The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-12
WEST POINT.
Cadets Getting a Little
Leisure.
THE ALUMNI GATHERING.
The Address by Professor
Davies.
An Interesting History Of the Rise and
Progress Of the Academy.
II HI r B A ~ @ u E T

other times of the year are relentless in the en-.
forcement of rule ana regulation, and who grant
but few ..privIleges, " are becoming little gen.
erous and kindly disposed to the cadets generally
and the result is that we see more OF them than
usual now at the hotels. To-day they have, thanks
to Colonel Ruger, given liveness to the lonely
life that has prevailed long AT the hotel, which
was quite a relief to the guests who have no
friends here, and have had to NOPE about like
men who were condemned to do gwen amount
Of walking on the piazzas every day whether they
liked 1t or not. The somewhat unusual privilege
granted the gray coats to-day was extended to
not only the graduates but TO the members OF
other classes as wen. Of course all the members
OF all the classes were not allowed to come to the
hotel to their fair friends Tor II they had the
dear ladies would have had hard work in attempt
ing 10 entertain them all satisfactorily, they are
themselves 80 few in number Only certain
number from each class were privileged for GER
tain time. Those WHO did come made the best use
OF this time, aud as the weather was not exactly
what white pantaiooned cadet would pray for,
particularly when he had the opportunity OF TAX
ing a stroll In 'Lover's Walk" with pretty girl
to guard him against all harm during his ram
bles, the day was spent In the parlors. By some
prOvidential ARRANGEMENT or other few string
pieces, with musicians to draw the music out OF
them, were obtained from the band quarters and
they, added to the delicate lingering OF the piano
by one Of the lady guests made up quite respect
able orchestra for the occasion. The cadets, mind
you, did not range themselves along the walls, la
private concert fashion, and pretend to be de-
lighted with their situation and all that. Not by
any means. The music exacted was dancing
music from the start and each one singled out for
himself the girl OF his choice, II not OF his heart,
and entered into the giddy mszes OF the waltz
xutfh or md vv,t bat xunr how onraA avan
Mrs. Crupp of the "spazzums,n had such
q smellng-bottle creature been present to
hear and see all that was said and done.
The dancing was kept up until near supper time,
and as there was no drill OF any kind to-day, and
as there will be none tonight iee certain that
the dancing will be resumed alter supper, and tina.
"taps" alone will be able to drag the gray coats
away from the scene and the girls they '1ove so
WELL" Had 1t not been for this improvised hop IL
Is highly probable that the coroner In these parts
would have had case OF suicide or two; for the
weather. which has been 30 execrable, all day
chilly and part of the day rainy, has had very de-
pressing effect upon everybody, and If individuals
In the city shake on their mortal coil in At Of the
blues 1t is reasonable to suppose that some people
hereab0uts are exceptions to the general rule.
THE ALUMNI.
The alumni of the Academy held their usual an
nual business meeting in the post chapel. There
were about seventy persons present among others
Simon Willard, OF Boston, the oldest living gradu-
ate the graduated in 1870, Professor Davies, Gen.
erals Ingalls,, Grier, Tyler; Colonel Parsons, Pro-
lessor Peck and General Prince Professor Davies
presided, and after little preliminary business
delivered the following address, He said
PROFESSOR DAVIES, ADDRESS.
FELLOW GRADUArEs-When the associated grad
yates OF the Military Academy adopted their con-
stituton in 1869 they wished TO connect the day OF
frst battle OF the Revolution. They wished also to
connect 1t with the academic arrangements for
me es @ ssy ne tsa
day Ia not a Thursday, so that the anniversary or
the battle OF Bunker Hill and the anniversary or
our graduation should be brought as nearly as
possible together.
cannot better illustrate the reasonab'eness Of
this suggestion than by recapitulating here to-day
. brief history OF this institltion'
HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY. b
few months after the Declaration OF indie.
records OF the Continental Congress-
CONTINENTAL Coscnrss Oct. I, ITS
Resolved, That committee OF five be appointed to
prepare plan of military academy at the army.
Thus IN the very dawn OF our national life the
public mind was turned towards The establishment
OF a military scnOoi, and an educated sOldery was
regarded at that early period as one OF the pillars
OF q repu )lIcan government. In the construction
OF a peace establishment at the close OF the war
q military academy was prominent part in nearly
all the plans that were submitted for considera-
gard to the details OF the school, but very little
regard to Its necessity and none with respect to
ITS location. All agreed that West Point, which
had been the key OF our military operations dur
ing the war, and which had bound together tho
Eastern and Middle States by bonds which
national military academy; and here, by act OF
Congress, passed In 1902, 1t was finally located.
This act was lmted in its provisions, and did not
post. The act OF April, 1872. suggested no doubt
by our then delicate relauons with Great Britain,
Increased the number OF cadets to $50. extended
the school in all It's departments and was the
basis OF, its present organization. The system,
assembled at West Point annually on the 1st o!
April, were instructed IN the mere elements OF
science and It's applications till the LIST OF July,
when thev were encamped for two months. as under
the present stem. On the 1st OF september the
Campment was broken up and they returned to
when preparations were made for the winter va
cation, which commenced on the 18TH OF that
month and terminated on the LIST OF April follow
ing Sucn an organization, even under proper
departments OF instruction and study could not
reach beyond the mere elements OF scientific
education and hence we are not surprised that
graduates, appointed even In the corps OF engi-
neers, were utterly Ignorant OF the modern analysis
and oil the higher principles OF their profession,
unIess, indeed, individual enterprise and effort
supplied the deficiencies OF national school. At
tins time all the appointments 70 tne army were
SGDernt cndcnt without examinations aud WIN
Ont the concurrence OF the Academic Board. In
tue early part OF the summer OF 1917 President
Monroe visited the Academy and made personal
examination OF its organization and condition.
On the 18th OF July OF that year MAJOR Sylvanus
Thaycr, OF the Corps OF Engineers, was appointed
Snp erintendent, and from that date new era
0pe ned upon the institution.
his ADMINISTRATION FROM 1877 TO 1888.
when President Monroe VISITED the Military
Academy in the summer OF 1911 1t was mere
mlllLiry posi-, with large numoer OF CADETS ue-
tacAed from the corps and regiments TO which they
legally belonged and sent here for instruction. AT
tnat tme there were no regular ORGANIZATIONS,
eitncr IN the departments OF abstract study, the
Applications OF science or the military art. Fifteen
years mad elapsed since the first act OF legls.
thn xnln vpnn m a
yet regular classes and organized studies were un-
known IN the institution. Except IN the mere
acts OF Iegslatlon the institution had to be Gre
ated, and this work was assigned by the President
70 Major Thayer. With the preparations we have
indicated and mind OF great organizing powers
he entered upon that duty with the culture oil a
scholar and the ardor OF conscientious soldier
His experiences In the war OF 1872 had Demon
strated the absolute necessity Of military science
for q well appointed army. His knowledge OF the
military organizations OF Europe, recently ac-