The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-07
Jupiter Pluvius in Command OF
the Academy Grounds.
PROCEEDINGS OF TIE DAY
Cavalry Drill in the Rid
ing Hall.
SKETCH OF OLD BENTz, THE BUGLER

This morning Jupiter Puvius made descent upon us
and has not for single momont suspended his attack
AS consequence the paradcs OF tho cadets had 70 20
dispensed with the scenery has undergone Trans
formation. The rugged hills, which IN fair weather
loom 10 olive green agaiosl a blue sky are yelled IN
mists, the river has assumed dirty huo, the
parade ground is n morass, and the hum Of
insects and tho chrp OF birds is replaced
by the ceasecss FLASHING Of tho rain. There Is plenty
Of company at the hotel however and pleasant ways
Of passing timo are not hard to ind.
Among the ladies stopping hero are Mira Senator
Maxcy, Mrs. General Thomas w. Hyde, Mrs Rev.
Charles s. Richardson, Mrs. General David D. Hills
ana Mrs. Hon. Thomas 9. Platt
THE ACADEMY.
The examination OF the first class Of cadets In en-
eineering was concluded to-day, and several sections
were examined in law. They displayed very salts
factory knowledge OF the subject
None OF the sub-com mitteos, except that on Com
missary and Mess. have yet reported That on tho
religious condition Of the cadets to receive state
ment from Chaplain Fosythe.
rng cuRRicCLUx
The sub-commi.tes The Course OF Study will
probably recommend some changes in tho curriculum.
AZ present the course cssopt TALLY mathematical
pnc, comprising mlneralosy and geology, engineering
law, chemistry. philosophy. tactics, ordnance and
runnery, drawing and tho French and Spanish Ian
puaces Several members OF the committee arc In
,red to favor the introduction Of logic rhetoric and
sellcs-iettrcs into the course as they think
{ would relieve tho harshness OF tho present
,ystem and give the graduates greater mental
,lasticty and enable them to express them
seIves more gracefully and easily IN their
mother tongue. General Scholed. superintendent
,, the Academy, spoken 10 upon the subject, and
bis Vows conceded exactly with those OF the gentle
just referred TO, except that while they thought
Of extending the from four to 1--WE years SO that
he additional studies might be introduced without
,utsing or any the Others he Is opposed to cxtond
ng period Of training and rather favors tho cx-
,lusion OF Spanish and perhaps some other things
d give place for tho English studies.
Professor Forsythe the chaplain. is set down as
eacher OF ethics geography anu history but tho fact
s that he has never heard a class rccito in any
Df those studies since be here Tho course at
The Academy, from the time Of its foundation up
1851 occupied four years. In the year mentioned IL
extended to i've years by Congress, but was In
1861 the outbreak OF the war; again reduced TO
logr years. NJ which IT has since remained.
CHEAP LuxURIEs.
This morning The m,tteo whose duty II was to
inspect the bath house visited that and
wore amazed at the chcapness OF the concrrn bath
with towels and soap costs but three cents; boots
BACKED for twenty cents month, and sometimes
cadet has them blacked twice thrcc times IN
single day. that the per .xhnc is only frnc.
ton OF o cent Mr.. Simpson, who has had The
ngcmcnt Of these details Tor nearly halt century
that he losing money at the present rates aud
must increase them tribe or give up the business.
CAVALRY DRILL
Thirty members OF Inc graduating class went through
the cavalry drill this evening in the riding hall under
direction OF Captain Eugene u. Beaumont, OF tho
Fourth cavalry. The Board OF Visitors
but tho rain prevented many guests IRON the motel
putting in an appearance, and the result was u
much smaller number Of spectators than usual
The boys cavortcd around the floor of tho big building.
which was spread with tan bark 10 the depth oil sew
cra inches, cutting their sabrcs they went cush
ions representing the heads OF Infantry soldiers
Some OF these placed upon the ground to repre-
the soldier living down and others elevated
apon frames TO Ok them IN the position OF soldiers
standing upright After ss1shing these right
and lett they galloped the riders dis
mounted, removed thor sadddlcs. and remountcd,
9Th nothing but cloth pads Seated upon these they
went through The same exercises, and in addition,
lcaped hurdle several feet high, cutting hcaa at
the same time Rings suspended from ABOVE, repre-
sentpg the heads OF cavarymen were also cut NJ In
the circuit OF the halt Pistol practice was also In
dulged In the riders nring at the dummy heads as they
were passed. When the drill was completed the cadets
lett the ball. giving tLrce hearty cheers signllzc the
TACT that they hat taken their last cavalry drill.
