New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-10
GLORIES OF WEST POINT,
LIFE AND ENTHUSIASM AT THE MILITARY
SETTLEMENT.
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIoNs OF THE YOUTHFUL
Observation-Disclosures DRESSES, GRAY

MISUNDERSTANDING DRESSES GRAY
COATS AND WHITE DUCK TROUSERS EVERY
WHERE -,
West Point, juno 9.-Nature was certainly lavish
of her choicest gifts when she bent the river anu
lifted ND the hills that make West Point. she couid
scarcely have done more TO render land and water
grand and impressive. The judgment that placed
upon this favored spot the National military schoo
cannot be spoken of too warmly 1t Is an ideal SPOT
and IL was perfect judgment. Out INTO inc river
iuts an elevated plateau, the lofty sides OF which
form mart of those Palisades which arc among the
natural wonders of the world The broad, peacelui
waters hold this plateau in their embrace On every
hand across the river rise majestic hills green with
tbe weotbiest ycriure The Storm King stands
boldly out into the stream, presenting ts uhdauh'cd
breast 70 sun and rain and srow alike just behind
II tbe old Gro Nest its queer depression hung with
the mists Of legend and poetry, rears Its lohy emil
ncncc All around are hills and dacs ana rocRs
and forests pemen,bercd in story fast becoming
ancient poets paradise, painters dream.
Inst At this time West Point obtains It's annual
recognition and the recognition could not como at
season more agreeable West Point. 1t has put on
its most delightful apparel. The winds never treat
II with more consideration than in June The sun
never rccts It spontaneously 1t Is In perfect
form to receive the attention Of tho Sation All Is
animation and enthusiastic among tho military settle
mcnt which holds complete possession of these glorious
hills and plains. Lordly men Of valor have come In
crosses and badges Of honor, relics Of actual war;
and spread about with gold lace and dazzling belts
and BUCKLES. Distinguished civilians from the Nations
capital. before whom the military men bow with
exceeding reverence, for, though they be not war
riors they have great influence over appropriations,
walk about with conscious dignity, and for once In
their lives enjoy the sensation II treating gold trim
mings and cpaulcts with Indifferent condescensIon.
The hotels and the cottages occupied By the regular
officers of the post full to overlooking with guests
of whom the great majority Is Of the gcntier sex.
There IS a popular fiction that West Point is pos
sessed at this time every year By bevy OF beautiful
girls whose tender gances thrill and fascinae the
cadet TN his dreams of future glory mako way for the
ecstacy OF immediate love. True IL Is that the girls
are here, full battalion of them Every cottage
piazza is crowded with them. Every hotel corridor
rings with their musical voices. You upon
them cnsconced in shady hooks, wandering along the
river sides under canOplos Of huttering green sitting
In merry In tender hnmor on the moss grown ROCKS,
and often too. upon tho mighty engines OF brutal
war--hose huge black cannon that point their men,
acng fronts over embanhment and promonotory up and
down tho rivcr-sitting there all heedless OF the
horrid mission for which those grim monsters are
intended There is lack Of girls, pretty girls, too,
some Of them, airy girls III eyes that sparkle and
checks that glow girls with smiling lips and looks
wherein modesy and curiosity waging most fas-
clnatng warfare for the mastery of their eyes
And there are cadets, lhlcc vi WIN
buttons all over their breasts, with spotlcss white
trousers and gray coats ending in two Despair
gled little tails, that young ardent miss declared |
yesterday be the "cunnngest coat-tas' she ever |
saw Nothing alls the cadets either True, they are |
rather young and there is regulation OF the Govern
ment to say nothing of law of nature, that forblds
their wearing boards but still they have splendid
shapely figures, stout arms and legs and warmth |
of temperament unparalleled in any young lady's
experience But despite this situation, the girls and
the cadets do not have fair chancs
The trouble is discipline Discipline at West Point |
IS something terrible 10 think Of professor engaged
in examining the seniors on Tuesday detected, or
thought he detected, surly tone In ono OF the re-
spending pupils. He said nothing at the time, but
when the officer of the day read out his orders after
parade that afternoon, he Numbered forth direction
that the offender should place himself under arrest
The poor fellow did and remained In his room until
he graduated five days later 1t is not generally
believed that he was really surly, though the rumors
are conflicting as whether he had fshbone In his
throat or was short OF wind by reason Of the tight
ness of his "cunning7 little Jacket. 1t is stated on
good authority, however, that he was twenty-one
years old.
The cadets wear a rolling collar which they must
roll themselve and which has to DO rolled in three
different ways before II IS rolled right. The other
day one of the cadets committed the unpard0Hable
offence of only rolling his collar twice The sharp
practsed military eye of some superior detected him
and called him to account A heavy musket was put
into his hands and he directed to 2ace up aad
down a given gravel walk right in the "~1ilnr sun
looking neither 10 tho right TO the cft' his rga
arms glued TO nj, body his head borne undfr heavy
helmet Thus he walked and perspired and perspired
and walked. I shudder to think OF What might nave
happened TO him had he mopped his brow or wlnKed
his eyes shortly afterward q free American citizen
who had presumably come up on an excursion and
had become happy as his soul and shaky as to his
legs CHANGED to pass by His eyes lit on the culprlt
cadet and he stopped, leaned up against TO- and
contemplated him.
Buttons" he said, "wha'sh mazzer7"
The cadet neither looked answered.
"Le's have zhrlnk!" the free American citizen
continued. ~ gotter bottle-hic! right 'cre5
The parched cadet just blnkcd, but that was all.
He walked on, followed by tho amiable mans eyes,
and when he returned that way the man called out,
" Halt"
He didn't halt
"'Bout fashe!"
"Shouer armsh!'
" LeP w'eeln
To none of these commands was the slightest at
tenton paid. and then the man ambled unsteadlly
along at the culprt's side
Gully he said, wy doncher give Teller shivll
ANSWER! wha'sh usln ben' prlgl l got some
or besht whskey ycvcr Got or right ere N
my pockt Lcsh so an set down N have good
time"
stu there was reply, nothing but steady
tramp, tramp, tramp.
"Praps yer waikiki off or betl Hey2 P'raps yer
gotter walk fer er-hic lvin'l Praps yer nawthin'
but er dern dummy Well, Eats all right. Voucher
s,pose I care IF yer dOan' wantter zhrInk. zall
right kin zhrlnk by m'sef Il gotter,7 and In the
very of that hot thirsty, woe-begono cadet, he
lifted his bottle and took long, long pull.
"Ah-h!n he said, smiling gloriously and smaching
his lips. "zhats daisy tipple. Yer won't take er
taste? Not even or schme! Well, all-hic! right
yer needn't Rah fer err MEXICAN eagle! So long
ButoDs!'
Some OF the forms in which the rigid discipline of
the Academy manlfests Itself are at this time quite
iroll The cadets are not allowed 10 visit the hotel
without special permission, and this permission Is