National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-06-16

be substituted ia the places OF the young cap
tAins, ifeutenauts and aergeanta. Secretary
Beknap. who takea more interest In the academy
than auy Secretary that We have had for some
years Is bitterly opposed TO the practice, aud ls
extremely anxious to put an end 70 Il In the
most summary manner II It exists. There are
three coiored boyS at the academy now, and
cannot md that any one Of them is badly
treated. Cadet Smith IL rather backward this
year, but all the accounts that hear about him
lead 70 the expectation that he win in the end
acauit himself with credit.
THE GRADUATING cf.IRs.
-Four years ago the present graduating class
entered as pisbes, their number then being i9s.
To-day they number only ". In other words,
nearly two thirds Of those who then entered
have since either left the academy altogether,
been rejected for ineflcl6ncy, expelled for bad
conduct, or turned back. This will scrve TO give
some idea Of the wedding process that Is con-
stantiy going on In the classes, and Of the Sc
we're ordeal through which q boy must pass be-
fore he obtains his diploma. In point OF ability
and proficiency the present class Is said TO he
superb; but suppose the same thing has been
said Of every graduating class for the last quar-
ter Of a century. Morally, II is said to have q
fair share OF sinners, more sinners In fact than
saints, which augurs well or III, as you like u.
ing been caught In little delinquency few
nights ago. This defiance Of rules and reguia-
tons may mean future gallantry or future some
thing else. shall not pretend to decide. But
these graduating cadets have It all their own
way Just now. These are the young lions Of the
hour, and to he member Of the class Of - Ia q
patent Of nobility which IA acknowledged every
where At tho "Polnt."
LrE At ruE POINT.
might have nlled the preceding columns with
an account Of the mum eroua festivities that have
taken place here during the last week, and still
not have fully described or given any idea Of
their extent and variety. OF course, they are
all semLnllltary In character, but they are
nevertheless interesting and entertaining. The
two hotels are crowded, accommodations at the
West Point, formerly ROSS, being utterly un.
attainahie. Cozlens' Is almost equally crowded
Al the former we have distinguished gathering
Of generals, ex-generals, tc., tc., including the
President and family, Gen. Babcock, Secretary
Beikuap, Miss worthlngton, Of Keokuk, Iowa,
and Miss wadsworth, Of Chicago. Gen. Whip
pie, Col. Mack, Mfr. Barnard and several Other
washlngtonians are also here. At an early
hour In the morning the magnificent
parade ground Is fairly alive with
young ladies, who some way OF
another take the most intense interest In the
cadets drill. In the shaded and secluded walks,
wherever you turn, you will ind a cadet and q
young lady. They crowd the porticos OF the no
tel; they are poked away In every possible
nook and corner. You meet them In the most
unexpected places, and sometimes In the most
Interesting positions. They never tire Of study.
ing mortars and cannon, Of peering into the
mouths Of Parrott guns or studying the inscrP'
tlons upon the monuments. Belts and buttons
and braid are objects Of the most minute inves-
tigatlon and inquiry. Icannot accoant for II all
but suppose It was 80 In the beginning, and
| that II will be so In the end. Tomorrow morn.
Ing the graduation ceremonies will take place
In presence Of the most distinguished compan,
that has probably assembled here for quarter O.
q century. The President VIII confer the 81
plomas. General Belknap viii make the addres,
TO the class, after which General Sherman viii
make what he himself calls 4 short prayer
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