The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-05
A Wcighty Subject Under Consideration by
the Visiting Board.
CADETS AND PLEBES IN EXPECTATION.
Proposed Alteration of an
Academy Rule.
Ben Butler, Jr., and the Colored Cadets-How
Smith" Fares-Light Artillery Drill
Evening at the Point

Garrick, between tragedy and comedy, was a fine
picture, but hardly equal IN interest," suspect, to
that OF the Military Academy Beard OF Visitors
hesttating between cOnventionalsm and common
sense. The Beard, reinforced to-day bv General
C0lburn, or Indiana, have under consideration
matter OF Some Importance. Hitherto 1t has been
the practice to have the Plebes or newly arrived
candidates for admission into the school. assigned
to quarters and separated from the rest OF the
students until September. In that month the
young men whs, on account of sickness or from
other causes, failed to report in June, were exam
ined and assigned to their proper place in their
class, with the entire body OF Pebes idle for the In
terval and subject to "hazing" 1t Is now proposed
and earnestly discussed In the Board to put the
"Plebes" In their class Immediately. that they may
learn something between this and the sep" ex-
animation and avoid the annoyance OF the usual
muscular criticism in their department.. This SEN
sble proposition Is opposed by some, and so
nothing has been accomplished. The Plebes are
drilled in
THE "sETTING UP DRILL"
daily but do not know what the result OF their ex-
animation is. Until the Board of Visitors decide
what to recommend on the question at issue the
list OF the successful Plebes will not DC announced
This matter was to have been settled to-day, but
was not, and have little expectation that it will
be tomorrow. 1t IS pleasant to have disturbing
question OF tnat weight Just now.
The weather Is delightful the mountain air IA
invigorating, the country gardeners have not
tickled the earth In vain and Washington Market
is within easy reach. Beside these considerations
the President has not arrived land who knows how
the Executive ear may incline to the story OF the
visiting ,CongressmanD General Sherman has
promised, or is expected, to come, and all the
ladies are hoping for the advent of Robson, lured
from the sea-lashed shore OF Jersey. 1t is not
strange, therefore, that even
THE CADETS OF THE FIRST CLASS
are yet preparing for the dread ordeal before then
animation was to have commenced. to-day, but for
some reason 1t was postponed. Evidently the Board
OF vsiters Will recommend to the Secretary OF War;
or the Secretary OF War Will recommend the Board
OF Visitors to recommend to him, something very
new. 1t is to be hoped that, II they happen to
make sensible recommendations as to the govern
ment OF this training school for the army, the
Solons OF the Forty-thrd Congress will give them
BEN BUTLER AND THE ACADEMY
Academy s pretty likely to receive some attention
He has here among the Plebes young man OF
good presence, and, | am told, exceedingly smart
as eona BTs Butler hs
II he cannot we. will probably hear from
our ,%n pSud Ben !. would be quite proper
II plucked. and have the matter agitated
in Congress-: Two young men-Messrs. Henry
Virginia. coIored pentIemen-are in the ranks with
Mr.. Butler. and are proud Of the distinction. The
authorities here VINO have the arrangement Of
THE ETERNAL FITNESS OF THINGS.
Flipper is dark, large, awkward man, but in.
his Feet and, l am told, made the best showing Of
any OF the "Pebes'' in the mental examination
Both 30 4. w IN " but
bitter experience for the next four years.
Cadet Smith has had hard row to hoe at West
sighted, he set himself bravey to work for the
prize OF recognition. He Is now In the Third class
He has grown tired or complaining, and seems to
recOQuiZe the fact that he roughly
'deviled" while "pleben than other youths. The
cadets, the best OF them confess that his conduct
has won their respect, as most white lads would
have ncontinently fed from the Academy rather
than submit for week to the treatment he has
courage and a quiet determination to succeed
that is duly appreciated by the cadets. 1t Is ad-
mitted on all sides that
he WILL GRADUATE AT LEAST WITH HONOR
The poor fellow suffers for color, though, and in
this favored school Of our free Republic, among a
stiffness Of department and drilled into arrogance,
he represents the ambitious and pretentious OF his
was not named in his Dubious days Montmorency,
rather than Smith, Even De Smytherson might
have saved him many . sneer But Smith he is,
and on that broad line he will tight 1t out all this
Summer and part OF the nexf
II Williams passes the preliminary examination
Flpper will have to struggle alone in separate
room and In perpetual Coventry, like Smith Of that
ilk. hardly think he can stand It..
STRANGE THINGS IN REPUBLICAN, INSTITUTION.
For the present the cOlored gentlemen are left
severely alone, although their isolation ID their
greatest misfortune. They not spoken TO
cept officially. A cadet with whom conversed to-
day said that these colored lads would be treated
Respectfully "NOne OF the fellows would hurt
Them but every fellow would let them Alone" To
he sentenced to be .'let aonen is terrible doom.
Another cadet thought that strong measures
might be taken with them but Tor smith. Smith
has inspired respect Of certain kind, and the ca
diets think that Il will no longer pay TO knock their
heads against the nfteenth amendment and the
Civil Rights bill.
The feature OF this evenings excitement at the
"Pointn was the light artillery drill by the cadets
1t was good representation OF skill and agility
and suppose Secretary Beknap and the Board
OF Visitors were pleased. Later more enjoyable
entertainment was afforded the guests OF the no.
tel. The Mendessohn Glee Club, Of New York,
came down. according to promise, and after sup
ping at Cozzens' in the company OF their friends,
Ia Delmonico, sung number OF glees and songs,
which were heartily applauded by q distinguished
party OF invited guests OF the hotel.