The New York herald., 1874-06-16
WEST POINT.
The Graduates to Leave the Academy
To-Morrow-Dangcrs for tho Fledg.
lings-Entering tho World But Not the
Army.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IOr tne FleOE0
lings-Entering tho World But Not tho
Army.
WEST POINT, June Is, 1874.
II would be hazardous thing Tor any news.
paper correspondent in these wilds, surrounded as
he must be by military peacemakers IN the shape
OF ten-nch Rodnan guns and 800 pound Parrotts
and cavalry sergeants with broadswor1s trailing,
and captains OF the army, handsomer than the
popular Jinks. OF the modern stage line, and rown-
ing batteries that loom up savagey to the right OF
him and to the lett OF him, to say that graduat-
ing class ever dares to leave West Point without
leaving behind It memories OF sunny hours only.
But am bold enough, despite the general sur
roundings, to say that the class which viii leave
here dag after tomorrow viii leave with expecta-
tions more sunny in prospective than their
recollections OF the past Not indeed, that
the graduates OF this year have been
compelled to undergo the tortures OF the
thumbscrew. the turnings OF the st. Catharine
wheel or even the terrors or the dark prison; but
simply because they have had the misfortune or
the good fortune-look at IL as you please-to have
been forced by their mammas and papas backed
by all the winning words and oily advisngs OF the
congressman OF their various districts, to enter
the Academy at time when the standard OF the
course OF studies being considered too low for
great men OF the future army had been suddenly
made harassing TO the tranquil pebe mind by an
than one young man from the country who be.
ieved himself, on his arrival here four years ago,
to be the great rising star Of
THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE PERMANENT.
need not go into detail TO show, therefore, that
because the class entered under auspices less aus.
pctous than had mauy other classes, that its days
OF LABOR year after year have been more burden. !.
some, Its hopes Of glory and renown subject to
stronger antagonists, and It's path to the goal OF
graduation grandeurs more than usually gloomy.
terrible year OF falling leaves, without having lost
single member, IS indeed an honor OF which the
!l class VIII have good reason 10 boast IN the years
that are TO come; 0ut lis successes during the
past twelve months can IN no way totally
plot out the fact that It mad harder.
that 1t Is net in human nature to expect that the
boys should not feel tnat the future in the army
cannot possibly be darker tor them Lnan
been their pathways at West Point. Even when
the light first became Wis bic on the horizon to
them only a few weeks ago the Army bin and n
ten-inch section aimed with such precision as to
wipe them out OF existence army officers loomed
| years of trial and tribulation, they wholly
/ undeserving OF the BRIEF happiness of even
shoulderstrap life for a year or two aa
compensation. But now the end Is near,
and even the Army oilI has been snorna
terfcrence OF a Congressman who never saw
West Point and never was in the army; and so on
Thursday, wnen In New York. uniformed and law
uliy glltterng IN gold and lace-if they choose To
resort to the glitter or II in the plain dress tho
defiance to the past and, II they are sensible el-
lows, only give Il thought to the iuture because il
is inevitable and because-as we have the words
of Dundreary Tor lit Is one OF those things
which no one can find out and Is consequently not
worth troubling ones head about And vet, as
said before, the class will go away on Wednesday
with memories that are not all sunny. 1t is true
sweet lecolections ior every graduate-the lrlend-
ships formed IN common trials, the brotherhoods
OF class struggles and associations made sacred by
days, and OF years even. OF constant study. But
ior all that there some things that Il cadet
during his term here has to submit to-some things
ntN f0--W IN nj N fhn hxAr
be spoken and the farewels TO be uttered, hap.
PLY robs the army Iuture no matter how unccr1
tain mystery II may be to most people, OF hair Of
It's dread uncertainties.
THE OUTSIDE WORLD UNKNOWN
III would surprise man OF the world to heal
some OF these new nedgings talk wtial-these
officers that are 10 be-or TINS same uture ana OF
the ways ol.minknd in general, Of the civil az
well as Of the military order. They have. every
mothers son ol them, been pent up here iour
years, which have been uninterrupted except by Z
Jew weeks vacation two years ago and yet they
nave an idea because they know how to shoulder
with the ladies' and talk sweet nonsense to them
somewhat ineiegantly, that when they emerge
INTO the outside world they WIN nnd about them
TO bow down before them and declare them to ba
the wonders OF the age. While TINS confidence IN
their own lminensv Is not the absolute result Of
West Point education. and can be found In more
or less marked degree IN the graduates OF all our
colleges, yet II Is found more marked IN the West
Point graduate than IN the graduate OF any OTHER
institution IN the country. This Is simply because
he is more nedged in rom contact with the out-
side world than the student OF other colleges and
is consequently, nlnc cases out OF ten, AS iamiaI
with the ways OF the world aud city society gcner-
ally as the yOungster who energies from Jesuit
college with the idea that everybody VINO IS
not in orders is preparing for them or is tha
other thing, the Devll himself 1t would be
well, indeed. If the graduate OF West Point Would
always take the advice once heard given by GEN.
eral Scott-of sainted memory hereto graduate,
said he, "iOu nave Deen here, my son, four years,
and you go away tomorrow with the idea that You
know more than the average run of men, Tha
cadet frankly answered, II do.' "Well, sr," said
n
ing the same idea OF things as you do but never
met one Of them IN after years who did not con,
world he found lie had mistaken his own
strength and knowledge" And thus tha
prlncely old gentleman. with that court!y
grace and good heartedness which made HIM Ind
beloved man he was 10 all who knew him, solus
added;-'iou viii find when YOU go into th@
world that you know nothing; that you are a CHILD
in the wilderness; don't put any airs, ,or tnd
TINS advice stands good to-day Tor any graduate,
and he who keeps II best in mind VIII not fare the
are smart, clever fellows. They may possibly think
now tnat they know every thing worth knowing,
majority OF them TO remain a lew weeks there, is
VIII be well for them To remember tnat "a child In
the wilderness Is child that wants looking after.
THE COAST BATTERY DRILL.
The coast battery, which consists OF one 15-inch,
one lO.lnch and one s-inch Rodman gun; two 100
one 200 and one 3O0-pounder Parrott gun was ex.
ercised to-day by the second class The target
aimed AT was l,l0o yards distant from the battery
ON the west bank OF the rlver. Four rounds were
hrcd. but before the fourth was reached the target
was utterly demolished The 3O0.poundcr Parrou
gun tine farrott guns are all smooth borcs. by tns
way was the first to hls IL ana tle 20O-poundci
the second. IT was The .S-lnch Rodlnan tiai, MS
printer would have 1t. Knocked IL into pi. WneH
the fourth round was fired OF course the aim ol the
gunners was at the spot where the target ''origin
ally lel" and as most OF the shots seemed To tell
fairly Is the general belief tonight that the poo1
target has obtained decent and glorious buriat
beneath the earth and rock raked up over II w
4 the falling shells.
4 The standings Of the graduating class VIII be an-
/ nounced tomorrow evening at parade and on
4
awarding the diplomas Will take place. The ad.
dress Will be delivered by Professor Wayland, or
Connecticut the President OF the Board oi Visitors
and the diplomas Will be awarded by Colonel
Ruger The class, II Is believed will be relieved
! nj "a vi han