QUAINT cnARAcTER.
In tho Gothic afchway leading through the cadets
barracks into the quadrangle there appears ana van
ishes ut regular intervals from morning until the hour
Tor retiring at ngh quaint old figure attired In tho
undross costume OF United states soldier. Wilh
upright though somewhat feeble bearing, the figure
pauscs exactly beneath tho centre OF the ARCH and
facing the parade grounds raises horn 10 us lips,
blows cali and retires with the regular motion OF an
au'omaton. This Is old l'cntz, the buslcr OF the
Academy who has been In service hero since 1881,
nearly forty-our years. Ia winter and summer,
through all sorts OF weather, tho old trumpcter has
madc the hills echo with the notes OF his instrument,
obcdicnt TO which generations OF cadets have moved
TO aud ro from classroom TO study hall or field or
quarters. Tho old man-he Is now seventy -one--ls
looked upon by The lads part oil the place. and they
roud not imagine the Academy IN existence without
bun. | accostod him to-day as he turned TO retire
inter sounding tho welcome notes VII oh Informed the
tadets that dinner nv aitcd them 10 the mess hall.
swell, Bcntz," said l, "how goes the world with
your
with gray beard and SGT with pair OF frank brown
eyes, which seemed weak from age, no fonded his
battered trumpet and replied with German accent
.'Vcl. tho buglc goes pretty good now but last WIN
ter was pretty sick and my sight IS almost gone
Seen changes he:es Yes, sur I've seen strange III
in my time here There Is army officer la
not known here. knew General sherman and Gen
tra Grant when they were cadets General Grant may
No. SIR; he does not keep MS word II he did would
DOT be nero now He promised 10 make mo Secretary
The old buelcr polished tho mouthpiece Of hts IN
strument upon tho sleeve OF his blouse he said this
with great carncstncss, aud looked down with SIGH
"No, sir, / wouldn't mind telling YOU how II was y
be continued. III wnen Grant was In the lirst
cass Of cadets here, about thriy-hvc years ago. In
those days the wives Of soldiers used 10 wash Tor tho
Academy, and my old woman washed Tor Grant Ono
day when BIO came my room about some washing 1
began TO talk French to him.
".Ah, Bcntz,' he said, you are ahead OF me: c1nt
talk that language.
'.why,' said, your name lie French
"sNo, am Scochmnn,' he answered.
.s.well. / said, 4 knew good many frcnciimcn OF
that name and II IS lucky one You will get what
ever you want life Maybe you'll be President OF
the United States one day.
II tell you. Ben,z he said right away, quick, ~
I get 10 be President will make yon SECRETARY OF
War But he dan do H." said the old man. mourn
fully shaking his head, 'rrd am poor Bcntz tho bu
glef yet. Hc got 10 DO President anu became b
81 900, 000 they say, but he didn't know me then.
He forgot me shamefuIiy. When he came ~ here he
did not como to see me: The las, time General shcr
man was ~ here bo asked tor mo and shook hands
with very kindly, although hardly knew HIM,
my sight Is so poor. p"
iDid you ever write 10 President Grant and remind
him OF Ills promise, Bcntzf" asked.
'Oh. ycs." he replied, gazing thoughtfuliy down into
the mouth Of hrs bugc "a lew yours ago when Fred
Grant, his son, a cadet here he camc INTO my
room ono day when he heard me playing the violin,
ana told him about his fathers promise, aud no
promised 10 write TO General Grnnt about u but
never heard from him since
II rather amusing to hear the SIMPLE minded old
solnicr talk about the position Of Secretary Of War, as
ahaaLsh ucrc nnsiian winch he caud I'LL win Dor