Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-06-01
NUMBER 2l.
HAZTNG AT WEST POINT.
PAsTrMrs or oun Frrrnr CAPTAINS.
fFrom the washIngton STAR

FROM the washington STAR r..
The mutilation OF Cadet Whitaker at
West Point has attracted more attention
than anything of the kind that has occur
red in either of the national institutions.
II was not haziDg as that word Is under
stood, even II Whitaker did not dishgare
himself. The occurrDce has, however,
again directed attentioiito ''hazing.' Some
hold that this practice Is not worse at West
Point or Annapolis than in the colleges.
They are wrong There Is hazing at the
colleges, but the sophomore class has not
the facilities for indulging in the pastime
that are possessed hy third elassmeni at
West Point and Annapolis. The third
class Is above the new conner, the "pleb,
or 'youngster," and exercises 4 certain
sort of supervision over him. He is made
superintendent OF the fourth class foor.
AS he has just come into little authority
he delights 10 exercise il. The "pleb' Is
spotted" or reported for everything. lie
is not spoken to like q gentleman, but
more like dog. lie has TO put a"sir'
after every answer 70 an upper classman.
lie must stand mp and take on his cap
when one OF these august and important
individuals enters his room. He must
stand and have his looks, figure, and his
name made fun OF by perhaps young
STRIPPING foot shorter than himself The
language used Is often insulting, but IL Is
Seldom that the pleb dares 10 resent Ii.
The hazer generally tries TO be very funny.
Ii he happens 10 get OF something that
approaches wit and the youngster smiles,
he Is then pitched into for daring 10 laugh
Mt an upper classmate. This Is the milder
form of hazing; IL Is called running"
TO most young men II Is more gall than
hazing proper. The latter affects the body,
while the former consists In slurs and per-
sonal abuse. On drill the youngster IS
yelled at upon every opportunity by the
cadet officers, and snecring remarks are
made aloud at the manner In which he
conducts himself As u general thing
none but the third class are supposed To
haze; but all three OF the upper classes
combine To make the new cadet rs uncom-
Portable as possible. --"
A favorite pastime is 10 make one young
ster get In the wardrobe To sing while
another acts as II he was turning the crank
OF hand organ. Whenever q 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 several rooms and piled up around
few selections of the genus plebo until
the hollow column reaches near the ceiling.
Into the top of this water is poured upon
the recumbent youngsters until the hazers
get tired. Sometimes, but not often,
particularly cheeky young man Is made To
eat soap. Frequently he is shaved with
blunt piece OF tin, common soap being
used for lather, and whlsp broom Tor
brush. II youngster gets TO exhibiting
too much gall" and evinces determine
ton not to submit TO his many persecu-
tions, he is taken into n dark room where
some twenty or thirty upper classmen are
assembled. The operation OF "passing
around" Is then carried out. This consists
in one man giving the rebellious pleb
punch In the ribs, knocking him 10 the
next man on the right lie Is carried
around the circle until he either gives In
or becomes exhausted. This treatment Is
known TO bring even the most cheeky
youngster To proper sense OF what Is due
by him TO the upper classman.
Frequently twenty or thirty plebs are
gotten into a room and seated in chairs.
The most religious one that can be found
Is made 10 take the desk and preach SER
mon from text in the Bible. His audi
ence at proper intervals says "Amen.' He
then calls on brother for ''prayer." The
PRAYER has TO be forthcoming. Young men
are made to sit on their beds and with
broom pretend TO row until exhausted.
Tyiug plebs up in sheets and hanging them
out OF the windows is not so common now
as il used To be. Cases are frequent, how
ever, Of tying them in their beds on their
backs and leaving them there.