New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-04
CADETS BOOK-LEARNING.
EXAMINATIONS AND REGULATIONS AT WEST
POINT
,por.uENcY SHOWN IN SPANISH AND MATTE
M.TIOs-THE GRADUATING CLASS

M.TIOs-THE GRADUATING CLASS
BUILDS PoNTooN BRIDGE.
West Point y. V, June (speciaD.-One white and
.,.s,nq sea Of mist stirred by the cool north wind
srne over the river and lay low along the mountain
49, this morning. AS the day advanced the feecy
Ian rolled Its pillows away to the south. but left
.londv sky which has hung over the post all day.
rnere have been occasional showers OF rain Also and
mcers with new uniforms on have ventared out upon
the plain with misgivings for one good, lively shower
gill change officer from glorious object into be-
..ored looking creature and gold lace furnished
can never be beautiful again.
The examinations OF the classes have been continued
~ h.v In the old library Colonel Wilson sat in
state ii the morning and listened TO the rectatons
~ the second class in natural and experimental phllos
ophy On his right sat professor and an Instructor
IN full uniform, and back Of them the admirng
.Lends and relatives OF the young cadets, who took
,,rns in covering the backboards with complicated
eouations and pouring forth streams of scientific
knowledge. From the walls looked down many OH
fers many OF them were vcritabe gods of war In The
davs when General Taylor's white horse trod "the
,,oins Of Mexico" but whose fame is now shrunk TO
The confined limits of the army. But let the civilian
come to West Point and on every side he VIII see
something TO remind him Of that almost forgotten
contest The first thing one sees on entering the
headquarters building is two brass cannon
col into the wall and inscribed Lost with
ont dishonor at the battle OF Buena Vista by
A Company, 4th Artillery; recaptured with Jus
nrjde and exultation by the same company at Con
treras' Perhaps 1t Is because there Is national
conscience that that OF conquest and OF question:
able Justice is popularity regarded as one OF those
,bings which had best be forgotten. The Army,
however can look back the part II played In the
war with lust pride and exultation." 1t ooeyed the
orders Of It's master, The people and covered l'scii
with glory.
The first class was examined In Spanish today
The examinations were both oral ana Written. Inc
increased intercourse between this country ana inc
spanish speaking peoples south OF us has caused more
attention TO be paid Spanish each year and n good
command OF that language is now regarded as an
absolute necessity for a graduate OF the Academy
The examinations in Spanish were conducted 10Y
General George L. Andrews, professor of modern IAN
guages and Captain Edward T.. Wood, assistant pro
fessor OF the Spanish language. Professors NJ "es
Point by the way are Of the few people who wear
drpss suits in the daytime. II is their uniform, ana
the dress suit is garnished with small brass buttons
50 that venerable professor looks as II lie mao
stepped ont of picture painted In the carry part oi
the century which is in fact, the time the UNIFORM
originated.
The Board Of Visitors has been working In extended
order to-day each member having gone ABOUT
on his own hook and visited the different
nrofessors in their Libraries and classrooms This
hoard Is hard working one and Its report ought
TO bear some weight. Every load OF visitors con-
tains veterans Of the Civil War; and these veterans
ALWAYS like 10 indulge In rcmniscence whch lhey
come TO West Point.
General Agnus is much interested In ordnance, and
to-day, when the subject OF the guns on tne &C."
coast was brought up. he said:
"The strangest thing ] ever saw was AZ INC
siege of Yorktown, in 1861. IL was new gun,
brought down there TO try and TO the count Vi
Paris and the Duke Of Charities, then serving III
the Union Army, was given charge of the expert
ntaiD
q stove pipe, and begun TO tumble end over emu
az soon ms II left the gun. The first shot STRUCK
an embankment and literally walked up 1t ana as
appeared over the top. Iou could always I'll where
a projectHc from that gun was going to s'riRe' Du'
never where 1t going to explode, for ms soon Us
II struck 1t walked of end over end. We concluded
that that gun Of no use, ana sent IL away
Ne subsequently learned that the strange antics Of
our projectiles had occasioned the greatest dism"y
in Yorktown General Joseph E. Johnston snid they
went walking about the streets ana aroana
corners. as looking for magazine
10 explode or something TO destroy, and the gun WIS
looked upon as a deadly Yankee Invention
Some OF the guns at West Point have not even the
pecnuarities OF General Agnus's gun TO recommend
them.
Some Of the Board OF Visitors who drove out 70
the National Cemetery here yesterday were surprise"
10 see that the grave OF General fitzpatrick Is e"'ren
unmarked Some years ago g. W. Childs paeed al
the heads of the unmarked graves in the cemetery
cannon bali surmounted by a bronze shield. "eherai
Kilpatnck's grave is unmarked In any way.
This afternoon the cadets of the first and second
classes built pontoon bridge across the hule Day
back OF the hotel Eleven pontcons and Two uesues
were used and the bridge. when finished was 20 iee'
long. Cadc, Captain su7imerall superniendea 'ne
construction OF the bridge. As an example OF no"
rrea. military genius leaves forever his impress on
military science 1t may be observed that the treasures
used in the construction OF the pontoon bridge toua!
we're almost exact reproductions OF the oneI Issa oy
Caesar when he built his bridge across ne Ithinei,
Tomorrow the graduating r1de' VIII TAKE pl"cs
on the plain. This IS the most excns Gisp cadets
can display the fullest advanta 4Itn x 1n1
N. ride used to end has not been perInit'eu 40. am
several wears on account Of the danger put te rs
have begged so hard that to morrow 1t VIII Dc anoMu
Joseph it, cultivate Of OHIO has been appNn the
srrva,s a, The West Point Hotel today were Mr. ana
Mrs j. Cassatt and tho Misses (assatt Ms, MIS-
Wc,lurtrie and Miss Rush. Of Philadelphia inc MISSES
Horson. OF Cadiz Ohio Mr. and Mrs B. r. In9rn a., Oh
Brookiyn and Mrs. Nesbtt, Miss Nesott ana MIS-
Towe NJ Port Deposit, nd.