The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-11-12
WEST POINT CAVALRY DRILL.
Every Morning at IL O'cIock-Intcrest-
ing and Dangerous EvoIutions.

Every Morning at IL O'clock-Intcrest-
ing and Dangerous EvoIutions.
One of the greatest charms about these
fellows Is their dainty and scrupulous
neatness. They are scrubbed, parboiled,
sandpapered 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 mp 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 have niuety-seven pairs of
white trousers. Uncle sam provides them
cheaply and has them washed for next
to nothing, besides which every class in
graduating leaves large supply to its
successors. The short boy with ninety
seven pairs was popular. At II o'clock
every morning cavalry drill j. 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 rs n regular
skirmish drill. y few minutes before II
a squad of troopers lead out the horses.
These are nearly all thoroughbrcds and
splcndidly groomcd. Although perfectly
trained in cavalry evolutions they are
none the less rcstivc and fun of fire, and
the cadets see to it that they dou't get
too gentle
Presently the bu9lc sounds Boots and
saddles and the cadets come trampiug
across the grounds 10y fours. Instead Of
the dainty white trousers and dUdi-h
gray coats, they wear q scryiCcahic gray
riding dress and carry sabrcS. The first
class men have the choice OF horses. and
they of course take the widest and most
re~tivc anon" them. After the choice is
made they stand in line, every cadet with
h hand on his saddle. waiting for the
word from the cavalry officer y, hp SUpcriu-
tends the drill. ~ the word every man
j. in the saddle at the same moment.
Then the cyolutions begin. There is no
4 inG-in- -thc-Slddlc nonsense taught here.
iucy are made To ride with long strrUp-
tAeir toes well out and their knees welI
IL. aul they sit like ccntaurs. ~ they
dash across the plain ut Il sharp galloI.,
Il cloud Of dust rises, through which the
gray line Is visible, accented hy he COluvs
which tluttcr brightly from the first rank.
Above the thunder OF the horses huof-
and the clatter of sabers III their scab-
bards the officers voice cuts the air. and
they turn and wheel about Sometimes
the line turns, as it were, on pivot and
describes Il half circle around the man in
the center. Again they form two lines
and turn on a double pivot.
Presently the order is given to charge
with drawn sabres-a beautiful sight as
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 guns and chaSscpOts TO
spoil this dangerous mancUvCr-daugcr- /
Gus to the cavalry, that is.
Then, after an hour of gulIopiug and
dashing and whirlinG and clattcriug, the
line forms again; the bugle Is heard, the /.
troopers appear from unknown regions. !
At the word of command every cadet !
drops to the ground simultaneously, the /
horses are led off in one direction to be |
rubbed down, and the cadets march off |
in another, also To bc rubbed down. Cav |
airy drill IS over.-Ncw York Mail and /
Express