New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-08
WEST POINT.

GOSSIP OF EXAMINATION DAYS AT THE ACADEMY
RrMrNIsCTNCrs or GRADUATE OF 81 -
WHOLESOME SUPERVISION OF THE BOARD OF
VISITORS APPOINTMENTS FOR THE FOURTH
| CLAss-REUNION OF THE ALUMNI on THE l|1H.
IRON SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE TuBUSE.l
WEST POINT, June 1.-THE first week of the
West Point examinations marked by succession OF
pleasant and, for the most part cool days To-day now
ever il is stormy In consequence OF the threatening
weather the number OF visitors has not increased and
the uncss Of the season is eniyened by the pres
ence usual crowd OF ladies TO which the cadets In
their close confinement, have looked forward
during the months OF study Last evening
pleasant change from the ordinary routine OF cadet
life occurred those who natives Of Iowa. They
were invited by Secretary Belknap TO the parors of the
hotel where they passed few hours in social company,
privilege often given TO the cadets Gen Baker OF
Iowa. the wit of the Board Of Visitors present,
and related number Of amusing anecdotes to the great
delight of all the company Although the changes which
have made in the growth of West Point are numer-
GUS vet the former graduates always glad 70 return
and find many things which remind them of the days
they spent here cadets. Among the older graduates
now here are Gen. Ammon Of the Board OF Visitors,
who graduated in 1891; Gen. W. n. Grier, who
graduated forty years ago, and Gen. T. ". sherman.
The former remarked few days that he would like
10 be young again and cadet al IVES, Point. within 10
years nearly all Of the present buildings have been
erected The trees which are now tall ana numerous III
front of the barracks and the library sapings
OF few years growth 1881 The course OF study is as
rigid now as il was them Those who give needful aten
ton to their books have little tine 10 spare, and they
sunday day Of rest 1t is always too short
FOR them. The Alumni find West Point TO he the same
not vhsiandng the many Improvements which have
taken place the river and the hills are just "a they were
four decades ago. when these veterans, now
war-worn and perhaps without an arm or
leg, responded 20 the revcille, or came
no In tO he
parade They did not study Spanish in those DAYS and
part OF their mathematics they acquired from textbooks
written in French Prof Church's series Of mathemat
cal works then unknown and Of the twin sciences
OF mneraogy and geology the cadets OF 1881 knew but
little. In chemistry there have also been many discoy
cries the principles OF the science remain nearly the
same but its nomenclature is wholly new. Gen.
Sherman says that II he wants to know anything
about chemistry he goes back TO Turner. which
the standard work in his student days. At
present there is complaint on the part OF many
that the OF study embraces too much OF maihc
matcs In the second year the cadets have more o. tns
the third and fourth years they have mixed mathematics
that the applications of mathematical principles to
mechanics, astronomy, engineering &c IL is claimed
that this H. too much, aS The number or graduates VINO
understand the entire detail of the subject is not
large and those who have special taste for mathemat-
zeal studies form but small proportion OF each class.
The time could be more rionaby occupied II Is said in
literary scientific studies. The members of the
Board of Visitors are giving a, good deal Of
in s'''i the various departments to wIlich their
directed,
Investigations will be the suggestion Of numerous
improv in and about the Academy They ret
upon the subject, although giving close attention to
H. Gen Butler says nothing, but the kecnnoss Of his
observation was well illustrated Saturday. when the
below the top Of the agstafi IS the GENERAL came out
the library his quick glance detected It, ana he Inquired
who had charge OF the nag, rendThlng that lie dldnt
know but some one was dead" Gen Baker. who Is
member of the Committee on Administration ami Ponce,
is anxious that the grounds OF the Academy should be
onamened by the construction Of three or four foun-
The BOARD OF Visitors were IN session several hours
this afternoon. Numerous suggestions were made but
nothing definite agreed upOl the information be-
seven appointments have been made of candidates for
the new fourth class and there are stu - vacancies,
some OF which will probably be filled OF these more
than onethrd received their appointments by reason OF
i'll competitive examinations; Two OF them are
examination OF candidates after the examination OF the
four regular classes, would have gone INTO enect
last year p' lor me ict ma an' one oe YInr in adj
vance. The "plebs" VIII begin 10 arrive about June H.
ana the physical examination will he held, they
until June IL The proportion OF those who fail IN the
examinations Is abOu Oncaf The list OF names OF the
appoinces will be made public in few days. The meet
ing the Alumni Associaton which occurs June H. the
anniversary of the Battle Of bunker Hill, Will he au nte
that day was noted at the meeting la.t year. ana
resolution was adopted that the Alumni VINO |
coriingly invitations were sent 10 them, and In |
were Gems. Longstreet and Smith, expressing Their IN
tcnon IL attend the meeting. Three members OF the
Visitors have the present classes OF the
Academy Admiral Rowan has "A SON, Hamilton rowan,
In the Second Glass; Mr.. Dowds son. william Dowd Is
also member OF che Second Class and Gen Bntlers son.
Len j. Butler Is In the Ihd Class To-Day lle seoon
thild, and fourth sections OF the Third Css were exam
ined IN IN az ne eHa nh o r re Inc he
cards as Is the in many examinations elsewhere
The Third Class con.ras 50 members OF whom 80 were
included in the sections examined today There was no
exhibition exercises this evening on account or the rain
which has been falling throughout the afternoon.