Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-05
CADETS IN THE SADDLE.
How the E,oys at West Point Are Taught %
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West Point I.stter.l

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West Point Istter1
The drill for to-day was school of the
soldier mounted" which took place in
the great riding hall. As the title in
dlcates, the drill is an exhibition of in
dlvidual skill in horsemanship. It is
said TO be great favorite with the BOYS,
but the severity OF the training they
have to undergo before attaining the
degree of skill deemed necessary for I'm
officer is something they never forget.
Ihe record of broken arms, strained
wrists, dislocated shoulders, fractured
legs, and days spent in the hospital by
reason of limbs rubbed raw, attests the
fact that there is no child's play in the
teaching ut West Point. They don't do
things here for fun, and little sympathy
Is wasted on the unfortunate youth who
in his early efforts in the saddle comes
to grief with O broken bone. He is
more likely to get reprimanded for his
awkwardness than to be condoled with.
There was q great crowd present at the
hall when the drill began, too large, in
deed, to find room in the small galleries
OF the place; so, when these we're
full OF ladies, the more agile among the
male spectators climbed up on the win
dow-sills and the like places, while
other crowds besieged each of the four
large doors of the building. This is
the one occasion on which the observer
might be justified in supposing that the
work was done a good deal for show,
because here it is that the excited spec
tators applaud every boy who goes
through well. Let him take every
head, and he is certain of a hearty
round of applause. Tho comments Of
the spectators are often very amusing.
When the boys commenced to use
their revolvers, some one in the
gallery anxiously inquired il they
had real bullets" in them, and
seemed rather relieved when assured
that they did not, and there was conse-
quently no danger of any stray lead
finding its way upward. When the or
der was given to dismount and mount
at speed, the area of the hall was in
stantly scene OF galloping horses, rid
ers jumping off, others jumping on,
some down in the tan bark, others
clinging 10 the name and bride, des-
perately struggling to get astride,
horses rearing and plunging, and gen.
orally remarkably lively time for all !;
then the women began to utter little
screams, which increased to q general
shout when one OF the boys made a
spring for the horses back (there were
no saddles), went clear over it, and
plowed up the bark in the middle Of
rush OF galloping beasts, to the immi-
nent danger of his brains. "Why, this
is quite dangerousl exclaimed an indi-
vidual in the gallery, indignant at the
idea of the boys being made to run such
risks. The good gentleman seemed to
suppose that the services were merely
for show. 1t is needless to say that the
boys did well; they always do; but,
while none fall below a certain level,
there are vast differences between them
above that level. Some OF the boys
take wonderfully well to the work, and
feel rs much at home cutting and slash
ing about on bare-backed horses as in a
rocking-chair, while to others it never
becomes easy. They do the work, but
il Is hard. The actual movements Of
the drill with saber and pistol are few.
The soldier is started from the company
to make the circuit of the hall. Putting
his horse TO gallop, he begins by fir
ing at head on post, returns his pis-
tol TO the holster, draws his sabcr, and,
at full speed, makes q thrust at another
head on a post, then cut at one lying
on the ground, then jumps a hurdle,
and, in jumping, slashes a head from a
post beside it, or thrusts at suspended
ring on level with his own head, and,
lastly, makes q right thrust at another
head on a post. To go through this
performance on q horse without O sad
die, and a big pair of spurs on ones
heels, is not an easy task, and il any one
thinks it is he had better try it in the
nearest riding-school. The different
cuts and thrusts are, of course, as
against infantry or cavalry.