The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-12-06
CORRESPONDENCE.
A Vermont Educational institution. n
NORWICH UNIVERSITY.
NOhWIOH DIVERSITY,
NORTUFIFI.D VT Nnv 81 1898


NoRTHFIELD, Vt Nov. "a, 1888.
This institution was founded at Nor
wich. VT, in the year 1919, but in 1866
the University was removed to North
field, retaining its old name Norwich
University" Mortified is situated in
the center of the State about ten miles
from Montpelier. At present there are
about fifty-four students in ATTENDANCE
formed into military company under
the command of Lieut.. E. Il. Catlin of
the Regular Army who is detailed here
for duty as Professor Of Military Science,
The officers of the company are appoint.
ed according to rank in their classes, the
corporals and sergeants ting appointed
from the junior class, and the lleuren-
ants and captain from the senior class.
Most of the cadets room in the barracks,
large building on a commanding cite,
Overlooking the town, though some are
In the village as there are not rooms to
accommodate all in the building, and for
this reason it is expected that a new
building will soon be erected. There are
three professors besides Lieut.. CatIin,
and Sergt, Line detailed by the United
States as signal service observer. The
courses of study are Civil Engineer
ing, III Architecture, III Chemistry, "
Science and Literature. V Arts. All
candidates for admission must be at
least fifteen years of age. They must
pass an examination in history English
language, mathematics, geography and
history. II they are not fully prepared
on these subjects they may enter the
preparatory class.
E Ich Friday afternoon the rhetorical
exercises are held in the chapel and are
always very interesting. They consist
OF essays, orations, extemporaneous
speaking, short debate, etc. Two So
cIeties-the Alpha Sigma Pi and the
Theta Chl, the latter which l Joined
some time ago-are of much beuefit to
the students. The Cadet Band" formed
among the cadets is pleasant feature of
the institution.
AS calls are "blown" by the buglers
between 80 and 90 times during the day
and evening, 1t Is very puzzlIng to a
newcomer to know what they all mean,
and it will take him some time TO learn
to distinguish them. There are also five
roll calls. at sos am, the corps ia
awakened by first call for Reyeille.
which means that all must get up and
be ready to fall in for roll call in about
ten minutes. About fifteen minutes af-
ter Reveille the officer of the day makes
an inspection to see that all beds are
=, made up and that rooms are in order.
After breakfast prayers are held in the
chapel. From then till 10 and from
: Lao I'LL $40 p. m, are study and reel.
, tatiOn hours; and then from 4 ill + the
cadets drill. From till z are hours we
can spend in pleasure, hut at 7 10 comes
D call TO quarters, and any cad, found
visiting between then and 8 O'Clock will
: be repoI ted. Taps are one-half hour
2 later when lights must be put out. Dur
P ing warm weather the CORDS had com
Z pany, platoon, and skirmish drills out of
doors, but during he cold weather we
@ have been drilled in the manuel of arin
4 and the bayonet drill Indoors,
i Next term instruction will he given
in broad sword and sabre drills and
fencing; and in the spring term COM
pany and artillery drIl-, ceremonies and
dress parsdes take place. At the close
of examinations in the spring term, the
!. company goes INTO camp for one week,
+ The officer of the day is appointed from
the senior class each day. His duties
= are to attend roll calls to se, that no one
= s absent without permission: to make
inspections several times during he day,
n to see that the rooms are in order and
prevent visiting during study hours and
report all violation of the rules His RI :
port is read each morning after after
prayers. The following is h fair sample
of one Of his reports: Cadet R-for not
having bed made ups Cadet S-for
e having coat unbuttoned. Cadet For
o wearing colore1 necktie." Ii a cadet
c has not been reported during the week
e he receives five merits, but If reported
D and cannot give satisfactory excuse he
d loses the five merits and receives one or
II more dement's. If he receives more
Q than five and less than ten dement's he
>, is confined in his room from Friday
II night to Saturday noon, and for more
J than that number he Is confined for a
I" longer time. II he received more than
o twenty in one week he is sentenced to
Is walk beat" fully tqu p, e | for one or
/ more hours in addition 10 his confine-
= ment. Three cadets have been frog
II ging the beat as it il called. within a
e short time. If one has many dement's
7. against him. IL greatly hurts lis chance
1t for promotion.
y Every Sunday morning all fall in for
X inspection of arms by Lieut.. Cstlin. II
II a gun is perfectly clean the holder of
t that gun gets mark OF Ter, but bit of
J. rust or dust on it will insure lower
mark. After this comes inspection of
rooms by the Lieutenant. II the room
is clean, orderly Ole occupants of each
Il room take turns IN taking care of The
, ROOM he is marked ten, but for any dirt
= or dust in the room he will mark lower
r mine or less. After insp, ction all are
o obliged to attend church. Fid Y and
q Sunday evenings are the only evenings
"a the boys are allowed to be out, and then
!. not very late unless they have permits
= sion from the commandant. The uni
form IL of blue material. A Plain sacoue
coat with university buttons. and ia
= tigue cap are for ordinary wear. but for
II inspection and o her such occasions a
, more snowy dress coat and helmet are
> substituted for the fatigue coat and cap.
!. CADET