Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-01-21
assistance of Mr.. Angel, the French

SoAot"hOO Va pAA' NAh5 VI s''S
Professor.
An examination came on, and a
section in Spanish came up. A
verb was given to one of the boys
to write out and decline at the
blackboard. He had it all written
down very nicely, and he was
about TO go on, when the French
Professor jumped from bis chair as
though bad boy had placed an
inverted tack there, and the other
examiners started up, thinking
that poor gentleman had q fit. 1t
was all over ia mement, for
Angel took his seat, quietly saying:
cit is nothing" But what was it?
The cadet had taken a verb in one
coDjugation and written all the
moods and lenses in another, and he
went through 1t all so glibly that
the wise examiners thought the
young gentleman had done himself
great credit. The old French Pro-
fessor saw the terrible mistake and
he was shocked at 1t. But he was
wise, and he knew that If lie then
and there exposed the sham Pro-
fessor, the chances were that his
head would fall in less than one
calendar month.
Things got little warm at times
for old P, but If q storm was
brewing Mrs. P would put on
her war paint and start off to
Washington and put matters to
right. Mr.. Floyd came in as Sec
retary of War, and he was like.
wise a victim te her persuasive
ways. But in 1858 the enemy be-
came too strong, and our Professor
had to 60. 1t did look as
though his case was hopeless, and
it was not until eighteen months
Of trial and trouble that P-was
reinstated, through the energetic
persistence of Mrs. P and the
influence of Senator Wilson of
Massachusetts,.
From 1865 until now the Profess
sor has been undisturbed, except
by occasional rumors that Spanish
would be dropped from the cadet
course of study. Now comes this
Army bill which, should it be-
come law, will cast the old fenc-
ing master upon the cold chari-
ties of the world with only the PEN
sion of a retired colonel.
The Professor of Spanish IS not
the only one at the Military Acad.
emy who is in dire distress. The
Army bill proposes to abolish the
Professorship Of Drawing, making
the teacher of drawing an "In-
structor." For more than forty
years the position of Teacher aud
Professor of Drawing at West
Point had been held by Mr.. Wier,
an artist Of merit, and a finished
gentleman. But it happened that
Prince Fred Grant had a friend and
crony, a young officer of cavalry,
named Larnard, who bad been
taken under the particular protec-
tion of the White House. Fred
Grant had got himself comfortably
fixed es Lieutenapt.Colonel on
Sheridan's staff, and soft place
was to be secured for Larnard, who
could never think of joining his
regiment while he had such a fir end
at court.
So Grant, tho elder, sent the
young man around from one place
to another to report to this one and
that one for some imaginary duty.
At last he was ordered to West
Point, where the young man duly
appeared with his mother, who al.
ways travelled with him to lobby
for and care for him. The Superin-
tendeut Of the Academy said he
had no earthly use for the yonng
man, but he was finally told to re-
port to Mr.. Wier to teach a draw
ing class.
"Now's your time, Fred" said
young Larnared. "rell your gov
ernor to retire old Wier forthwith,
and make me Professor
Strange as it may seem, the in
human and scandalous thing was
done Immediately, and the chair
so long filled by gentleman OF
national reputation was vacated to
make way for Fred Grants boon
companion, whose chief recommen.
dations were that he was the most
successful shirk in the army and
the purchaser of magnificent
wedding present for Mrs. Sartoris