New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-10
EXERCISES AT WEST POINT.
rrSrrv,r,rs OF THE LAST DAYS.


IrRoy SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUNE.i
Wrsr PoINT. June 9.-The sky was overcast
with black clouds this morning. and the hop managers
fearing repetition of ast years caamities ordered an
awning to stretched from the mess hall 10 the gy m
pasum which was to serve the supper room As the
morning advanced however the clouds disappeared and
sunshine made glad the hearts Of visitors and cadets
The Board OF Visitors also had TO rejoice for they
as well as the members OF the Academic Board sought
a few hours OF relaxation in a trip up the river
TO Newburg. The Centennial Committee OF New
burg through Congressman Beach has been endeav-
orng to secure various appropriations for next years
centennial celebration. As there two United states
Senators and three Congressman the Board OF Vsi
tors the worthy citizens Newburg considered the oc-
cas1on TO be improved The Centennial Committee,
therefore invited the Board OF Visitors, the Academic
Board and few guests TO visit Washinstons heaiquar
ters Newburg. Among the guests was Lieutenant
General W. g. N Macdonald. c. b., OF the English Army
arrived Cranston's Hotel Last night The party
the Post the steam yacht Cadet ut o'clock ana
enjoyed pleasant excursion On their return salute
of fifteen guns fired in honor of General Macdonald
THE CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION.
Meantime the candidates for admission were arriving
on every train and boat. After undergoing physical
examination. they escorted by conemptuous order
lies TO quarters When the drum beat for dinner
the candidates failed grasp the situation until officers
from class directed them to leave their rooms
and fan In line TheD they tumbled down stairs pel
lines The faces Of some sheepsh smiles while
others looked miserable and defiant They turned their
toes in others heels and formed lines which
curved like a Bonded bow.
In the afternoon rush of visors began in earnest
Happy was the man who could find a chair in which
60 rest himself at the West Point Hotel
or sandwich wi which TO break his fast The dining
hall at Cranstons los the loneliness which has charac-
terized it, and took a resemblance to Saratoga hotel
the Nearly every officer at the Post enter
tanned guests his home There large throng OF
spectators at the o'clock drill This the light bat
terry drill and displayed the proficiency Of
the cadets unlmberng the discharging them,
Mmbering up and starting off at fun gallOp After the
drill spectators dispersed TO prepare for the long an
tcipated Graduation Hop
The West Point Hotel turned into great firing
roor and the mysteries OF elaborate toettes formed
the chief care Of feminine minds all the way from the
Post to Highland Falls. BY o'clock bright
visions began to be seen the verandas
OF Gotta hotel and the hour OF half past had
hardly EMBODIED Post i'll darkness when movement
began toward the hall From the neighDoring
houses and alghng from the lines OF coaches and car
riages came flushed with antcpations OF enjoy
ment and showing underneath their opera cloaks
cmpses OF snowy lace and jewels No effort had been
made TO decorate tho hall, which has been newly
painted beyond arranging on its sides four trophies con
sisting OF the crests OF the classes dfaped
in flags The guests entered the dressing rooms
the mess hall in unbroken lines Two rows of seats had
been arranged about the floor At the end were placed
chairs for the older visitors who had resigned the
pleasures Of waltz Every seat taken, and
sun the guests poured in and ranged themselves pa
tienty against the walls
The opening march. led by Mr.. Edwards, Mr.. Littel
and the other managers dedicated 70 the faithful
quarternaster Of the post, Major spurgin, who has
reached the hearts Of through their somach
Then came the "Heotograph" galOp, and
the lively music broke the ice at once
and the dances rapidly succeeded oh other As usual
the door was overcrowded but this rather added to the
pictorial aspect Of tine The cadets in their pretty
gray and white uniforms enjoyed everything with boy
sh zest while the young ladies' in an equally blissfu
state were Of never missing admirable walters
among the gay young soldiers. Young heutenants and
captains blne and gold became cadets again. although
in some cases increasing portiness somewhat inter
fered with their agility and grace. General Howard and
other warriors whose dancing days are past stood
At the end Of the hail and thought OF the long years
and the grim Of they had passed through
since they gnt-hearted young cadets And around
the floor compliment chaperons, benignantly beam
| ing upon their happy charges
the Gymnasium, which has been completely trans
formed over the taDles "ele err, sts p 81 i ar
coOred The walls were hung Win Il q aud ever
green's amid which were the words Welcome" and
Farewell" one end OF the Gymnasium curtained of
by Russian flag and yellow olainese banner, on when
anpeared huge white ce, liant soon after midnight
began tie great feature OF the hopthe Those
who wished to devote themselves the remainder Of
! field Hall which Is in wing o. the hail Here
were found elaborate effects in decoration that
the managers mad displayed: Inc cnandeners, ofapea
in bunting. each bore stand OF small hags The walls
were hung with the flags OF foreign countries. There
the eagle pricKy cactus ana serpent VI mexico
| banners with pictured volcanoes ana sun gods
| from Central and south America, the flags Of
| Paraguay and Peru, tne double eagle Of Austria
and the Chinese black dragon, hurting through held
OF MaiOr-Generals schOned, Reynolds and cedgWick
The d4is for the musicians was canoped with bunting
| gf4 nd gf
sga1 II wo S s nrIns and bright COSTUMES inter
woven IL the measures OF a gai0p or schotusche'
THE GERMAN IN THE MESS HALL.
Most of those who merely lockers on, however,
remained In the mess hall watch the In this
there were over 100 couples, which necesstated the
sometimes embarrassing use OF Two rows OF seats Tee
german was led by Henry T. Allen an Charles ~
Treat assisted by harrington h West and Charles r. III
lott recovering from severe bruises received
by being thrown from his horse The figures, seven IN
| number, The Arch" =. Qusdrue Figure, " Mui
Waltz Figure and Military Figure" The las " as
| novelty, aud introduced marching py Tours sDu
in cOlus marching 5krmlshcrs ana rauy en- pAt
Toe fayors most priced at the german usual
| the round brass buttons which displayed In daz
| zling abundance on the 1uli dress uniforms OF
elegance by the favors among which were saehe
bags decorated with painting on SILK cigarette cases
though General Howard forbids the cadets TO smoke
wallets knives knapsacks FANS ana elaborate
bOutonneres Of sunhowers -, -
An especial feature OF the hop was the invitations o
Of dancing The invitation, which Was OF the szt
OF s1cct OF nOte paper, pUie ano'O "
battalion cadets dress parade, below when was
Farewell 10 49, from So" In The middle was view O
the Oh north Of the Post and III the rght
hand corner given glimpse OF Lovers walk Dc
meath cliffs with CADET and young lady strangely
instead Of IN each other Oh
drum mead In the other corner appeared tne names d
The MANAGERS, as follows: Clarance K Ia wards, l.
William Iiteu, william r. HancocA, Walter n. wright
Beverly W Dunn George ". Read, Harry e Hale, sam
uel d. Freeman, and George ii. Cameron. The order oil
dancing represented cartridge box with spaces for en-
gagements the pictured cartridges within Among
the dances a waltz dedicated TO the Tile Cub.
Today the invitations have been Issued FOL
the summer hops TO be held on Mon
| days and THURSDAYS while the command Is in CAM
Garfield. the top surrounded by flowers and butter