace OF spades and, FOR
wonder. quite lavorlte already with those or the
old cadets with whom ne mas come In contact-ata
long speaking distance. The steamers Drew and
ybbard, which made their first trirs to-day. left by
far the larger portion OF their passengers here, and
nearly every train that stops at GarIsons Is adding
to the fashionable floating population or the
neighborho0d. COzzens' the resort or all the big
bugs, and the West Point Hotel. rapidly filing
up, and everything gives promise Of gay times
ahead.
THE GRADUATING CLASS.
Notwithstanding the fact that the 'pjebes have
been given the preference III the matter or the ex-
animation this year the graduates that TO be are
hard ut work, IN anticipation OF the ordeal that i'm
day so will decide their fate future major gene
rails The class now numbers only forty -One men,
bers. The following their names the order OF
their merit standing at the last examination, the
state where they were born and the state from
which they were Influenced INTO the Academy