The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-07-27
West Point
MANY FREE SCHOLARSHIPS THERE OPEN
TO BRIGHT BOYS.


Despite the fact that great number
oil boys are seeking to get the best
education for the least outlay in money
the splendid opportunities offered by
the West Point Military Academy fre.
quently go begging. The conditions
OF entry are rigorous only in name.
Every one who goes there does so up
on merit and the boy who dare not
stand the test of his own requirements
does not deserve liberal education at
Uncle Sans cost. The number OF
pNpils who can attend the Academy at
any one time is fixed by law at one for
each OF the three hundred and twenty.
six Congressional districts, one from
each of The ten Territories and ten at
large, who are named by the President
oil the United States, or a total of three
hundred and forty-six.
Yet the classes in the Academy are
never full. This arises in few cases
from failure on the part Of candidates
to pass the entrance examinations,
when the appointment of another boy
has to go over until the following year,
leaving no one in the institution from
the district BY far the larger number
of vacancies arise from neglect on the
part OF those having the appointments
in charge to perform their duty, hence
there are vacant at the present time
about fifty free scholarships, several
of them belonging to Delaware, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The boy who wishes to enter West
Point must be between the ages of II
and %, have sound body and good
common school education. The ap-
pointment is made by tie member of
Congress in each district, but no politi.
cal influence is necessary, because the
candidate is always selected by compe-
titive examination. There can be but
one cadet in the Academy from each
district at time, new men being ap-
pointed as soon as the previous one
graduates or is thrown out. The lat
ter contingent occurs in the case. of
about one third of those named, chiefly
on account of carelessness and laziness
on the part Of those who enter. There
are, however, more than half hundred
districts in the United States from
which no candidate is named and to
whose credit there is now no cadet in
the Academy.
Lads who wish to enter West Point
must be legal residents of the districts
from which they are appointed, but
this difficulty is easily surmounted, for
if there is no vacancy in the district in
which the ambitious young man resides
which fact can be ascertained by ap-
plying by letter direct to the member
of Congress from that district--it is
easy to remove into a district where
there is vacancy, or where there will
be one by the time the legal residence
has been acquired. The facts about
present and prospective vacancies can
be ascertained by writing to the Score
tavy of War at Washington, and q
legal residence can be acquired in an
other district in the same State in two
months, or in another district in an
other State in one year. The time
spent in acquiring this legal residence
need not be lost, for it can be well
spent in study, in order that the exami-
nations may be safely passed.
The United States War Department
and the authorities at West Point are
anxious that the vacancies in the insti-
tuition. be as few as possible. They
want all the scholarships taken, and
they are deslrous Of getting bright and
healthy young men, all of whom they
give, without the expense of dollar,
a first class liberal education, not alone
in military tactics, but in languages,
philosophy, law, literature, swimming,
boxing, drilling, dancing and all that
goes to make the polished and cultured
gentleman.
Upon entering the Academy each
candidate is compelled to take an oath
of allegiance, and he binds himself to
serve the United States in any capacity
he may be needed for term of eight
years. -Four of these years he spends
in study at West Point, where he is
paid $540 per year, and the other four
he serves as second lieutenant, if not
sooner promoted to first lieutenancy.
At the expiration of the eight years
he is free to resign or to continue in
the service, as he prefers. He is also
free to resign Immediately he completes
his course of study at West Point.
Nothing is laid up against him if he
does so. If there are plenty of gradu-
ates to fill all vacancies in the army the
resignation is always accepted and the
boy is always free to to enter any trade
profession or business, for all of which
he has had an exceptionally fine train.
ing at no cost to himself. II there are
several vacancies--and there generally
are not-the graduate is compelled to
serve his four years only, unless he
has his resignation sooner accepted.
The competitive examination before
the board named by the member Of
Congress, when the fact is ascertained
who shall be made the candidate, does
not suffice for entrance to the Academy
All candidates are notified to report a,
West Point Immediately after the
graduating exercises of the old first
class have taken place, which Is gener
ally about the middle of June. Theil
credentials are taken and they are sub
jacted to physical examination. Il
this be safely passed the candidate il
given room in barracks with ont
other candidate, with suit of gra,
flannel to wear. This suit is newl,
made for him, and while it is not 5,
stylishly cut as the broadoloth of tn
upper classmen, it is nevertheless nea
and comfortable and answers very wei
for the few days the candidate is com
PEELED 10 wear it.
The examinations which follow cove
about week, rarely more than or
topic being taken up on any singl
day. They are conducted by tutor
in the Academy, and are pretty rigid
They cover only the common Englis
branches, particular stress being lai
upon spelling, arithmetic and Unite
States history. One must not know
great many things in order to pass th
West Point entrance examinations, br
he must know the comm studit
thoroughly. A good standard is il
sisted upon, hence the honor and ben,
fit are greater when thew have bee