The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-11
DEAD HEADS AT WEST POINT
Two Preposterous Professors Cut on By the
HannIng Army Bin.


bill passes. these professorships are leglsated
out Of existence. as perhaps 1t is better that
they should be. But strong fight will be made
on the matter. during which some very inter-
estinR "reminiscences are likely to be rehcarsed.
About thirty-four years ago the gentleman
who now draws the pay Of Professor OF Spanish
at West Point made his appearance there as an
applicant for the position Of fencing master
He was native OF one of tho South American
republics. lie was somewhere between 80 and
40 years Of age. n very gentlemanly. good-na-
tured sort OF fellow. and a graceful man with
the small sword. He received the appoint
mcnt Of sword master. and he soon became
quite favorite with the officers and cadets.
old P" as he was called. was seldom out Of
humor and II the fencing class got tired Of
escrime it was only necessary for some cadet.
during a rest to ask P some question about
South America to start him off on history OF
his adventures in his native country. and there
was no more fencing for that day.
Time went on. and the Mexican war caused
an inquiry into the propriety Of introducing
the Spanish Language into tho West Point
course. The Professor OF French, the late Mr.
Agnel. was an eminent philologist and most
accomplished Spanish scholar He took n great
Interest in the movement to Introduce the CAS-
lillian language into the course, being perfectly
willing to take the professorship without any
additional compensation. -
At the time OF the effort TO get bill through.
P-had no moro thought ot being made pro-
lessor than he had OF being mnde Minister TO
England. He told his stories 10 the boys, played
the violin. and was as happy beggar ae could
be found In tho country. But about 1855 an
other actor. or rather actress. appeared on the
scene. and then the trouble commenced.
Moro than thirty years ago the city OF Nash
vile had alively street fight. tho like OF which
Bentons had their famous dinicuty there
ed to cut on the ' ears Of Ned Baniiine E q
stomach. from the effects Of which he then and
there died. At least that was the verdict OF tho
crowd. which Immediately divided Itself into
two parties one Of which was to- procure a
strong rope while the other charged itself with
procuring the body Of Jqdson. But Buntlne
escaped up 20 a room in the second story OF a
hotel. locked the door behind him. jumped out OF
the, window. and thus saved himself to enlarge
and elrvnto the literature OF the country.
Mr. Porterneld being dead and buried. and
Ned Buntline IN parts unknown, the discon-
ISOLATE widow yandSred about the land until she
when old p was enjoying his summer yaca-
ton, she caught sight OF the tall graceful DARK
had captured poor P who was but dough In
My dear" said she to him one day. how
much salary DO you get "a Professor OF the
sword at Weet Point2 Only $500! That must
be- increased"
p thought he had fortune already. and
How shall get my salary incrcased2",
"
II done" And she did IT, She went TO WASH
ingtOn as soon Ms Congress met. and after
short campaign blll was PASSED increasing
Meanwhile the introduction OF Spanish had
been determined upon and my lady had de-
cided upon two things-she would make P
a professor, and then she would marry him.
Now, the Spanish WIS P-'s vernacular rs
far rs it is the vernacular Of any one reared In
South America. lie could express himself
tolernby well In the language but he knew
about as much Of the Ihio,93gy or the literature
could carry on conversation in Castlian. but
once among the verbs and conjugatons he
JEFF Davis was Secretaryof War. and although
a man OF fifty odd. and lean in body and
visagc. he was not unsusccptible TO the bland
ishnlents OF handsome woman; The BILL was
passed aud to tie horror Of the Superintendent
and the families OF the professors at West Point
P turned W with his appointment as Pro
lessor 81 the Spanish Language and with his
10 the hish-Hown and extra refined society Of
West Point this was a heavy blow. To receive
that horrible woman" was impossible. but
they had seen an example OF her power. and TO
cut her might be cutting of their own official
heads. II was time of sore trial and tribula-
ton. but is passed over; Nine. P-was not az
gressive. and she was lot severely alone.
Soon 1t became necessary for the new Profess
sor to begin tho instruction Of Spanish. That
was something that neither Nine. P nor
P md thought much about. But something
had 20 be- done. There WAS In the army at that
time Lieutenant Of infantry, Jolly rollicking
| Hell Roaring Jackson. lie had served In New
Mexico. and he had picked NJ n smattering Of
the pure CHstllian. rs spoken IN Santa FL. FL
Puso and Albuquerque. Some u the waggisn
ON rers Of the Academy. who saw what dilom-
ma poor P WIS in said TO him. Now P.
rs you are Professor. you must write to the
| President and direct him 70 send He'll Roaring
Jackson here 10 assist YOU.
on. perfectly" said they You ought to
see MIN at a 1dte IN Santa lie dancing on amud
nHr."
There were some fair Spanish scholars in the
army then; but II is not presumed that P
anoe. SO in due time Jackson received an order
| 10 proceed to West Point TO help instruct tho
cadets in Spanish. Jackson was fellow Of
| good sense and seeing what ridiculous posi-
| ton he WINS placed in, he begged hard 10 be re-
| licy4d. Alter being at the Academy for a few
weeks he was. to his great Joy. relieved and
vel as he could alone for he had been ordered
~ PM Mrs. a., P- To fsorn the assistance OF Mr.
- An examination came on and section in
| Spanish came NJ verb was given 70 ono ofthe
He had II all written down very nicely. and he
was about TO 20 on when The French Professor
placed an inverted tack there. aud the other ex-
| aminers started NJ. thinking that the poor gen
!leman had IT; II was all over in moment,
| Tor Agnel took his scat quietly saying " Ii il
nothing But what was ~ The cadet had
taken yer9 in one conlugation and written all
! thr moods IN lenses in another. and he went
through il all so glibly that the wise examiners
! thought the Young gentleman mad done himself
great credit. The old French Professor saw the
| he was wise, and he knew that II he then and
| there exposed the sham Professor the chances
| wero that his head would fall IN less than one
| calendar month
Things got little warm at times for old P.
but II storm was brewing Mrs. P would put
| on her war paint and start on 10 Washington
| AMI put matters to rights. Mr.. Floyd came in
! A. Secretary of War. and he was likewise vie
! tim 10 her persuasive ways. But in 1868 the
! rl my became too strong, and our Professor
! had To- 90. II lid look As though his case was
! hopeless. ana II was not until eighteen months
! of trial aud trouble that p was reinstatrd.
! tAruuEh tho energetic persistence 81 Mrs p
! nui Nh" influence OF senator Wilson of Massa-
! clIh~rtts.
From 1865 until now tho Professor has hocn
! nm disturbed, except hy occasional rumOrs that
! spanish would be dropped from the cadets
course ot study, Now comes this Army bill
| which. should II become q law will Gust the old
| iencing master upon the cold charities Of thu,
| world with only the pension oi retired colonel
IN" Professor OF Spanish Is not the only ono
! a. the Military Academy who Is in dire distress.
inc Army bill proposes to abolish the lrnfrs.
! sorshlp Of Drawing. making the teacher N
! drawing I'm Instructor" For more than forty
| years the sltion Of reachcr and Professor II
| Drawing 1T West Point had been held 10y Mr.
! Nler, an artist Of merit, and finished gentle
| man. But II happened that Prince Fred Grant
| hdd friend and cronY n Young OIL GER Of cav
| airy named Larned. who had been taken under
| The particular protection OF the White House
! Fred Grant had got himself comfortably fixed
| as Lieutenant Colonel on Sheridan's stan and
| soft place was 10 be secured for LHrucd who
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