New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-12
GRADUATED AT WEST POINT.
LAST APPEARANCE IN SCHOOL UNIFORM


HAPPY IN HIGH HATS AND OTHER crvHIANATT
MEETING OF ALUMNI
West Point, June 1.-The short and formal
exercises by which forty-four young men, glowing
with soldierly ambition, were transformed from
cadets TO real officers took place this morning In
| the open air just outside the Library Building.
platform had been erected upon which to seat
those important funcdonaries, the Board Of Wis
| itors, and all their many relations. The faculty
OF the Academy sat there too, in full dress uni
| FORMS Out from the platform stretched an I'M
necessary tent under the shade Of q clump Of
| great trees. The public was accommodated here,
encircling the whole cadet corps. Promptly at
| 1890 o'clock-everything is done on schedule
| time here, and to be late is to be lost
| the drum sounded, and the long lines Of little
gray coats and big white trousers began to form.
The roll was called and every man answered.
Then to the music of A" My Country tits of Thee
! they slowly marched forward and took their seats
under the canvas canopy. The senior class sat
in the front rows of seats, looking more solemn
than happy. The band played " The Soldiers
Farewell and Professor Postlethwate, the chap
lain, prayed briefly but fervently. General Parke
introduced Henry Flanders, member Of the Board
OF Visitors, who had been selected by his asso-
clates TO make the address TO the graduates Mr..
Flanders made an excellent ten-minute speech,
devoid OF oil useless veroiage, but full of common
sense and practical advice. He was particularly
strong In urging the cadets to keep up their
studies, TO go deeply into history, international
law and general literature, and to become men
Of the world and men of the times He remarked
that they might fall in battle, but assured them
that history would speak well of them if they
did General Parke delivered the diplomas,
speaking few words Of compliment to each
man.
AS each name was called, the audience
applauded, and Cadet Hedeldn who was placed
in confinement last Wednesday, for speaking in
q surly tone was the recipient Of an ardent ova
ton. The freedom American girl was evidently
OF the opinion that speaking in O sury tone
was not properly TO be put in the Penal Code.
The band played the long-metre doxology, the
chaplain pronounced the benediction and the cadets
were free. They scampered off to barracks ana
In less time than 1t takes TO tell it they had put
OF forever their little gray coats, their brass
buttons, and their white trousers, and reappeared
in citizens dress. And such dress Every smooth
face was capped by tremendous plug hat. Their
coats were cross between ordinary and military
style and they were as odd looking mob of happy
young fellows as the country contains. They
ate one more meal in the mess hall and started
for New York on the 3 o'clock train, TO see Marie
Jansen scamper tonight in her black tights across
the Casino stage. They will stop at the Sturte-
want House and most Of them intend to remain
in the city several days. Their furlough lasts
until September, and by the middle of July they
hope to know their assignments, though scarcely
more than half the class can expect an immediate
commission.
When they were gone, West Point was given
over TO the old graduates who are here in greater
numbers than for several years previously. They
held business meeting this afternoon, and ate,
drank and made merry together tonight.
The remaining cadets will go into camp on June
10, and then the weary work OF cleaning and
tightening up the unhappy plebe" Will begin.
THE CADETS co TO SEE "NADJY.'
"H war breaks out, It all depends on the boys
sang Mr. Powers last night at the Casino and 100 of
the boyso West Pointers the middle of the house.
and dozen members Of the Honorable Artillery Of
London with Of their friends from the Old Guard.
on the right Of the house, let Mr.. Powers know with
cheers that they were all right" Mr.. Powers then
depended the house, for the rest Of his gags and
Nadjy and Marie Jansen continued their destinations
uninterrupted until the end Of the act. Up TO then
"Nadiy7 had been conquerng right along and the
contest for honors had been one-slded that the
audience had not seen that 100 fnelooking young
fellows sat in body the back of the orchestra
chairs. They were not in uniform as had been ex-
pected and their dress had not attracted TO them
the attention that the stage enjoyed in that particular
They were the members of the furlough class, the
graduating class and the vacation class. It was
military night the interior Of the Casino draped
with flags and General william I. Sherman presided.
sitting IN proscenum box, which was adorned with
the American coors
While there was peace General Sherman nad Deen
preparing for war. The moment the curtain dropped
on the first act of the leaders of the cadets popped
up and called out snow, fellows, three cheers for
General Sherman, the General of the Army" Before
he could correct himself the cadets gave three rous
ing cheers, the audience joining. General Sherman
arose and replied that he was not General, but he
hoped that the General Of the Army would live to
enjoy his happy old age Forty-eight years ago he
was cadet and he hoped that the present generation
would be better than his and fight better After
expressing other kind wishes for the future of tho
cadets he sat down amid great applause. AZ the
roof garden concert the orchestra greeted the military
visitors with The star Spanged Bannern and God
Save the Queen"