The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-10
CANDIDATES FOR CADETSHIPS.
Trials and Prospects Of Flipper,
the Colored Cadet.
REPORTS OF BOARD COMMITTEES.
Changes in the Course OF In
struction Proposed
WEST pOfxr lima q te-.

fellows viii don the uniform OF second cucnants
the army OF the United States. As might naturally be
expected the prospect OF shoulder straps and release
from tho rigid discipline of tho past four years has
excited many OF them that they can hardly sleep
a, night, and though they may be seen on
/ parade walking about the grounds apparently
calm and scpossesscd that Is the result Of training
and moments conversation reveals the fact that
they are iull Of suppressed enervcsccnce. and only
contain themselves BY thinking Of the rocs that VIII
be within reach when they sc, beyond the sound OF
tho revce One OF the most glorious features Of the
forthcoming emancipation Will be tho privilege of let
ting their boards grow and The nasccnt heroes who
for months past have cast cnvious sanccs upon the
fierce looking mustaches OF their instructors maxi
Ing presents o. their 10 second class men,
and pass the barracks barber with a snecr. Unti
recently all cadets obliged shave themselves
but permission was given 10 those the hrst
be shaved by barber located In the building for that
purpose. The second ;luss men will on " dnesday
next take the present rank OF the graduates and viii
have the privilege Of sitting In the barbcr's chair II
they wish. Some OF The graduates xous to get the
start OF their fellows have not shaved for several
days, md como TO inspection parade with hlrsutc
stubbc upon their faces al the risk o! rcprimand
| from tho commaudant
COMING
| considerable number Of applicants Tor admission
TO tho academy have arrived and Sill submit 10 the
preliminary examination, which will begin Friday
known as "pebcs and certainly The majority Of .ncm
DO not present very patrcmn appearance. cursory
cry on. ,ha, West rom, Is ar ars,ocra,ic W.
s,tution Brawny lads from tho forests Of
Maine, clad IN IN garments which Apparently
boys who have evidently held the plough upon New
| England farms, hard listed young mechanics from
Western cities shabbiiy dressed lads fresh tho
public schools and OCCASIONALLY youth whose neat
clothing and scnticmaniy manners denote ne has
lcn cultured home A more democratic, ana essen
TALLY representative class " would DO difficult
Tho standard for the preliminary examination is fixed
purposcly very low so that any boy VINO mas had tar
| length OF tmo at common school may enter This
wIsc provison'and " was adopted order ihat-to
the words OF General Dcvcns--educated medocrty
might not crowd out natural abiiy which had enjoyed
| NO advantages Tho benefit OF having low prem-
mary standard, thus. is that boys who have mad no
opportunities tor may enter the academy
sldc BY eide with The educated sous Of wealthy men
.Iound" wanting, al Their entry WORK hard. ana
frequently graduate tar ahead Of those whose early
advantages gavo them easy access 10 the in st
Tho nof the tailor who mado clothing cadets
graduated Al the head OF tho class Ia which tho
son OF the President OF Tho United States
rHE coLoREp CADETS ExrERIExcB rnosPLcrs.
Ripper, tue colorcd cadct, who graduates pretty
wcifup IN his class, said TO me to-day that he Is deter
cavary regiment II possible He seems TO be very
happy In view OF the honorable close Of his
that he can procure tho appointment, he wishes.
Hncn asked whether he was not aware that
troops must DO oniccrcd by men. he replied that
be mad heard something OF that ago, but did not
emphatcally but with good humor at is unconsti.u-
total and cannot be enforced " He added that several
weeks ago he wrote 10 prominent gentleman IN Ala.
was, ana had not yet received answer.
questioned him about his experience IN
but itto on account Of his race The first year
very hard as the class all made their dislike
IN a variety Of way. ''rhnt," he SAID, twas IN u
great measure caused by the bad conduc. Of smith
She colored cadet who preceded me- When the class
found that WAS not like him they treated well.
o.
