, 1885-07-18
LIFE At WEST POINT.
The DISCIPLINE THROUGH WHICH a
CADET MUST PASS.


lCor. Hartford Times
Very few people who have never visited
he / niied states military academy ha e
4 correct idea of The actual life Of -
Vest oint cadet Ii is anything but n
life Of ease and pleasure, but four years
IF hard. earnest work such MS a few lads
have the physical endurance to undergo.
In the first place a boy must rass an ex.
animation to get in fully as hard as the
sxnminatil ns for admission 20 the Hart
ord high school. aud once in he is ruled
with an iron rod Of discipline. The
greater part OF the winter
bis barracks are little less con.
lining than a prison, and his sole recrea-
lions arc the daily drills. In the
gummer time books are thrown aside for
Two months and the cadets go into camp
III the plain; but they are confined TO pre-
icribcd limits. always under the eyes Of
watchful officers. Midway in the course,
1t the end of the first two years. the cadet
S permitted to leave the post on an eight
weeks Through.
There has always been more or less
,arping criticism ut the manner OF con
iucting entrance examinations, some PEG.
pie Gaining tina boys from the country
owns did not have a fair chaace. and
hat army officers sous were shown
favoritism. There certainly are a great
many boys re. ected in proportion
70 the number admitted, but the
academic board passes on an applicants
papers as designated by a certain mum
Der. his name and personality are
known only TO the ad iutant who has
no casting vote. A professor might re.
iect his own nephew and not know it,
Most applicants fail through not knowing
what special studies to perfect them
selves in. The law on the subject is sim.
pie enough, but IL is elastic. and its c
verify greatly increased by the regulations
OF the academy. IL Is sheer waste OF
time for a boy to come here who has
not thoroughly mastered the elements of
the three 8. and who knows something
about the history and geography of his
own country.
Apropos Of the number of failures the
critical gentlemen who sit in Judgment
here find that boys are not so well pre-
pared under the common school system of
TO day as they were in the private schools
Of twenty-five years ago. ne Of the
oldest n most experienced members Of
the academic board NOW retired admit.
ted In CONVEX alton the other day that he
had found this TO be the fact. and. he
added -the much boosted schools in q
large part Of New England form no az
ception TO the rule. " But even If an appli.
/ IlnA IN1HoiHaIa II iuG hltnAul u~lNOhiBll'A
ments he must be strong physi-
cally An experienced surgical board
will find the unsound spots in him. if he
has any. and send him home by the first
boat. 1t is really painful to see the disap-
pointment and despair on the faces Of
some OF the lads who come here every
day only to have their dearest hopes ruth
lessly broken and The gates barred at the
entrance Of Il long road but the only one
lending to their highest ambition. Beside
those who fail at the outset. there are
many who start with n fair prospect Of
success. and at the frst or second semi
annual examinations are found. - as the
cadets say meaning found deficient. and
are com ellcd to pack up their trunks
aud leave Some lads don't mind it. but
others never get over thed disappointment
rolnbly no schqol or college In the
country is 50 fair an example OF demo-
cratic representation as the West Point
military academy. cut Of nearly 800
cadets tho mn GRITTY are The sons Of com
paratiyely poor parents: but whether rich
or POOR. educated or uncultured. inIuen-
tinl or obscure. tho bows get precisely the
same impartial treatment Then once they
have PASSED the necessary examination
and don the cadet uniform. Ills ante
cedenis ARE lost sight OF. All share the
same privileges. the same hardships. the
same restrictions ride and %conceii. in
tersiacd by the coddling of fond parents.
are knocked out of n lad in "A twinkling.
/ rompt uled ence is one Of the first things
re- uircd. Commands are given in quick.
sharp tones, which the cadets soon grow
accustomed to. but which would sound
harsh enough 10 bring tears 10 the eyes of
a liza ford high school boy.
The moral training that the boys get
-urt t,.t lao fA, hfrrbNs faftmnfaH IFmfh~
telling is an iuhcrcnt quality in a cadet,
at least 50 far as his so dierly duties are
concerned. So much confidence is placed
in tie word of n cadet by the command
ant INA. u mere denial Of an alleged ~
Tense is sun cicnt The hoy must and
does speak the [ nth making a frank con
fcss.un of a iault II he is guilty. # he
does not do SO. he knows that his com
radcs are in duty bound TO tell on him If
Questioned. and will surely do so. no mat.
ter how disngreeable to the ties Of com
paniunshiH A lie is an almost unpardon-
able %olense. The duties OF tho interior
orga ilatinn Of the battalion and the regu.
latiun of the barracks are 80 snbdivided
that habits of self control, sclf-commnnd,
cleanliness and fauitless order ONE by in
tuition. collation. of rules means loss of
liberty, aud perhaps expulsion. ] pick
these samples OF punishable complaints
from a long list daily posted in the guard
house. where each cadet $ faults are bla'
zoned 10 his fellows.
Waist belt too loose,
Not properly shaved
late at church roll call
shoes not properly cleaned
J try gun az inspection
Very dirty collar at guard-mounting
Wash bowl moi clean.
No white shirt on.
This is su Client to show how closely
the bows are watched tan not give O
detailed account OF the long md Hrluous
cours Of study that is necessary TO sue.
ccss 1hr first year the cadets arc drilled
thorOugliy ~ mathematics, to train the
mind 10 exact reason. The second year
their timeis taken up principally D. tic
moderl languages The third year they
plunge Into physics and philosophy, "a
give Them habits of close and accurate oh.
eervatinn Tho fourth aud last year ihay
must dive deep Into law, ordunnos and
gunnery and The ar. OF war In tho diff
fefeut studies the marks indicate "A closf
range from perfect. through fair indiifcr
ent. poor. TO complete failure The regu'
htions oil the GcadomA apportion the time
Of the cadet in such "A way ihni each task
must be performed in specified hours
during which lie is wholly free from In
terruption. Except on Saturday after
moons "a cadet secs very liftle Of anybody
else hut his professors end classmates
In the United States navy the flagship
OF cach station has a brass band. paid for
by the government The smaller ships
have string bands. composed Of sailors
from lAe ships companies
Nervous Debilitated Men
You are allowed a free trial Of h1tl
days of the use of DIR. Dyes Celebrate,
Noltaic Belt with Electric Suspensory Ap
planes for the speedy relief and porma
nent cnre Of nervous debility, loss Of vi
49, IL 1911 -. ~ 49,