The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-04
WEST POINT.
Continuation Of the Examination
of the Graduating Class.
THE "PLEBEs" AT DRILL.
The Graduates Not To Be Deprived Of
Places in the Army.

cadetdo as examiners forty lyeino,Yensive Young
men. full OF ambition and with just enough talent
not to make them eligible to West Point favors and
graces, have been sent home to their dear man.
mas and that sixty-nve other young men, quite as
ambitious and with little more successful talent,
have been told That they can from this out look
upon the Academy as their home until further
orders, the breaSng-in drillings or the ''pleoes"
have begun in downright earnest 1t may be a
Calling thing for youth OF proud spirit. who at
home was wont TO wear the prettiest OF clothes
and part his hair in the middle and wear 1t long
ana Moving II he deemed 1t to the establishment
OF his general beauty, and to be treated by John
the coachman and james the waiter as
NATURAL BORN PRINCE,
born to command, anu who was led 70 believe by
the whole family that the cut OF one's coat and
the weight OF ones watch guard, and not the
number or years one has graced the world with
ones presence distinguished the man from the
boy. 1t may be CALLING thing, repeat, to such
youth after coming here to lind that he is consd-
cred as a mere nobDledehoy. who has great deal
to learn-and ten times more than great deal to
lnearn-to find BY bitter experience in few short
hours after being furnished with cadet cap that
his moving locks must no longer flow, and that a
close fitting hirsute covering military
necessity, which 1t Is incumbent upon the
Official barber to see executed at all haz.
ards. And yet what has been done for years in
the past in the matter OF plebe' treatment has to
be done again now as religously as ever here, and
even the love poor fellow may Always have had
for peculiar style OF shoe, or gaiter. or habit OF
gait-whicn Filth avenue might determine all
grace and dignity-must needs. as Or OLD, go once
more for nought. The fact Is, the ..plebe," as the
new cadet IS called, Is no longer to-day what he
was two weeks ago, before he lett home; or,
rather, he is not allowed to be what he was. And
what, iorsooth, is
THE "PLEBEu OF THE PERIOD?
He is not, indeed, the prosecuted wretch that
the "plebe" OF u lew years ago was-the butt for
all the crueties OF rude practical okers; the inces.
SAINT toler by day and by night. who carried pals
OF water and FURNISHED muskets and frightened
breastplates for the older cadets, and who was
dragged from his bed at the hour when grave
yards are supposed to yawn and ghosts
who nave no regard for the prophecies to
piow about only to be dumped from o
wheelbarrow into some ditch or tried and
condemned 60 De shot by court martial assem-
bled in room made hldeous by hangings or black,
with bones and skulls as wall ornanlentatlons.
Thanks TO the new order OI things the .peben OF
the period is free IRON all these TRIALS ana trDulA-
lions; but one has only to 70 down On the pain,
near the barracks IN the afternoon now TO see that
he is yet sight that makes tendernearted girls To
smile through their tears anu even lOnd Drotners
TO grin that they are not OF the elect. snorn or his
nowins locks, II he had lowing locks when he first
came, with the military cap as the only military
mark about him. he is made to twist and sQulrn
and wheel about and stand on one foot and Keep
his chin above the level OF his collar his arms
painfully straight down by his sides. and then and
there, before
. THE GAPING GROUPS OF VISITORS
and amid the snckerlng OF small boys and the
glggnne OF young ladies, VINO never nave compass.
