The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-03-08


What will b. res,eiresi hrfar.- the examining
bsar,l appointed ior the distiics, but pre-
sumo It will correspond with wllat will b,
ouired before the West Point Examining
Board. although, of course. the preliminary
examination will not be 50 rigid in amy
particular. The following are the rules
governing the admission at West Point:
First. each Congressional District and
Territory the District of Columbia-is
entitled to have one Cadet at the Academy,
Ten are also appointed at large. The APP
pointments except those at large) are made
BY the Secretary of War at the request of the
Representative, or Delegate, in Congress
from the District or Territory; and the per-
son appointed must be an actual resident OF
the District or Territory from which the
appointment is made. The appointments
at large are specially conferred by the
President of the United States.
Our Congressman, Gen. Campbell, has de-
cided not to appoint any one merely on his
own motion and on his own preference, Int
to select Board Of three persons-one from
each of the three counties in the District
who will examine all applicants, and the
one the Board recommends will be recon-
mended in turn by Gen. Campbell to the
Secretary of War, and he will be appointed,
and, if able to pass the West Point Exam
lining Board, physically and academically.
will become q Cadet
| A Representative has also the privilege of
nominating an alternate, who will be exam
ined by the Board at the same time and in
the same manner as the regular nominee,
and admitted in the event of his success and
the latter's failure TO pass the prescribed pre-
liminary examinations. The alternate, in
this instance, will probably be the young
man who stands the second best examina-
ton before the local board.
The age for the admission OF Cadets to
the Academy is between seventeen and
TWENTY-FIVE years. Candidates must be at
least five feet in height, and free from any
infectious or immoral disorder, and, gener-
ally from any deformity, disease, or iniirm-
ity which may render them unfit for mill
tary service. They must be well versed in
reading, in writing, including orthography,
and in arithmetic, and have knowledge
of the elements of English grammar, of de-
scriptive geography, particularly OF our own
country, and of the history of the United
States.
Every candidate is, soon after his arrival
at West Point, subjected to rigid physical
examination by an experienced Medical
Board, and if there is found to exist in him
any of the following causes Of disqualified
ton to such degree as would Immediately
or at no very distance period impair his ef-
ficiency, he is rejected:
Feeble constitution and muscular te-
nuity; unsound health from whatever cause;
indications OF former disease; glandular
swellings, or other symptoms of scrofula
2-Chronic cutaneous affections, especial
ly of the scalp.
3-Severe injuries of the bones of the
head; convulsions.
4-Impaired vision, from whatever cause
affections of the eyelidsi i'm
mobility or irregularity of the iris; fistula
etc.
5-Deafness copious discharge from the
ears.
Gloss of many teeth or the teeth gener
ally unsound.
7-Impediment of speech.
S-Want of due capacity OF the chest, and
any other indications of liability to pul
ponic disease.
9-Impaired or inadequate efficiency of
,ne or both of the superior extremities on
account of fractures, especially of the claw
Gle, contraction of joint, extenuation de-
orrnity, etc.
10--An unusual excurvature or incurva-
ure of the spine.
1i-Hernia.
PA yaricose state of the veins of the
crotum or spermatic cord lwhen large),
arcocele, hydrocele, hemorrhoids, fistulas.
l3-Inpaired or inadequate efficiency of
ne or both of the inferior extremities on
ccount os varicose veins, fractures, malfor-
nation (hat feet, etc., lameness, contrac- !
ion, unequal length, bunions everything or
upernumerary toes, etc.
l4-Ulcers, or unsound cicatrices Of ulcers
kelly to break out afresh.
The newly appointed Cadets are then ex- !
mined by he Academic Board, and those
OF qualified are rejected. Questions in
eading, writing. photography, arithmetic,
.nglish grammar. and descriptive geogra-
hy, the applicant will be required to an
wer in writing or orally, or both, and the
will be very thorough. In
eading the candidates must be able to read
nderstandingly, and with proper accent :
nd emphasis. In writing and orthogra-
by they must be able TO write from dicta- !
on sentences from standard pieces of
.nglish literature, both prose and poetry,
efficient in number to test their qualifica-
ons, both in hand writing and orthogra- S
by: in arithmetic, to explain accurately
nd clearly its object, and the manner of
'ritting and reading number-entire, frac- I
onal and compound, or denominate. In
.nglish Grammer candidates must exhibit
familiarity with all parts Of speech and !
le rules in relation thereto; must be able to
arse any ordinary sentence given to them, l
nd, generally, must understand those por-
ons of the subjects usually taught under the !
eads of orthography, etymology, syntax,
nd prosody. In descriptive geography the !
andidate must be familiar with the natural
visions of the earth; the waters, noun |
lins, and principal places Of the Eastern
nd Western Hemispheres; also, almost
in the United States bounda- }
es of States and Territories locations of
vers, mountains, cities, etc. In the histo-
: of the United States the applicant will j
ave to be particularly well posted in the
lrliest European settlements within the 6
nited States; when and where, and by
HON made; what was the difference be-
veen the royal, the chartered, and the pro-
rietary colonies; how many colonies were
riginally in Massachusetts, and Connect
1t; in what wars were the colonies engag-
before the Revolution what were the
rincipal events etc.; the Constitution of Y
le United States-why and when was it
AIMED; when was it adopted; and almost
Terthing that has occurred since, including
Ie names of all the Presidents and the
incipal events of each administration
Those candidates who have successfully II
lssed both the physical and the academi-
j examination are admitted as Cadets, n
Ibject to the result of the examination in