New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-08
THE CADET ON HORSEBACK
BEAUTIES OF THE SCHOOL OF Tm
SOLDIER, AT WEST POINT.
THE WILD WEST SHOW EcrnrsED-uHr Las.
OF THE EXAMINATIONS.

OF THE EXAMINATIONS.
West Point, June tspeciaD.-The last a
the examinations that Of the first class In Ordinance
and Gunncry, was continued and completed to-day,
and thus the great ordeal Of the year is ended ana
every one breathes freely, except perhaps, the
professors and instructors, who have stu to finish
the oilsome task Of making up the cadets standing,
and excepting also those of the cadets happily fey
in number over whose standing fingers the shadows
Of a fatA doubt This examination was conducted,
as Yesterday, by Captain Henry Metcafc, Of tbs
Ordnance Department, U. s. A., the discussions In
Guiding the composition and structure OF the metass
used I'm the manufacture Of cannon and sman arms,
tho nrincipIes governing the construction and flight Of
nroiecles magazine guns, the Hotchhss cannon, the
egocr of reducing cebrcs the efficacy OF nre, tho
construction Of gunpowder, and the Ike proboms
Most OF the discussions were admirably reasoned and
delivered and nearly all the questions OF tho ex
.mIner which we're clear and searching, going in al
eases 10 the root OF the matter, were promptly ap
ycrcd The great progress made In late years in thu
d.rartmcnt espccally IN all the arms of precision
was we'll brought out
resides the differences already pointed out there
s another point perhaps not generally apprehended,
IN which these West Point examinations diner IRON
those of ouu universities; this difference lies IN tbs
degree of weight given to the results OF the exanins
,ion itself in determining standing. Here the exam
nation counts for certain number OF recitauonscom
monty five or ten, these being considered with The
total Of the recitation marks to ascertain the standing
Of a cadet IN given subject, and all these results
being taken In connection with the marks Tor conducs
o. demers7) to fix the general standing In the class
Again the subjects differ In the relative value assigned
10 each mathematics, for instance, counting 400,
engineering 800, French $780, English rs, and so on,
out Of = total for general meir OF 23Oo' Inc 10
ceped theory Is that wohirds Of the total marks an
required TO pass
A word or two as to the manner Of assigning thu
problems for discussion. These written out be-
forehand cards, and each cadet as his turn comes
draws one from the pile the examiners table
IL Is easy TO see how thoroughhess all round Is the
natural result Of a system that tests the knoVledga
OF the cadet by single problem that falls to him oy
lot To remove the least trace of possible unfarness
arising from surprise momentary embarrassment or
the like, the examiners may in all doubtful cases
grant the cadet further opportunity to establish tho
reel extent of his knowledge Of the subject by sep
arate special examination, conducted in writing
with moro time and covering wider scope 1t is TO
the credit ALIKE OF the system tho professors and the
| cadets that this Is SO seldom required
But the ride" was the great attraction Of the day:
to many indeed, OF the week. This most Interest,"
ing series Of exercises took place In the riding school,
nom O'Clock til shortly after o.
under the direction Of Captain Joseph ID. Dorse'
4th Cavalry, the senior Instructor Of cavalry ta0s'
All the members Of the Board Of Visitors were present.
with their families and many spectators as room
a caution the card Of admission as TO the insecurity
OF these structures suggests o use for small
| very small, portion Of the troublesome N1ion&i
surplus but perhaps 1t may be needul 10 walt TOT
| a cast.iron bracket two to give away and crop
| few statesmen among tho horses heels, In order
| to point the little moral
Captain Dont was superbly mounted on beaua-
| nl darkbrawn, trained and gated TO the last de'
gree OF fpeness The troop-horses were nothing re-
| markable Judged by an unpracused eye, or irom
| The simple standpoint Of good looks, yet they "ere
far better than they looked they were wbaf horse
| men, or rather horsey men, call " all ponS SO
| which captions critic might aid - ana eoue
angIess-tbey understood their business too. These
horses have been well trained and by gentle methods
n was pleasant to notice. for not once was the least
violence o. Impatcnce shown by their riders, under
whatever provocation, and only once had reustofy
| animal to he touched with the whip. The exercises
ore set down as the School OF the soldier, mouned
| but they might also De cailen' ''o e'h'o' % wv
| horse, mounted
| Atsr the tventy-four picked riders OF the first
class had put their horses through their PAGES ana
| had executed the usual movements in line and in
single file, Including the backward march IN Inc ana
the passage to the right and left, came the usuai
features Of low and high leaping, cutting and nrns
| AT heads represented by blocks; this was executed
AZ the Callop first singly, then by the whole troop
| in single file After some OF the cadets had shown
how easy Il was TO make horse lie down and let you
| sit on hlm-a manoeuvre perhaps equally oonvenian'
! against mud and Indians-the class unsaddled aud
removing their sabrrs ard belts, began really SPIN
did exhibition of arebaGk riding in all us io,m S
Including leapng and picking up the mask on ellnsr
side and last OF all, what the spectators eyhenIy
regarded the gem Of the colecd on For when nc
| cadets were ordered TO ride at WILL 10 presently
| appeared 10 he their will to improvise sort OF via
West show stripped OF It's claptrap by doing even.
thing and OF and over the back OF horse exeepi
riding and by riding In every way except the usua.
| one Two men rode one morse tho
| C.rcopd man mounting and again dsmountng AZ
gsllOp perhaps the rear man would kneei or sgs 49,
stand his hands resting the shoulders OF me % Al
| in front. Finally, when the time canle 10 dsnount
tho process OF evolution had gone so Jar thN on
itd@r found II rather simpler 10 reach tho gouho "
| turning a back somersault. -, -. -
There serious accidents ana only W. I, o.
tbrrs sp,s IN the cOurSe Of all this rough riding:
and tho applause with which the spectators gIsetsd
H. close was thoroughly well deserved all round.
| To morrow morning az IL there VIII De mortar
r,acticc and al ) ocLck in the afternoon The Dad
p, LrmiSh drill and Infantry. The pontoon bridge
building set down for June has been gwen up oer
cause Of the pontoons have gone 10 1ohhs'o"h'
.yNt- ,sryrc IN Nom