The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-08-15
AT WEST POINT.


Through political influence i OBJ
tanned an appointment to a West Pont
cadetship, and after l received the
necessary papers from Washington 1
packed my little gripsack and started
for the academy. got there at about
dark aud reported 10 the commandaut.
He told me to report again in the
morning. At daybreak l arose and
went to the Office. The commandant
gave me a letter TO the board of sur
geons, who were TO examine me rs to
my physical paraphernalia.
"'Tale off your clothesl' command
ed man full Of brass from his boots
to his bangs.
"'AlI Of themY I asked, shaking
with fear, until l felt like a bag of
marbles.
"'Yes, and be quick about it.
"I disrobed, and was then ushered
into a room where sat three men in
uniform, and looking as stern as the
rudder of a canal boat.
"They made me hop around the room
on one foot, then on the other; then
they opened my mouth and looked all
around it as if they were hunting for
something that 1 had stolen. Then
they held up pieces of glass and asked
me conundrums about the colors, and
then they made me read fine and large
type at different distances. Finally,
one got in front of me and pounded on
my chest while the other listened at
my back to hear if there were any
stolen goods inside, 1 suppose.
"'Put on your Clothes
"'Am l all right? I asked. 1
hoped and prayed that 1 wasn't. 1
would have given $40 if 1 had been
found guilty Of the mumps, measles
whooping-cough and all the other dis
eases in the dictionary.
Eyes answered the chief eX-
aminer; pat on your clothes
81 put my clothes on, and then was
given in charge of a regular, who led
me across the yard to the cadets
quarters.
Il was dressed to kill, and had on Il
light overcoat and plug hat. That
hat proved my ruin. Heads were
poked out of every window and was
greete with such comforting yells as
Shoot it = Come from under that
hat and look at it p etc, etc. I was
perspiring so that left trail behind
me.
"I was led to the second floor of the
main building and the regular knocked
at the door. 1t was opened and the
regular left me there all alone and Sc
ceded.@ L was grabbed by one of the
six cadets in the room, my hat was
knocked off, my hands were pressed to
my sides, and was told to place my
nose against tack driven in the wall.
Then was piled with such questions
rs these:
"Where is your trunkY
"At home.'
"WhaCs in it?'
al d-don't know.
"sIs there regiment of artillery in
TIP
II laughed.
"Fatal laugh In doing it 1 took
nv hands from my sides and forgot all
about the tack in the wall 1 was
grabbed, placed in position and told
that if l dared to move even an eye
lash again I would be locked up fol
the rest of the term and be fed or
bread, OF bread and water, minus the
bread.
"Then 1 was piled with all sorts OF
udicrous questions-very laughable
but di int dare to even shudder.
was instructed as to my duties, wa.
told that my hands must always ap
pear in public soldered to the seams o.
my pants that my chin must always
De nailed to my chest; that my heaC
must always be erect, with my eyes
straight to the front, and that mus
always salute my superiors. Then
was sent upstairs to my quarters.
"There were nine other Plebs in tht
room with me, and the daily routine
was about as follows
"At 6 o'clock we were compelled tC
be up and dressed roll-call at 6:30
then back to the quarters, where on
beds had to be arranged against tn
walls. If the edges of the mattresses
pillows, sheets and Quilts varied
hairs. breadth from the perpendicular
they were k clled down by the office
Df the day and had to be rebuilt
Breakfast at the mess hall at o'clock
study until noon dinner more study
bupper at 6 more study until 9 O'clock
when the gun was fred Then al
lights had to be extinguished and al
hands in bel.
"Cadets bent On hazing would brin
us up all standing IA hundred time
day, and then would stand in group
and laugh at us. Then they woul
make us hop around the room, and W
had one fellow who was always con
pellad to hop from the char to tn
mantelpiece and then to the trunk
Once in awhile they were extra funny
and then we were compelled to pei
sonate animals. One would be a nor
key. another an alligator. another a
Eagle, another a canary, and so on; an
then we were compelled to chatte
grunt, below, squawk and sing, Will