The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-06-25
Ezazfmg Cadets sa1 West Point
:and Annapolis.

There is lazing at the colleges, but the
SoDholnore class has not the facilities for
indtlIging in the pastime that are possess
ell by third class-men at West Point and
Annapolis. The third class is above the
newcomer, the s'pleb'' or ''youngster, -
and exercise a certain sort Of supervision
over him. He is ma;ie superintendent
over the fourth class floor. As he has just
come into little authority, he delights to
exercise it. The 'Fpeb'' is spotted or
reported for every thing. He is not spo-
ken to as a gentleman but more like Il
dog. He has to put Il 'ssir'' after every
question to an upper classman. He must
stand Up and take off his cap whenever
one of these important and august indi-
yidr!aIs enters his room. He must stand
and have his looks, figure, and his name
made fun of By perhaps young STRIPPING
used is ofteninsnltilg, but it is seldom the
pleb dares to resent it. If he happens to
get off something that approaches wit and
the ,voungstel smiles, he is then pitched
into for daring TO laugh at an upper class
mate. This is the mildel form of hazing;
it is called 'trslnring." 10 most Young
men it is more calling than hazing proper.
The latter affects the body, while the for
mer consists in slurs and personal abuse.
On drill the youngster is yelled at on ev-
cry occasion by the cadet officers and
sueering remarks are made at the manner
in which he conducts himself.
AS general thing none but the third
class are supposed to haze; but all three
of the upper classes combine to make the
new cadet uncomfortable. One that is
always practiced more OF less every year is
the ssshirt-tail parade. After taps, when
everybody is supposed to be i'll bed, few
of the choice spirits Of the third class go
to the floor where the plebs are i'll bed.
They turn them out and make each one
of them arm himself with Il broom. Night
clothes are all that are worn. The plebs
are organized into companies, and under
the dim light in the corridor, are drilled
in all their phantom-like picturesqueness.
The wardrobes in the cadets rooms are
very narrow the youngsters are made to
climb them very quickly. Often the
wardrobe falls on them.
At Annapolis d sheet.is stretched across
fine wardrobes, and the two roonl-mates
are made to go through the eyolutions of
loosing, reefing, and furling sail. They
Get dusty, and what is worse, are often
kept in their cramped positions on top OF
the wardrobe until their limbs ache: they
are made to Get on the table, dance and
sing: no matter whether they can dance or
sing they have to 90 through the motions.
A fayOiite amusement for the festive
lazer is to make one youngster get into
a wardrobe to sing, while another one acts
AS if he Was turning the crank of hand
organ. Whenever Il new tune is wanted,
the outside man taps on the wardrobe and
the singer sings him another lay. The
mattresses are taken from the beds in sew
eral rooms and piled up around a few Sc
lections Of the genus plebs, until the hol-
low column reaches near the ceiling. Into
the top OF this, water is poured upon the
recumbent youngsters until the ll:tzers get
tired. Sometimes, but not often,: paftic-
ularly cheeky young man is made to eat
soap. Frequently he is shaved with a
blunt piece OF tin, common soap being.
used for lather, and a Wiisk broom for a
brush.
If d youu9ster. gets t. exhibiting too
much gall, or eviEces a determination
not to submit To his. many prosecutions, he
is taken into;s dark room, where some
twenty or thirty upper classmen are as
senbletl. The operation Of passing around,
is then carried out. This consists in one
man giving the rebellious pleh a punch in
the ribs, knocking him to tlleaeXt man on
the right. He is carried around the circle
until he either gives III or becomes ex-
hausted. This treatment is known to
bring even the most cheeky goungster to a
proper sense of what is due by him to his
upper elias snen.
frequently twenty OF thirty plebs are
gotten into a room, and seated in chairs.
The most reli igious. one that can be found
is made to take the desk and preael L SER
mon from 4 text in the Bible. The audi
ence. at proper Intervals says Amen. He
then calls on 4 brother for prayer. The
prayer must be forthcoming. Tying plebs
/ up il sheets anil hanging them out Of WIN
doWs. is not as# common now rs it used to
/ be. Cases are frequent, however, of
tying them in their beds On their backs
and leaving them there. Running piece
I.of rope into 4 room over the ffanspm at
ter Ia ps,. and then making it fast toSttae feet
sot the nleb IL common. The yotlngsterlt ID
suddenly awakened Dg feeling himself
drawn ont OF he'd. He. is pulled uf, to the
3trallsnm by hisfeet and theIloNeretla again.
i These are some Of tile many ways That the
pIeb Is made ta feel that lie is To hs oDeell-
lent TO his tlppers. Washington staEf.