New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-03
GREAT DAYS AT WEST POINT
THE BOARD OF VISITORS APPEAR AND EX-
AMISATIONS BEGIN
CADETS REVIEWED on THE PLAIy-A RECEp

TON AT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S HOUSE.
West Point June . (Specia-West Point the
mother of heroes and the conservtor OF conservatism
and Of things worth conserving is in the throes OF It's
annual examinations 1t is the time it stands amid
its mountain and asks the country to look at it
and accept the account OF its stewardship Inc
ioad Of Visitors here, and the hotel on the post ana
the one at CranstOn's are crowded with visitors
Happy is the man who does not have to sleep in a
bathtub or billiard table. 1t Is great season
for the hotel proprietor as we'll as for the Academy
1t Is period Of reviews. examinations and general
military high jinks.n Three hundred cadets. their
bntles unfought and their fame and deeds awaiting
far In summers yet unborn" going through the
same routine did Grant, sherman. Sheridan, Custer
and the other graduates Of the Academy whose names
are now the property Of history The graduating class
have entered the fiery ordeal of their final examina-
lions, from which, If successful, they will come ont
full-1edged officers.
The first class in military engineering was examined
this morning. The young men in gray took tdrns IN
being put through the mill, and the amount OF en-
cheering knowledge which each one gave forth was
enough to make the ordinary civilians head ache
They not only
KNEW exactly what meant by counerscarp and ravelin
And they could tell sight chassepot from iavelin
But they conducted imaginary campaigns and built
suppoSititous bridges under highly disadvantageou5
circumstances. to say nothing of toying with Noizet
points and calculating the principles of Vauban.
The second class in chemistry, mneralogy and geology
were also examined. One Of the Board OF Visitors,
seeking rest from tariff debates at Washington, visited
the section room. Just he came in a cadet began
disqusitlon the chemical constituents OF boraA,
article which the Congressman had delivered
many learned and eloquent speeches in the halls OF
Congress. The awmaker wavered and then fed
Even in these mountain Businesses the tariff debate
seemed to be pursuing him.
In the afternoon there was review. The Board
oil Visitors met in the morning and organized. Gen
eral Joseph r. Hawley elected president of the
board; f. Burd Grubb vice-presdent and Amos j.
Cummings secretary. A committee appointed TO
select subcommittee, each Of which will take some
one branch Of the Academy to examine. As soon as
the board had organized. the secretary informed
Colonel wilson, the superintendent of the Academy,
Of It's presence. Everything IS official here and be-
fore the Colonel received the official notice OF the
presence of the Board, he not supposed TO know
that any such people it, members were about his
bailiwck The Colonel was. Of course officially sur
prsed 10 learn Of tho presence Of the board and sent
a message saying that lie would be pleased g. have
them review the battalion at 80 p and then 10
attend reception at his house. He also said that
he had detailed certain eutenants TO act a. aids 70
the Board. These leutenants have been acting in the
capacity indicated for day two. but the board were
not supposed b know it officially until the notification
from the superintendent received. Thus, tho
prop-etics being conserved and everything done
coriius 20 the regulations. the superintendent and the
mic Board came elttcring in gold lace, with way
inr plum.s Of horscldir OF ostrich feathers AMI
,lnkuC swords. and called the Board OF Visitors.
The officials Of the Academy then conducted the Board
o. Visitor, 10 the western edge Of the plain and oht
from the old gray barracks over the green turf and into
the bright sunlight marched 300 4 the cadets with music
and banner, and all the pride and pOmp OF war and
all the beauty Of youth ana hope and strength.
II Ike all reviews here. the long, motonless
line OF white and gray, TIE gorgeousy caparl>ohel
band on the right, then the Inspection, the march
past and the return Of the cadets their barracks
They marched viii the precision OF clockWork, but
with an easy. swinging gait that wa, suggestive OF
long endurance. Every thing was beautiful. every
thing military. and looking out on that sun II
Tar. resources Under the trees all around was a
fringe Of spectators, seated on the benches or stand
iuc and elegant carriages. with horses In gntterlng
haruc>, and groOms In livery. were drawn up IN the
drove up from which alighted Mr.. and Mrs John A.
Logan and the widow OF General Logan. As the
hoard OF Visitors left the hotel 60 the review
salute ~ twenty gun, from the field artillery on
the eastern part Of the plain gave notice Of their
presence
The reception at Colonel Wilson'S house was at
tended by the Board Of Visitors, the officers OF the
Post and Academy. and many guests from the motel
At o'clock the committee OF the Board OF visitor,
met 10 appoint the subcommittee At : 30 the
Academy band sercnadcd the Board, and then the
burc, playcd taps the lights went out in the bar
racks. Silence settled the mountains and over
the river and the first day of the graduating eXer
cl.cs Of the class OF 1890 was over.
To morrow the third class in mathematics and the
fourth class In French will BE- examined orally There
viii be a cavalry display on the plain. the cadets
being put through the school of company and bat
talon.