Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-07-01
LIFE AT WEST POINT.
why Cadets Have no Pockets
Training a Plebe in the Way He
shall Go

Training a Plebe in the Way He
There are no pockets in the trousers
of the cadets at West Point, nor in their
coats either. The cadets wear no vests,
and, in short, they are trained to do
without pockets. They are left free to
choose between putting their handker-
chief in their caps or their breasts.
The authorities say they must not use
tobacco they are not allowed to carry
money, and the ones who govern them
cannot see what they have for pockets.
When the "plebes" first arrive they
swagger around with their hands in
their pockets, and, in fact, do not seem
DO know where else to put them. One
of the secrets of making soldiers at the
Military Academy is by depriving the
students of pockets and compelling
them to allow their hands and arms to
seek the centre of gravity. The way in
which soldiers are made here is quite an
interesting operation. The "plebes"
or new. Corners are turned over to cadet
officers Immediately after passing the
medical examination. The cadets, i'm
bued with the sole desire to attain fame
and to help others TO gain laurels on the
field, take hold of the work with enthu.
siasm and put the candidates FOR future
glory through with all the vigor, not to
say interest, they can command. They
at once seek to cultivate a military
bearing and the consequent respect for
superiors in the plebes.
The cadet officer assigning plebe to
the barracks compels him to knock be-
fore entering the Office and to take off
| his hat, likewise not to be at all ginger
ly in using the words " Mister" and
"Sir." The cadets are required to keep
their coats buttoned up to the chin,
and at the outset the plebe, although
yet in civilians garb, is asked to do the
same thing. He dare not refuse, as he
is subordinate TO the cadet, and if his
coat chances to be a cutaway he may
nearly break ribs in obeyipg the COM
mand. Possibly the plebe may be en-
dowed with mustache, and this must
come off. The plebe very likely will
say that he has no razor, and the cadet
will tell him that he will be obliged
to use his jack-knife, but the
mustache must be removed if il Is
necessary to pull it out. Tattoo for the
cadets to prepare for bed is not beaten
until $50, and be the plebe ever so
sleepy he will rue it if he goes to sleep
before that time. 4 graduate was tell
ing lately of plebe who entered when
he did. The poor fellow could not keep
his eyes open, and he fell asleep on his
trunk. The cadet in charge came in
and discovered him in that condition.
The plebe q moment later was rudely
aroused, and the first impression was
that train of cars had struck him.
Training plebe to assume the position
of soldier is a task that affords only
the instructing cadet pleasure. The
plebe is compelled to put his heels to.
gether. draw back his shoulders until
the blades nearly meet, throw ont his
chest, hold his arms down by his side
with the palms of his hands outward
and the little fingers on the seams of
his trousers, and keep his head erect
with his eyes fixed, like one fascinated,
on the ground about thirty or forty
PAGES ahead. The natural tendency oil
the plebe to put his hands in his pock.
cts often causes the cadet in charge to
think it would be good idea to sew up
his pockets in order to break him of
the habit, and TO put the plan into prac.
tice. The muscles and flesh of the
plebe is usually soft when he arrives,
and the cadet drilling him in the man.
ual of arms will, with the object Of
hardening him to his duties, require
him to slam his piece against his shoul.
der until it is black and blue While
plebes are being drilled the poor ones
are picked out and the awkward squad
is formed. These fellows are marched
and countermarohed until they wish the
earth would open and swallow them.
The cadets and plebes go into camp i'm.
mediately after the June examinations,
but the latter do not receive their uni.
forms until three or four weeks after.
ward, and they take their first lessons
in tactics in common clothing.
To make a soldier cadet is kept al
books and drills the year round. He
gets up at or 9 in summer or winter,
as the case may be, and after making
up his bed and sweeping out his room,
goes TO breakfast. From until he
recites, then he takes dinner and after
ward resumes his Rotations, which he
continues until 4. A drill for an hour
is followed by supper, after which a
cadet goes to his room and sleeps until
tattoo tells him 10 go to bed. He has
half day Saturday, but is expected to
put in the better part of Sunday in
study. He is ct ali times kept on Ger.
tain limits, and in military parlance is
compelled to toe the mark in every.
thing.