Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-06-20
Our New York letter.
COMMENCEMENT AT WEST Po1NT-sCENERY vs.
MILITARY LAw-JoYs AND SORROWS OF THE
cADErs-A NOTABLE oCcAs1oN-THE ADvAN-
TAaEs OF A NORTHUMBERLAND CRIME IN

NEW YORK; June 10th, 1879.
Il would hardly be accurate to say that all
New York has been up at West Point this
week, for that enchanting spot has not even
temporary accommodations for one per cent.
of the Gothamites but at all events, great
crowds of the elite of this and other cities
have swarmed upon its hotel piazzas roamed
through its romantic groves and lanes, and
stood admiringly about the parade ground,
from Monday until Thursday. The event, of
course, was the graduating exercises of the
class of 10, who are now full blown army Of
iicers (albeit at the foot Of the ladder, ready,
and most of them anxious, to enter active
service at the Far West.
There are few spots on the continent which
can vie with West Point in beauty and refined
splendor of scenery. Nature has done every
thing for it in the way of contour and variety.
The masses of rock and forest verdure piled
in careless symmetry, the broad river wind
ing below and stretching northward in full
sight for ten miles between high and heavily
undulating banks, the views Of melting blue
distance, and the delicate and luxuriant vege-
''@'iNA hNhi Nv manu. bihN ~ ihiN ihhNA'N" ~
from every standpoint and suggest the wish
for lifetime Of luxurious ease in which to
enjoy such varied loneliness. But who dares
talk Of luxurious ease at West Point Shades
of the martinets am almost afraid to pub
fish this, lest General Schofeld should send
down here and have me put under arrest, and
perhaps court martaled and shot for giving
utterance to such an incendiary suggestion.
l assure you that nature monopolizes case
and repose at West Point. Nothing animate
has any business there with luxury or easy
going civilian comfort, and even such mani
mate things as the cadets barracks and Of
iicers quarters have the uncompromisingly
square look about them which mpels the SEN
sitiye observer to involuntariy square his
shoulders and fall into sort Of military step
as he passes them by. The close shaver pa
rade ground is one vast carpet Of emerald vel
vet upon whose prim perfection no straw or
leaf would dare intrude itself any more than
it would venture to invade the generals well
scrubbed sidewalk, up and down which a SEN
try constantly PAGES.
The course of sprouts through which the
cadets are put is, as might be inferred even
if the fact had not been so frequently reiter-
ated, pretty severe one during all Of the
four years course. Beside mastering the all
struse studies which are administered in hero
lie doses, and constant drilling with heavy ri
hes, the boys have to learn by hard experience
everything which common soldier is expect
ed to know. They have to keep their scanti-
ly furnished rooms in order, make their own
beds keep their uniforms and guns in i'm
maculate condition. and perform for them
selves every mental service Some of them
come to the Academy from luxurious homes
and from the enjoyment Of every liberty and
comfort. To such the iron rule and machine
like life at Uncle Sans school seems intoler-
able for while, of course. But there is no
use objecting. Excuses are unknown here,
and the authorities possess no bowels Of COM
passion whatever. However, all this disci-
plino is salutary, if one may judge from the
appearance of its subjects, for a neater trim
mer, heather looking set of boys l never saw
together.
OF the exercises Of this week can say but
little. The rigorous examination ended,
Wednesday was devoted to the reception of
distinguished visitors and to a review before
them of the cadets | witnessed this review
and the subsequent dress parade, both of
which were sights worth seeing. Every evo-
luton was performed with the most soldierly
precision, aud apparently TO the great salts
faction of the aristocratic and rainbow-hued
throng of lay spectators, as well as that of the
more or less illustrious visitors, for whose
special benefit the movements were executed.
One group of the latter near which / stood,
contained Secretary of War McCrary, Gen
cral w. 4. sherman, General Schofeld com
mandant of the post, Chief Justice Waite (who
had son among the graduates, President
Noah Porter Of Yale College, Charles O'Con-
or, and several other notables in and out of
uniform. A grand ball was given in the eve
ming, at which the bellies Of dozen cities
shone like stars, and at which the cadets re-
leased from stern discipline for the occasion,
basked in the soft radiance of the aforesaid,
and were as gay rs so many larks. 1t is only
once II year that the youngsters get this chance
during their stay at the Academy but for
that one evening they certainly do have
soft thing for the girls all adore uniform
on principle, and the rarity of their oppor-
tunities to hirt with the cadets causes those
opportunities to be improved to the utmost.
Small chance, therefore, had the ordinary BIZ
pedin black suit on this occasion. He was sim
ply nowhere, and the dapper young warriors,
with their straight figures encased in tight fit
ting gray jackets and white trousers, had
things all their own way. Thursday, the
graduates received their diplomas, and listen
ed TO speeches from President Porter, Chief
Justice Waite, and Generals Sherman and
Pope, and then the grand ftte was brought to
a close.
The week in New York has not been pub
licly eventful. The future historic page will,
l fear, contain no reference to il whatever, I'M
less it be some mention of strange murder
which may find place in the annals of crime
alongside the unsolved mysteries of the Ma
than and Burdell assassnations. Mrs. Jane
L. d. F. Hull, lady of good family, of some
wealth and great energy, a member of Sorosis
and an inveterate Spectator in Wall street,
was found on Wednesday morning dead in
her bed in the handsome uptown mansion in
which she lived with her husband The lat
ter slept in another part of the house. and
neither he nor any other inmate of the build
ing heard any disturbance during the night.
The victim was found tightly bound to the
bed and gagged Some articles of value were
missing but others of greater worth were un-
disturbed No clue has been found to indi-
cate how the murderer or murderers gained
ingress and egress, and no motive for the
crime can be imagined. The mystery thus
far is complete. but the police are working
hard and hope to get on the trail at last
One other little episode in connection with
a murder may also be mentioned A man and
woman have just been convicted in Jersey
City and sentenced to death for the killing of
the latter's husband ON what is considered
very insufficient evidence. An appeal would
cost the prisoner 81 900, and as they were
penniless they could do nothing toward get
ting the further hearing. Miss Emma Abbott,