Great Falls tribune., 1889-06-19

omcers do not wear shoulder straps or
epaulettes, but chevrons of gold lace on
the arm. For every day there is an
officer Of the day and an officer Of the
guard. The officer of the day wears his
sash over his right shoulder, and the
officer of the guard wears his sash
around his waist They are quite mill
tary looking in their gray uniform and
cocks feathers waving in their hats.
The cadet uniform has been substan-
TALLY the same ever since the academy
was founded. The only officer of the
army who appears with the cadets in
their ceremonies is the commandant Of
cadets, who appears at dress parade.
One of the prettiest ceremonies in the
army is guard mounting. This, at West
Point, occurs at o'clock. The cadet
officer of the day and adjutant are pres
ent; the adiutant inspects the guard while
the band plays This over, he presents
the guard to the officer of the day and it
is marched past in review. After the
guard has been mounted, a bugle sounds
and the academic duties for the day COM
mence. The morning is taken up prin-
cipally with recitations and exercise in
the gymnasium and the riding hall.
At o'clock the cadets are marched to
dinner. Formerly the mess was very
poor, but today the cadet has no reason
to complain of his rations. Major Will
lam f. Spurgin is now in charge Of the
mess hall, and here is q sample Of what
he gives the cadet for one day:
BREAKFAST.
Oatmeal porridge, ham omelet, French fried
potatoes. hot rolls, milk, coffee, bread, butter
sirup, etc.
Scotch broth, cold slaw, assorted sauces. roast
beef, new string beans with butter sauce mashed
potatoes, farina cake, cream sauce.
At 2 o'clock come more recitations till
4, when the drills begin. At sunset the
battalion is marched out to dress parade,
over which the commandant of the corps
presides. After dress parade is supper,
followed by brief period Of recreation.
Then bugle announces study hours
till half past 8 o'clock, when "tattoo'
sounds, with ''taps'' or lights out" at 10.
The cadets go through the course Of
study by classes, each class being divided
into sections. There are four sections in
all the studies. The best students, soon
after entry, are put into the first section,
the next best into the second, and so on
down to the fourth, where are usually
to be found those who are lowering be-
tween home and commission. Cadets
are continually passing from one section
to another as they improve or retro
grade Besides the regular academic
staff there are cadet professors who are
distinguished from the other cadets by
slight change in the uniform they
wear.
After the June examinations the corps
is marched into camp and for two
months live the life Of soldier in the
field, though the only enemy in front is
the girls who skirmish about over the
plain and tempt the cadet to incur de-
merits for the sake Of joining them be-
ycnd ''limits," or remaining away from
camp beyond the time Of leave.
This year the examinations, as an
nounced in an order by the superinten-
dent, promulgated by the adjutant lieu
tenant, w. G. Brown, began on the 1st
of June, continuing till they are fin
ished. The members Of the first class
will be graduated OH June 12 The pro-
gramme of military exercises is here
given:
iReview, Junes.
INFANTRY ( School Of the battalion ,Jl1nek