ward The Others and the cadets think do dislike
me. But they don't associate with me- I don't care
for that. If they don't want speak to me don't
want them 30, I'm sure" Save In the recitation
room Flppcr never heard the sound o, his own voice
Tor months and months At a time; but nc kept
hard nj work all the time that he did not mind u II
he SHOULD ION a regiment however hc would be more
alone than he has here, Tor the association
with other officers in the line OF duty would be
cosc US Il has been with the cadets He would be
he would iccl II kecniy,
because he would have leisure for social inter.
course, and his mind would not be so occupied Il
has been here with studies
Senator Blaine, N tho course OF conversation last
night thought tho career Of Fiippcr would be TO
south and become leader OF his race. Iie could IN
that way become famous ana could accomplish much
good for the country.
CHANGES RECOMMENDED
The Board OF Visitors met at eight o'clock this even
ing receive the reports the various Committees
appointed to inspect tho various depart the
Institution The Committee on the Corps Of Cadets
reported everything % admirable order fhc Commit
tee on the Course OF study handed In report OF
considerable length, which accepted anu adopted
after some debate. IN winch Mr Bainc took active
part The document. which Will be embodied IN tho
general report OF the Board to tho secretary War
lew days, sets forth thai the committee obtained
and examined All the printed programmes OF stndes,
and fortified themselves win q written statement,
from each professor and rom MAJOR den.
erai schohcid tho superintendent, well
that the actual performance corrcspondcd with inc
| printed terms II goes state that the committee
optuncd the programmes oi past years ana sot Inc
history OF the academy In relation 10 IN. course OF
study as far us possible The sonndncss ot tue sys.
TEN IN the main is commended ana the changes mai.
usd re ii fpn n IN shaFH ...f
| cIencr and greater economy 81 expenditure.
While not wisninr 10 mako any radical changes. tho
| committee thinks improvement may be made many
particulars These have reference to the coudnions OF
admission; to carrying on, the statutory provision
that there snail be department OF geography, ethics
instruction 10 tho English language; to IN.
structioE 10 the Spanish Language: 10 tnsruc.
ton in drawing and lastly to the method OF assigning
aud qualifying professors Statistics collected
concerning the condtions OF admission OF the cadets
appointed Tho percentage which graduates is SHOWN
TIC be larger than tha, Of any educational cstaDls ssh.
mcni al ali comparable with u IN the country. TINS n
attributed TO The method OF Instruction employed, ny
which teacher IL assigned TO every squad OF len
cadets, and to tho tact thar .he greater
expended upon the same SECTIONS Tho committee
recommends at any cost the introduction OF "a simple
weekly exercise in English composition for least
year, AMI points out how time gut found u.
they also suggest that the department ~ spanish and
French be condensed into a acpartm cnt OF uouern
languages Grave doubts expressed a. TO the nccc
rtty OF 30 much attention to drswIng as ts gwen
present The report concludes by declaring lnat the
changes recommended are OF great importance, but
that nevertheless balance and adjustment OF all these
changes In the course OF study attended with grca,
diiicuItes Therefore II recommends with grcat
ncsIncss the appointment OF commission by act Of
Congress- at early date possible, TO CONSIST OF
gentlemen representing the academy and civilians
familiar with educational matters, .hose.duy IL shiIl
be to recommend such changes organization OF
the academy and It's course Of study snail increase
It's efficiency.
CLASS ctr
The graduating class had manufac turcd at q cost OF
$500 beautiful class cup 10 presented To the urst
boy baby born TO any Of i,s members who all marry
IL Is beautiful work OF ami might well tempt q
man 10 compete tor s possession, the
marrying upon second licutenants pay. II IS in
tho shape OF goblet. Of sterling silver ten inches
high, The bowl lined with gold and frosted outside
Around tho bowl IL suspended miniature army pct
OF gold inscribed with the motto 80 our godso y
Attached to The belt In front sword, Of exquisite
workmanship. perfect fac-simile in miniature OF .
regulation weapon Upon the diverse OF the bowl are