sau loi misery IN any shape 1t presents Itself, to
preserve q ramrou attitude and lace unmoved,
serioas, determined, rs though to move muscle
We're an act punishable by death lnsrantcr at
the mouth vi . ten-inch gun. And all this to be
here. believed that he knew all that was worth
moving. ana That the moment he landed at the
the common soldiery. taken in hand BY the oni-
GERS aud introduced TO The prettlest girls that
could pe found for miles around, and
general. And yet look at him now
how, Tor the sake OF the glory that Is in store Tor
cannot think IT pleasure. His instructor is o
cadet oil the lowest class, u yOungster VINO only
year ago Went through the same ordea and
suffered the same fortunes Of an indignant spirit
that cared not 10 rebel, and who, with light cane
in ms hand looks ar him us If he meant every mo-
ment TO make II meal OF INN in Que swallow. and
WHO gives his Uruers IN tone oil voice ul OF
ood-curdling menace that the wonder OF IL all is
give up the gnost entirely What u sight Tor the
papas and mammas who are now here
boys get their gay beli.but oned gray
coats! Just look at 1t! Here, there
OF the visitors who crowd about TO witness the
daily t0rturngs, are the beloved pets, who never
knew what II Was 10 be ordered TO do anything
beUlc, each with q stern little tasknaster, ull OF
his own import ance, and cnafng within himself.
doubtless, because he cannot throw into the exer.
else or iG little Of that ..hazlng, sung and cru.
city that was once the delight oil the older Classes
OF the cadet corps,
GROWING OUT COMMANDS
one alter anotuer so quickly that tie poor plebe"
Is hall the time trying to 20 through several ufer
eht motions all ut the same time, an enorr by the
way, whlch generally tads IN positions that Drlng
down upon hlii the nerce lie ol has instructor.
Does he not mold his chm high enough that article
0i hlS anatomy Is taken hold oil by the young man
WITH tile cane and duckea up In IL way that IS rs
apidrn ITS execution as 1t must be astonishing 10
the ACCOMPANYING owner OF II. Does he not step
forward and Ills toes pointing downwards ut the
proper time. he Is made to stand on one loot. while
the oIlenuing leg, treched forward and tie loot
OIL The ground. Is placed III position vers deliberate
~ ~ the inevitable cane. indeed, lhl- breaking
IN dri!l Is Iecuiiar one; ana II one dd not KNOW
that every cadet Jnat ever was had his day OF It,
ana that without 1t the new corners would not be
what they ought 10 be by September next, the
scene near the barracks made up OF boys stand
ing on one loot; Others STOPPING uUWn, with
tnelr faces flushed and eyes starting OUT OF their
sockets, vahly endeavoring 70 touch the toes vi
tneir snoes without bending their limbs others
thiUwiEg their arms Wildly about, over their heads
ana across their chests, and again behind their
backs, SO that the BACKS oil their hands come
together with q wnack; OF still Others turning
their heads to tie ignt aud 10 tie left accordingly
as they are ordered, ana going through the
wneelnes ana iaclngs with rapdlty that
every moment threatens to tumble them on their
races would indeed seem out grotcsque urce.
Hut 1t is not farce, and even lie picbe, after his
days OF new cadet tnradom Is over, Is the nrst "
learn that MS twlstings and squrmings on the
PLAN were Tor his benett, and not Tor
THE AMUSEMENT OF SIMPLE LOCKERS ON
rom New YORK or elsewhere. The comments
volunteered concerning the mistakes the poor
pleDe makes by his cadet instructor arc some.
times really amusing "iou are" said one OF
shen, within my hearing. as he glared hercely at
his pupil, who stood trembling before nllu, ready,
Apparently, to
GO DOWN on HIS KNEES AND PRAY
lot fortnight. II only told 10 do so lyon are 70
ue al o.licer oi The great army OF the United
states, Sill aud should hot lose sight OF that iact
inp tdea % stepping ou', sir VITA your toes sticking
w IA WAT way. DO you suppose, slf tAat Oh can
ever become a general III the army ana walk after
that iashiony Aud there. sir, why allow your cum
" hang GOWN 80 Can't you step out wittout
looKlhg at your iect. they're not 50 attractive as
NV thal-ahd don't LIT your eyes wander SO
Iidicuuusy; all West Point can't be seen ~
ouy 80 keep tAeE eyes liked straight lcofe you
lou Must Pay attention, sir; else we Will place
you where you Will nave time 10 study up a httle
ulah o. your SIZE ought not 10 need so much
talking to. Do you suppose General sherman ever
needed SO muchY II moi, why nuly Inen why are