The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-30
West Point Experience.

Having been hOnOred with an appoint
ment as a cadet in the United States Mil
'itary Academy, Ipacked my trunks, said
good-by to parents and sweethearts, and
hurried to West Point by rail. At 8
o'clock in the morning after my arrival
reported to the Commandment, Gen. Ma
han. was directed by him to report at
once to the surgeon of the post for physi-
cal examination. I shuddered. When I
entered the room at the surgeons head
quarters I felt as if I had the fever and
ague. shook in every eyelash, and yet
my face felt like red-hot stove. Three
military gentlemen sat at intervals around
the room.
s'Go into the other room and take off
your clothesn' commanded one.
Call Of 'em?" I asked.
"Certainly'' he yelled, and every let
ter Of the word was a capital. It was a
very small word, but it sounded like a
shutdown gun to me, and I jumped at
least foot. When I came back 1 didn't
have any clothes on. How I got them
off haven't the slightest recollection I
know that tore my shirt down the back
in my efforts to ''be quick Then I was
ordered to hop around the room, first on
my right and then on my left foot. I
was made to swing my arms until I re-
semble an amateur windmill under full
head Of steam; then was compelled to
shut, first one eye and then the other, and
distinguish colors and read large and
small print at different distances. A con-
sultation was held and while it was going
on kept up my shivering. Finally the
three officers appeared to be satisfied, and
they made rush for me. While one
made bass drum of my body and placed
his ear on my chest, the other walked
around and viewed me as if I was prize
OK. The man who was hammering and
listening evidently thought that I was
trying to conceal something about my per-
son, for he looked suspiclously into my
face several times. If he had said that
wasn't sound and had thrown me out of
the window, I would have blessed him
I wanted to go home.
The surgeon finally told me to go back
and put on my clothes. When I returned
they told me I was 'ssound." How sorry
was. Iwould have given $40 if they
had informed me that had the consump-
ton or heart disease, but the fates were
against me. Having been given IN charge
of a youthful member of the Irregular
Army" was led to the barracks I felt
happier and happier step by step, and
was beginning to think that all was over
and that was full-hedged cadet, when
yell from an upper room drew my at
tention in that direction.
Chat, where are you going with that
boy?" shouted man in full gray uni
form.
The windows were soon filled with ca
diets, and the yells that rent the air were
deafening.
'Here comes plebe." "Who blowed
up that gripsack!' .'Ain't you afraid to
trust yerself on them legs?" and ejacula-
lions Of like nature increased my COM
posure.
Soon I was surrounded by about doz-
en- natty young gentlemen, all of whom
expressed desire Ito try on that plug"
Of course submitted. When they had
all measured their heads with it nv
hat looked like concentrated concer-
tina.
was then taken up stairs to be put
through "a course of sprouts" My con-
ductors raped on door at the head of
the stairs and somebody said, ''Come in.''
went in. I had no sooner entered than
what was left Of my hat was knocked out
Of my hand and went flying in one dlrec-
ton and my valise sored away in another.
These were the quarters, Of the "Captain
OF Cadets" and was to be initiated into
the duties of soldier. There were four
young officers present, and each took
particular pains to countermand the order
of the other three.
'Toe that mark !" shouted one.
'Put your hands down the seams of
your pants!" yelled another.
eye that tack in the wallv' yelled the
third
"Compress your chin, throw out you,
chest, turn out your toes, keep your head
erect" commanded the fourth.
I obeyed all four at the same time, and
wriggled and twisted and turned an6
grew red in the face and grew pale, all a,
once. Oh! for sight of New York
again.
"What's your Nance"
"Was your grandfather a Spanish pi
rate?"
"No, STRIP ......... Z ...
"What do you mean by laughing i,
our presence?"
'1'll take my oath | didn't laugh.
did didn't mean it, and it must hav
been sickening attempt" "
"Have you brought your trunk?'
ono, sir"
"Where is it,"
cts on the road"
"Have you any cannons in it?''
"N-n-o, sir"
"Lucky for you. If you were caugh
here with cannon, or a regiment of al