The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-13
WEST POINT.
The Art Of HaZing and the Way II Is
Looked Upon by Cadets.
THE COMING OF THE PLEB

as anything else 10 take away from the life OF
the cadet barracks this season a great deal Of
that spirit OF excitement and run that used 10
make a strangers visit to the Point some hing
long TO be remembered. The pleb mas always
been and ever VIII be one OF the institution OF the
academy. Every officer OF the army high ana low
can remember the day when he went through
his regular or regular ''course OF sprouts,n and
how, though he bitterly complained and lamented
ana tried TO assert his rights a and q citi-
zen, his voice died away unanswered In the
nollows behind the camp, where he was probably
unceremoniously dumped out Of a wheelbarrow
with his warriors night cloak around him. hut
though we have not the pleb with Us now we
are to have him, and the very fact that he
must come sooner or later does much TO console
the boys VINO will be compelled to remain here
during the summer for their enforced encamp-
ment. The reason we have him not now Is that
regulation was made some time ago, oy which 1t
was provided that he should not disturb the equa-
nlmlty OF the corps until q day or SO before the
graduates would be ready TO leave. Though there
are many or the aspirants OF the pleb species
for major generalshps who live in this State, not
far from THIS F;nce 70 DO seen proving about at
parade time a.,
,.sFA now rnE THING is DoNE,n
the plcb proper VIII not be Ia barracks until about
the 18th inst. Then tho visitor TO tho Point may
be made happy at the expense OF fathers and
mothers who come mere with the dear boys, feel
ing as though they we're delivering them over TO
the slaughter pen Of some unlicensed human
butcher who is to straightway cut their ears Oh,
by way OF testing knife before cutting the poor
fellows INTO pieces for the market Ii
is quite amusing TO the cadets, by the way,
when they near anybody talk about the horrible
custom of "hazing" and what blessing it is that
/. is done away with. The present Secretary or
War, you may remember, trled his very best to
put an end to the custom. That he has succeeded
in stamping out the cruel practices which some OF
the gearing" cadets used to indulge in at the
expense OF the new corners there can be.no doubt;
but whether he has put an end to hakng alto
retherls questionable. Tue term covers a great
deal OF ground and cadet as one OF the corps said
to me today In talking on the subject, 'Wno
knows his business" can make q "peo" feel
nis inferlority without Ia any way overstepping
the bounds OF paternal kindness. The grin the
rascal put on as ne made this remark, and the
emphasis be placed on kindness" would have
made the Secretary OF War had he seen him, feel
ike comparing Webster with all other known die
fionaries to lind out the exact meaning OF the
word There was q time when "plebisn life was
= miserable one, when he was compelled to 40
mental service Tor the other neyer OF course
in the good old days when ''Rreenien pad 10
be brought down 20 his level, as the gray coats
had II, dared TO report ns torrnentors2 As q bar
oarous custom, hazlng here ID really at an end
and the peb to-day has really less to fear In
ing 10 the academy than ever before. The au.
thorltles in washington have been very deter
mined on This point, ana everybody here kDows
tsaJ one angry word from tho War
once strikes nore terror into the soul
OF the cadet than all tAe preaching
OF all the ministers Ia the land could, taking IL for
granted that annoying new arrival out OF mis-
lie IS q high crime aud misdemeanor But we ali
know that In the past the peb that had Daen
treated more barbarously than any otner member
or his class turned ont to be the next year, when
ne himself was q cadet, the most memorable tyran-
nlzer over the plebs put under his tender care
blush that the mere thought OF his own fortunes
would arouse a eehnR of pity IN the ''yearngn
for the new Gamer, 100, Ike himself year be-
FRRsH PROM HIS COUNTRY HOME
with the tears his eyes because he had to leave
mamma behind. However. the rule worked the
other way. In one respect the yexaLions pleb
was and is jet In a small way subjected 10 by the
cadets mas an excelent effect, at least all cadets
say IL has, ana most OF tue army onicers would
openly agree with them II they could speak their
minds freely ana not e1end against good dis
clpne and that il that 1t brings everybody In the
corps 10 q common level The tmportanco of this
can be well understood when you take Into con-
SHERATON the peculiar nature of the West Point
Academy as q college. Boys Of all classes ana all
grades OF society enter N. Tue rich and the poor
selves TO tho same discipline. The Presidents
son and the washerwoman's may De roommates.
ricn fellow, vita all bis grand airs obtained at
nome by exclusive association with young ma
bobs OF MS own Tx ana fortune, consider the poor
.sseasoned.n said cadet to me on this subject
"If every pleb could come Ia here and act as he
clans OF poor and there would be no Drothery
feeling In the corps. what fellow must under
SAND wnea ne W ~ mes IN tss aS
- that ne comes to be q cadet, and that cadet
who acts Ike gentleman and does his duty Is
Just as good as any other" may say Just mere
That remember
FRxp GRANT AS CADET.
and that he was seneible enough almost from the
nrst DAY he came 10 understand this view OF the
case. and he never nAd reason to regret that he
did 30. You would be surprised, doubtless II
told Yen that there are now two general officers
IN the army who believe IN the good that haZing
can do a. 1rnly religious man believes in MS
creed. one Is major general, tie other RANKS
.yearling" cadet many years ago, when
s s9s saa Oy ea aT sna believing .Sa, TO In
nominated even for a cadetship was tho next
thing almostto the Presidency, he determined not
''social standing ne had not previously inyest-
gated and found satisfactory. why said this
gentleman and nc told the story TO a crowd OF
Officers one evening long ago, now DO you think
ii ended After being obstinate / became so
gentle that used TO burpisn That cadets mnsket
and belt plates Tor aim, and, AFTER carrying water
ia pals 70 him In mis- tent for over a week-and he
made me carry many pals day-he took me ny the
let's shake hands, And We shook hands; and
we are now to-day two Of the best friends IN the
naigat not have become passabe cadet nor nave
known what Is was 70 treat other men under lac
properly Thus much Tor tire enects OF one naz-
as a whole, according 70 tue way one LOOKS at IL
but a hstle OF N some good otficers think might
do q great deal o. go0d But venture 10 say That
every pleb VINO IS TO come here next week, aud
VINO may read these lines, will CRY out 10 anguish
OF soul, 81 want meme OF IT.
MAKING our ThR STANDINGS
saturday is generally considered holiday bV
the cadets, and 10 ~ IN fact day or rest ron al
study at all times, except durIuG the examination
period. Under the new system, by which all the
classes ara examined IN some branch or other Of
their course Of study, IL Is impossible. as OF DID,
for the undergraduate classes to enjoy cOng5
while the nrst class Il being examined. Stili un-
Ike other days Of the week, there ~ no special
drill or exercise IN the afternoon, and the
boys are therefore allowed Few hours
to enjoy Themselves before evening parade
1t was the lot OF me thlrd class to be under ths
IRE Of tue examiners to-day, the subject they
were examined on being the spanish language
It was conducted In great part BY Professor
de Janon, who - the instructor Of ths special
branch OF the studies OF the class Tho exanna-
ttcn showed that the boys mad not failed 70 pr0hb
BY the lessons they had been taught during the
year, ana the pr0mptness with which they c0nIu
gated, translated, &c, was remarkable when y
is taken ingO consideration that tneY only get an
anFNK a.