The daily gazette., 1877-09-06
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rpsRtNTENDBNT wIcKERsHAM.
rs rHEM-ExAMINATIoEs FOR
oINT,
N ,on has been called to an edi-
to.day's Times entitled. "The
of onr Schools" and permit
tbet | think the facts In the
hardly warrant either the pre-
tbe conclusion of that article. 1t
at the literary requirements for
to West Point are not high,
rssume. 1t is a Fact that at the
fion held let june out of one
and six en- nominees only fiftv-i
r. admitted. But l object first
ssumption that all the rejected
received their prehminary
4 in the pubic schools; and, Sc
the inference that, even if they
pded the public schools, these
hre to any great extent respon-'
their failure to pr the w 1t
Animation. Upon investigation
found that nany of the yonng
minated to West Point come
|yate schools, and that a larger
In of this class of applicants fail
N exami nation than of the cls's
from public schools. In addi-
.bould be stated that many are
on account of some physical de-
eakness. But the main cause of
lion of 80 many yc ing men who
he West Point examinations is
bus system by which they are
They are nomin, ted in the
members of Congress, and the
iority of them still continue to
power to pay political dsb : or
political favOIs. The fathers
led young men are not apt to
.he most useful help to Fspiring
Is, and hence their SONS are apt
led by and the honor of an ap-
Il to West Point given to some
npid fellow, who. of course, is
! venture to say that the aver
b of the young men who attend
nations at West Point is ] 8
OF the young men of the same
attend any college, academy or
lin the country. NO wonder
are rejected. But the fault is.
e public schools, the branches
them or their development of
lltorial in question states that
he nominees that We're selectes
ttive examination Is the writes
as to how many of those were
So far as Pennsylvania is con-
never heard of a single one
ected who was selected in this
am glad to say quite a num-
Ongressmen have adopted the
all will do so and give the boys
public schools d chance we will
nCe any man who makes the
pt concluding that our schools
because the nominees to West
to pass the examinations,
ou allow me space to enforce
ave SAID by example :? Some
prs ago received a note from
Stevens inviting me to call at
wnen convenient. 1 did SO
lew days, and as l entered he
addressed me in words like
Have we no: broins horn now
Lancaster county? l have
e halt> dozen boys to West
ome were rejected and others
ore they have got half through.
Want to try the plan Of COM
examination. Will you help
lhe matter was quickly ar
nd Mr. Stevens had the satis-
seeing his first nominee under
g. luate third in his class, and
professor Of French in the in
his second graduate four
40 he elected Immediately after
On assistant professors of mathe-
nd William Black nominated
teVens successor in tine same
'aGated al the head of a large
lne last commencement. The
70 the Naval School at Annap-
uohe most equally well. Not a
nlnee to either school from this
'oasl es district has been rejected
nlteen Years, except one who
mated by Mr.. y. J. Dickey on
,ah' And let me add that all of
nrea Received their preliminary
In the public schools. Our
oralns and our public schools
'0p 'hem, but be want a faiI
r,, j. P. WIcKERsBAM.
TrEE' August 80. 1877