The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-17

BY our names, but by tho States we
hailed FROM In my quarters were
hsTexas.'' Virginia. california;
"Alabaina.n "Wisconsiu,' Missouri
ssArkans.s.n Maryland, and New
York, s. myself. ss.. ~ ~
This Yas our daily routine: ReYeile,
500. up aud dress, inspection, return 70
rooms and make mp bods;. 6gSO, break-
fast. From that until noon we studied
or did as VIC pleased in our quarters, Ia,
moon We were marched to Ness bail
for dinner. Inlthe AFTERNOON we had an
other inspection, and ut 3;30l We were.
marched to supper. At0-o'c clock TAPS
our beds, which had previously been
made, were hastily, entered as the lights
were doused.
\ Each ,'plebe' had to make his own
labd.and help talSe care of the room. In
HE morning the blankets, sheets, pill
Ilows, etc. (of all nine OF ps), had toi be
y folded and placed one above the Other
1 SO that their edges, in q yertele iine,
i sb0Ild not very hairs breadth If they
did they were kicked down by the officer
and had to be rearranged. ~. 80,
/ AT all hours Of the day and night hu-
morous cadets Would drop in to make
! n call" and then they would put us
Through "a course OF sprouts, " such us
compelling us to sing, TO whistle, TO
dance, and TO hop from trunk 70 mantel,
and "chirp like mCcking bird" AM
other diversion for the cadets was to
catch 'plebe, when he was compelled
I'd go to the yard and ''play horsey'! wltil
! him. the 'plebep walking ON his hands
and knees with theioadet satride of ms
hack. 4.yr ~ n ."
| ac1-g f1,n f,rpcNnrtiV(
"plebe.m Stand it orilght. lfyouiight
J, you will have to fight, the whole corps
{ Better to stand it and wait until you be
come cadet and the next batch O
/ ''plebesn arrives, Then you have an op
/ pbrtunity Of getting square. M
After week Of this brand of excite
, ment we were marched to the hall wher,
Z our mental status was to be investigated
land l desire to state that no 'plepes !
s permitted to appear outside his quarter
unless he assumes the first position of
-lsdldier shoulders thrown backward, ehes
1 forward, toes turned outward and httl
{ lfnrers down the seams of the trousers
Z This position must also be assumed
( whenever any frisky cadet knocks at TIL
ildoor of tbe quarters, oven if il is in tn
7 early morning hour, and have seen mn
4 siIiyering "Piebes,n awakened long afto
f midnight, started by trap on the doc
and standing in their night clothes II
y the first position as a soldier In Ties
+ festivities my What came. in for 1t
o share of the fun, aud it finally became
o SO much trouble to me that l traded wit
Il one of the bootblaclss for an old cap;
4 The mental examination consiste
) of questions in the rudiments arithmt
G tic, geography, grammar, history, ,et(
n To do work in arithmetic through dec
/ NAL fractions, to bound States and loeat
d their capitals, and tell how to travel frol
d one point to another, to.pame the Pres
: dents of the United States, and to lav
d q fair knowledge of ancient and moder
G history; to be able to parse sentences
and to read, write and spell correctly wa
all that was required of us. .r -
It Those who passed their examination
o had their choice of roommates SO far q
: was possible, and cadet life began wit
Z two in each room. Those found fai
It ing to pass examinations were dismissed
# The examination always begins
VI June, and the cadets go into camp 0
# the parade ground, and have all the htar
lwork and fun combined that they wan
al remained there three months. .,y.
o Then colored cadet got hit with
o dipper. A dozen of us, came to Ne
Is York that night, and the country was 81
d pliyed of the valuable services of thi
t, number of possible Indian fighters.