Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-03

letters aad furnish amusement in various WAYS.
If a ''plebe" conducts himself like gentleman
harmless demands of the older cadets. he will
get along all right and viii feel more amused
than abused At the hazing
1t Is the sulky. the unmanly, the unclear, the
il-bred and the morally deficient ''plebes" that
are hazed the most. and there is a growing
tendency to limit the hzZing to these offensive
persons.
COMPETITIVE TRANSACTIONS.
The practice, which is growing rapidly, Of
appointing candidates by competitive exsmina-
ton is a good one in many respects. II pro-
duces a more intellectual set Of young men; il
gives the poor and uninfuential a chance at
Uncle Sans rich prize. But these examine
tions often result in the appointment Of UNI
tidy, Inbred or immoral persons, who are eve
sores to that model of neatness. grace and
honor, the cadet who has survived year.
The few examples of extreme hazing cited by
our Omaha brother undoubtedly had for their
victims 'plebes' that belonged to the unde-
sirabie clement and If the hazing resulted in
Kidding the corps of any such men the hazers
should have been warmly thanked by the re-
mainder OF the 'plebe' class.
Hear this pitiful wall: Members of the
third and first classes would come on our beats
and take away our rifles" What kind of a
sentinel is he who Swould allow his gun TO be
taken away while guarding camp? What a
valuable man he would be in time Of war, Why
didn't he jab the encroachcr with his bavonet2
plebe did do that while was there and made
quite a bad cash, and. of course, his action was
unquestionably approved by the authorities.
The statement that 1.-THE officers and corporals
of the guard encouraged this demoralizing
practice" is wrong, absolutely wrong. They
would have reported any case Of the kind that
came TO their attention. and the offender would
have been severely and justly punished for his
prank.
Onr omaha ro,,b o;,o, , ooso - ~. ~ e
pleased TO call bullying in chapel" A corporal
with no authority whatever over the ''plebe. "
and. as our friend himself remarks, ''in nowise
backed by any part OF the regulations. tells the
| ''plebe after service to sit down. The ''plebe
Of course should have ignored the remark.
should have waited until the Sabbath
had passed and then punched the corporal s
head. Our chronic complainer goes on to say
| that at no other place than West Point would
this have been tolerated or possible WoulGn I
| 1t? Take Yale College. for instance. Suppose
at the conclusion of chapel services a sophomore
| should come up 10 n freshman and tell him TO
sit down. Would not that have been possible
Or tolerated? oh. West Point is a terrible place,
TREATMENT OF THE SICK.
In regard to the treatment OF sick 'plebes"
in hospital. Brother Omaha evidently does not
speak from personal experience. This must
have been one OF he thirgs he has learned from
| entirely competent authority" only in ths
| case have grave doubts of the competency Of
the authority. A sick 'plebe" is always treated
| with consideration at the hospital. not only by
the hosIita attendants. but by the older cadets
| that may be there. The statement is absurd on
its face that sick ''plebes' are compelled 10 do
| double step on the narrow man'elpiece, AID 1t
| Is folly 10 use 81 ace to contradict such silly
stories.
was in the hospital when ''plebe." suffer
ing with rheumatism and was treated by he
upper class men one of them. In fact. IN the
hospital class distinction is almost done away
with. PLAYED good many games of checkers
with yearling while was there.
Now. what do Won think of this unique argyll
ment for the abolition of hazing: Its author is
this same Nebraska chap. Tie would make even
White Wings weary. Listen:
"a cadet is q sort Of Younger officer. and
nothing is more ruinous TO the morale of an
army than quarreling among Its officers What
are we coming to? Where are at? This
young pessimistic prodigy saws that if cadet
quarrels with a 'plebe tine morale of the army
will be ruined.
The trouble with our brother is that he did
not stay at West Point long enough. For some
reason be resigned. He tries 10 convey he i'm
preston that he resigned because he was too
much of a man to sta there. lie mas have
produced this impression on MANY persons not
familiar with the inside workings OF the
National HlitarY Academy. but among those
better informed the impression produced is ex-
actly the reverse. viz, that he was not man
enough TO say there.
|. Take the average army Officer Of today. Has
he brutal appearance: Was his manhood en-
tirelv knocked on: of him when he was
| "plebe?" Do all cadets Who are true men resign
in disgust at the very beginning of the course:
Place all the officers tina. graduated in any one
class at West Point alongside a picked Glass
from any of our leading civil colleges. Let
impartial man or woman be The judge. and 1he
| West Pointers will be voted the superiors every
time, superiors in intellect. in physique. in man
ners, in general appearance and-yes, in morals.
FRANK A. Cook,
Late Second Lieutenant. Fourth Cavalry.