, 1886-11-16
WEST POINT CAVALRY DRILL.
Every Morning Mt IL O'ciock-Intcrest-
ing aud Dangcroms EvoIutIons.

Every Morning Mt IL O'ciock-Intcrest-
ing and Dangerous Evoiutions.
One Of the greatest charms about these
fellows is their dainty and scrupulous
neatness. They are scrubbed, parboiled,
s%andpapered and hung out to dry every
day. From the top of their closely cropped
heads down to the toes of their polished
shoes, there isn't n speck. The collars
that stand up like iron and almost cut
their ears off have n supernatural gloss.
Their white duck trousers are immacu-
lately spotless. One short boy here is re
ported to nave ninety-seven pairs OF
white trousers. Uncle Sam provides them
chcaply and has them washed for next
to nothing, besides which every class in
graduating leaves n large supply to its
successors. The short boy with ninety
seven pairs was popular. At IL O'Clock
every morning cavalry drill is held on the
parade. This is very interesting, al
though not nearly SO much so when it
takes place in the vast riding hall, as it
does in bad weather, nor yet as II regular
skirmish drill. 4 few minutes before IL
n squad Of troopers lead out the horses.
These are nearly all th%oroughbrcds and
s%plendidly groomed. Although perfectly
trained in cavalry evolutions they are
none the less FESTIVE and full Of fire, and
1T Ut ~ - II ma Inv ~ . htA
too gentle.
Presently the bugle sounds Boots and
saddles and the cadets come tramping
across the grounds by fours. Instead of
the dainty white trousers and dudish
gray coats, they wear IA serviceable gray
riding dress and carry sabres. The first
class men have the choice of horses, and
they of course take the widest and most
FESTIVE among them. After the choice is
made they stand in line, every cadet with
his hand on his saddle, waiting for the
word from the cavalry officer who superin-
tends the drill. At the word every man
is in the saddle at the SAM moment,
Then the %evolutions begin. There is nt
rising in-the- saddle nonsense taught here
They are made to ride with long stirrups
their toes well out and their knees wei
in, and they sit like centaurs. AS the,
dash across the plain Mt Il sharp gallop
a cloud q dust rises, through which thu
gray line is visible, accented by the color
which flutter brightly from the first rank
Above the thunder Of the horses hoof
and the clutter of sabers in their scab
bards the officers voice cuts the air. and
they turn and wheel about. Sometimes
the line turns, rs il were, ON II pivot and
describes II half circle around the man IN
the center. Again they form two lines
and turn ON II double pivot.
Presently the order is given To charge
with drawn sahrcs-N beautiful sight ms
they rush forward, every glittering blade
at the same angle, the long line of men
and horses moving like one, when there
are no needle gun and chassepots 1,
spoil thi. dangerous maneuyer-danscr
Gus la the cavalry, that is.
Then, after an hour Of gnllopiug an'
dashing aud whirling and Gathering, th'
line forms again; the huele is heard, the
troopers appear from unknown regions
At the word Of command every cadet
drops To- the ground simultaneously, the
horses are led oif ia one direction ta he
rubbed down, and the cadets muroh of
in another, also tu Dee rubbed down CAV
airy drill I- over. Sew York Mail and
Express.