New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-07
WEST POINT.


ARRIVAL OF THE PREsIDEST-THE EXAN1NA-
TIONS-NEEDEp REFoRMs-TuE NEW WAR
RIORS.
WEST PoINT, June 6.-Shortly before this
evening" the President reached the wharf with his wife
and two children and took carriage for the West Point
House. There hustle or excitement OF anJ sort
Gen. Pitcher down very quietly aud escorted his
guests up the hill TO the hotel Arrived In the grand
square, a aatiOnal salute was fred, and before the last
reverberation had died away, Gen Grant was in the
house. There rush made after him, as is habtua
elsewhere The groves filed with crowds of people,
and the long shaded avenues with countless equipages
but attempt TO mob the visitor The fatherh
law OF the President Mr.. Dent accompanies the dlsuh
guished party At the hotel the honors OF the hour were
somewhat equally divided between the President ana
Miss Nilsson who came from Cozzenss IN al open
barouche to see the General The President unmisak
bly, relshes the place. and rid Of his domestic cares
be came forth gaily the veranda, and chalteu un
dress parade with the Visiting Baord and other frehus
present Tonight is TO be quiet at least so lar as Gen
Grants party is concerned.
have anticipated the consecutive story of the day In
mentioning the last aud most important incident first
Not all the glory Of Summer sent brighter beams into
this haven OF discomfort than the brief order OF secre
ay Boknap relieving the first class from the pans ana
penalties of their last Winters misdeeds Even the I'M
dergaduaes sympathize in the general harity Of the
mburdened ones The change has been marked one
the young reprobaes pining under an Introduction ron
the accustomed festivities of this most glorious %
all seasons TO the cadets. came TO the "o'A -
examination yesterday with illconcealed anguor' o
difference between the graduation examination anu ''"'
for admission is in whimsical contrast. the oaoiU'''
after AN the terror and turmoil of preparation mas pro
pounded 10 lin series Of questions beo" INC "oN''
Of grammar school undergraduates Is is oh'Iseu
against some of the first literary educaloli' u'0"
that their standards are too severe heio 'ie Co"r
mon sense medium is ruthlessly abandoned anu INC
ridiculous reached-the aDsurdest OF questions pelhS
presented the new conner test Of his capacities TO
stand for wears course and finally attain prominence
in r,pneptv scientific branches. Lads from 10 to 2l
are rys'y asked turn back in geography and bound
a few states designate the capital, mention the rivers
bn never Indicate the shadow Of an idea as 10 their
political status their Typographical formaton-in short
any question demanding the faculty of thought from the
student In grammar, the formula is more seryiceabe,
and demands mind well as memory but in arithme-
tic tie test falls beneath the lowest capacities
of a backwoods urchin. This, too, is the most
astonishing deficiency upon mathematics is based the
head and front Of a military education. These short
commgS denounced, believe, by the Visiting Board last
year. understood to be prominent in the bill Of COM
plant De presented this year by the present method
two years are wasted by the cadet and lost to the Gov
ernmeut as the student, before reaching the military
branch must stop and acquire what should have been
his years before 1t is not to the point to answer that
each year large numbers are rejected, lacking even
these neager qualifications. Set the standard where
IT win convenience graduates from the civil col
leges and kindred institutions, and there will
he no lack Of abundant material of the right
sort Il is urged too that the present limitation as TO
age should be changed 10 make the academy just what il
is designed for required that boy be over 16
and under (which shuts ont Of the best metal Of
the country Just is prepared for the crucble Were
the standard from IS to Is, better results would be
achieved.
Very nearly hundred applicants came forward for ad-
mission % haYe been examined and the list closed until
September when the quota he filed by new caha
dates OF the 96 who have been examined 81 nave heeh
rejected, by the Medical, and Il by the Examining
Board The Young gentlemen on the way 10 glory and