New-York tribune., 1877-06-11
THE VEST POINT ACADEMY

QUIET SATURDAY SND RAINY svNDAY-1HE
COURSE OF sTUDY-MR. BANNING's CONVERSION
A SURPLUS or CADETS.
TFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNHI
WEST POINT, June 10-A rainy Sunday at
West Point is real misfortune and every one rose ths
morning and looked out upon "A gray SKY and iogHy
river with a Of personal injury. The ram it"'
however held off just long enough 10 allow large auui-
gather in the chapel where the Rev Dr. FofsytD
chaplain at the post, delivered semiDaceanreate us
course He urged the cadets to do with diligence what
their hands find to do" and endedvored 20 impress
them with the dignity of work as the basis OF re-
spcctabty and happiness Saturday rather quiet
day. except far the hundreds OF .newJ wJ-arrived
guests including The Brooklyn school teachers maze gay
the hotel piaZzas and the academic shades There was
drill but the afternoon parade, which even the DIGEST
nhabtant does tire OF watching was as picturesque
IA ever. In the evening informal hop Mt the h0tei
enabled the cadets to practice ball next wednesday
evening.
The full Board of Visitors has listened TO the reports OF
the committees and after some dscussiOn whch re-
suited in certain notifications adopted them The sum
mary in Saturdays TRIBUNE gave the main points OF all
the important reports except that of the COmattoe on
thc Course Study This committee, recognizing the
individuality Of any ilcOnsdered change, recommends
the appointment by act OF Congress OF commission rep
rcscnting three clements. the Academic Boaid. the
graduates OF the institution and civilians familiar with
general education, whose duty shall be to review ana
report upon the course study The committee thinks
that such commission which VIII need 10 INFORM ise'l
accurately on the history the Academy its end and
object and its present condition, should b. appointed as
possible, and should sit at West Point during
Summer. Mr. Banning was not here TO vote on the
reports having gone to NewYOrh on Friday evening aho
thence home. During his brief stay, however he de-
yelopci such an a,dent love for the Academy as sur
prsed himself and he has away pledged 10 vote Ior
the appropriations recommended.
The exclamation OF Lord Paget, after watching the
parade last Thursday evening, You ought 10 send out
1900 men year from this institution" expresses in
rather exaggerated form the conviction OF many persons
now staying at the Point. prominent member ot the
Board oysitors would glad have three OF four times
as many yearly appointments Gs are low made lie De-
lievs that the influence u "a military education which
would thus be exerted through the country would bring
in practical results liberal return for the money IN
vested by the Government Upon Their graduation
number cadets equal to the number OF vacancies IN
the army should receive commissions and the selections
should be made according to standing BY thus appealing
to the pride AMI ambition Of the cadets, the standard
of scholarship would be permanently raised. In this
connect on it may be remarked that there Is 10 htuc
doubt as to what viii be done with some OF the rs mem
bers Of the present first class the largest ever graduated
II Is not thought that any one Will be found az tue
expression is that s found deficient, ana 1t Is stated
hat there are not 7G vacancies be filed There is
sta tue binding the Government to coDIn sslon cadet
upon hIs graduation hut, as some one has SAID, com-
mon law il stronger than the Statutes and II would be
hard to violate the unWrtten obligation OF pgecedents
As | end this letter dark cloud Is drifting slowly
down over the mountains, and every one Is anxious lest
hard shower should interfere with tie parade. Inc
Sunday parade although manifest necessity, ana sane
titled "a far possible by the hyn-tunes which the
band plays has nevertheless inst enough that is worldly
abon, 10 fascinae The rcigiousy yinclinci and the
entire colony Including believe, the cadets themselves
! is always sJIry To lose 1t.