Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-21
ADMISSION TO WEST POINT.
An Interesting Paper Read Before the
Military Service Institution The
Examination system.

A general meeting Of the Military Service In
stitution was held last Saturday at the head
quarters building, at Governors Island, New
York General Crttenden presided. as General
Hancock, the president ofthe institute was absent
at Fort Monroe. The principal business ofthe
meeting after the discussion Of an informal
lunch In the mess" was the hearing OF q
paper entitled admission to the military AGA
DENY" by General James B. Fry. and the very
great interest entertained by officers OF the
army In the subject was evidenced by the large
gathering OF members OF the institute West
Point was well represented. both by a number
OF officers and members Of the academic board
General I. F. Rodenbough, United States army
and assistant inspector general Of this state
acted as secretary.
General Frys paper was an extremely inter-
esting One and covered much ground when the
vastness of the subject is considered. Speaking
of the present system of examinations. General
Fry said: Under the present system the candi-
dates are (for eXamination) known TO the board
only by numbers Questions in the various sub
iects. written out beforehand are submitted to
the candidates. who, under the eye OF assist
ant professor. but without aid or consultation.
work for limited time to produce the answers
In writing. The merit in these answers is indi-
Gated by numbers fixed arbitrarily by the board.
III the number received in a subject does not
come up to the level prescribed the board re-
jects without learning any more about the per-
son concerned than these written questions and
answers convey-without In fact knowing WAC
the person is This has the effect of putting
examining" at premium instead of a discount
for entry to the institution in which examining
is most roundly condemned and most positively
interdicted.
ONE RESULT OF THE SYSTEM.
This examination is free from partially and
prejudice, and affords a record made by the can
dldate himself with which the board can defend
its action. and in case OF complaint confuse
and cOnfound the candidate and his friends
Nevertheless 1t is harsh and unwise and is d.
rectly at variance with the mode of proceeding
at all subsequent examinations. While on the
questions be proper it might be made to fulfill
the requirements of the law. it is not the way to
secure that material to which the course of in
struction at the military academy can be applied
with the best results. 1t gives no consideration
to lack of years or lack of opportunities for
schooling. Ii calls for just as much book
knowledge from the western farmer boy of seven
teen as from the man OF TWENTY-FIVE from Bos-
ton, the seat of learning No account is taken
OF the fact that the training Of the former may
have been such as to give high development to
traits essential in the genuine soldier-ndustry,
energy. fidelity. obedience, courage, perseyer-
ance and sef-reliance.
After depreeating the present free school sys-
tenn. particularly OF New York where fourteen
studies are pursued. as tending to encourage
examining without good and lasting results
the speaker gave number OF interesting in
stances by figures of the results of the different
systems of examinations at the academy. He
concluded by saying that the facts tended to
show that the examination required by law is
not conducted as it ought to be. He thought ii
would be better If the members of Congress
were to make their own appointments and be
responsible for them.