davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14
rur r1urs-RIcUMoND VA. SUNDAY AUGUST IA 1892

wbether ,ucb customs should bs allowed to
continue. and yet all these torrents were
accented voluntarily. and their duration was
less than a week No one was ever seriously
hurt by them. They we're very FOOLISH
They were a little more severe than the COL
legiste hazing OF which so much Is spoken
in condemnation. And yet neitherthey nor
the hazng as now practiced at the larger
colleges involved physical injury or very
much humiliation. II WAS a small dose
quickly swallowed Far different indeed Is
haziug at the National Military Academy.
There il il serious evil. IL Is IN some
sense a national evil. for II Affects every
man in the corps of cadets. and 80 ultl-
mately the whole body of the army. Every
lesson. good or bad. taught tho cadet at the
Military Academy will surely have IT'S out
come in the later military life of the OH
GER There is less excuse for wrong-doinR
in the corps than among any equally numer-
GUS body of collegemen, because the corps
contains more comparatively old men than
any body of undergraduates in the country.
And again. the Military Academy is too I'M
portant, too valuable aud too expensive 70
be allowed TO be behind the times IN de-
cisive respect. Old traditions are hard to
kill. but they are not indestructible.
Here is a wrong and certainly there should
be a remedy. When tho great Gun. IN
Vanity Fair" was rating his little Tag Os,
borne a Dobbin came upon the scene; and
surely We never liked Dobbin better nor
Tom Brown better than when each sent out
his manly little protest against an obscure
wrong. Thackeray and Tom Hughes and a
host of other sensible men and women
wrote against and fought against the fag-
ging and bullying system in the Lnglish
schools. IL long ago fell IN rear OF the
times and persisted Ii persisted, too, at
Yale and Harvard. Princeton and Columbia,
Williams and Wesleyan time immemorial.
II would be strange if even from West
Point public opinion, sustained and we'll
directed, could not eradicate it.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

When Hoadly was governor OF Ohio one
OF the members Of his staff was John w.
Harper. prominent Cincinnati insurance
man. It is his daughter, Miss Grace Har'
per, who, after having some years ago con.
templated starring in tragedy, appeared
a short time since with the Henry Z. DixeJ
Opera company at Palmers theater, New
York, as Giuseppe, one of the peasant lads
Ina 1.-THE Mascot" She scored a distinct
success in the small part intrusted 20 her
and acted with the ease of a veteran. Miss
Harper's first professional appearance was
made in Boston last winter in 'The Love
Chase" She is very popular in Cincinnati
society. and her mother, who travels with
her. says that she has adopted the stage
because she likes it and means to rise In
her chosen profession.
The young debutante has gone at her
work Systematically. For two years she
has been industriously engaged in prepar-
ing herself for the stage, and the effect OF
this sensible course is manifested in her
excellent carriage and freedom from
"pawkishness. Miss Harper has a face
which is intelligent as well as pretty. She
is well educated, has Travelled great DEAL
and having q sweet, musical voice, 1t
would appear that she is well equipped
with at least the primary elements OF sue
cess on the stage.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

so far from being in accordance with the
academic regulations, was contrary TO their
very letter Because we knew that II We re-
sisted we would be reported for trivial Of
lenses that would otherwise have been
passed over
ON coming to camp we "plebes" were
placed two OF three IN a tent We got our
tents in order and began receiving callers
We were told that whenever an upper class
man put foot on the tent floor We we're TO
spring TO attention" force our hands %
tine position OF Timing out" and wait until
we were spoken 20 before moving or speak
ing The third class men were our most
fire luent visitors. for they had but just been
emancipated from their own serfdOm and
delighted in the authority suddenly put
into their hands About them all. about
the coward, the bully and the brute as well
as the soldier and the gentleman. chung the
mysterious prestige of upper classmanship.
The 'plebe" who asserted himself against
the least Of these found himself opposed by
the whole corps en- masse. IL Was humilia-
ting % the verge Of shamefulness TO be sub
ect TO the will OF not one, but hundred
masters. We felt the wrong. the injustice
of our treatment, but we could do nothing.
The drills were severe and as we were as
yet unused 10 eGert.on, tired us very much;
vet life in camp would have been none too
hard II IL had not been Tor tho fact that we
were 'plebes.
One can never forget the tingling of shame
that came over him when first he yielded
TO his iears and dad the mental w5rk'Of an
upper class man. 1t would be something
in this wise The "plebe' would come back
10 camp tired. hot and dusty from the drill.
Some one would call him and be would an
sWer. / his reply were not cOuched in
terms sufficiently humble he would get a
sharp rebuke along with some such order
as step into that tent and pile my bed
ding. step out
The "plebe' would obey always. but he
would have hurt feeling and he would
have learned lesson that appealed To some
thing brutal within him. If there were
much latent cruelty IN his makeup that
lesson would not be lost. but would repeat
itself on the plains If the Dakotas or along
the Rio Grande perhaps when that "plebe"
had come himself 10 command men and 10
be able TO give selfshness full swing.
We drew water for other men. we made
their beds and swept tent floors not our
own We were clumsy and needed all the
time we had for our own equipment We
were expected 10 be much more precise
than the upper class men. For dirty guns
or badly adjusted belts officers of the guard
and cadet captains reported us without
mercy. But often we were kept 50 busy al
cleaning other mems equipments that wa
had no time Tor our own. The upper class
man would appear At inspection with
brasses polished like mirrors by some poor
'plebe," who would himself DO explosively
reouked and reported for the furnished APP
pearanee OF his own.
COMPULSORY TAGGING.
We were not allowed TO have any soldierly
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14
MISS GRACE HARPER.

A Society Girl who Is Member OF
Dixie's Company.
From Lady Macbeth to Giuseppe, ip
1.-THE Mascot" is quite a jump, and yet a
daring young woman, newcomer on the
stage, has very sensibly made it.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES.

Edmund Collier will not star in "Logant
Tnck.U all rumors TO the contrary not
withstanding.
Adelaide Russell, after two years trial
of comic opera, will return to the dramatic
stage
THE Widow Murphy's Goat" is the "a
traordinary title of one OF the many prom
ised new plays"
Johann Strauss expects to have his new
opera, princess Ninetta," completed
within a couple Of months.
Ramsay Morris says that he has'engaged
for his stock company an English actress
whose remarkable beauty is certain to CAP
tivate Americans.
The new play which Augustus Thomas
author Of Alabama" has written fol
Charles Frohman will DO called 'Surrep'
dered."
Lillian Russell is back from Europe
Her first production of 1.-THE Mounte'
banks" will be given in San Francisco
Despite the predictions OF the wiseacres
the prima donna has returned without her
ex-husband, Edward Solomon, Of "BilleS
Taylor" fame.
It IS rumored that that great money
making establishment, the New York
Grand opera house, will be managed by
George Gould, the millionaire's son, aftei
May next, at which time Mr.. Il. Henry
French's lease will expire.
I'm Old Kentucky" new and original
four act comedy drama by c. T. Darcy, wai
recently produced in ST. Paul The title
suggests the theme Of the play.
Manager T. Henry French claims that
his receipts for thirty-one weeks Of the
Lillian Russell Opera company in La
Cigalen were more than $4,000.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

As general liniment for sprsihs ana
bruises OF for rheumatism. lame back, deep
ssstsd or muscular pains. Chamberlain's
pain Rain is unrivalsd. Por sale by Owens
4 Minor Drug Company. 1907 east Main
street.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

nride II we went on guard we found that
wa could not make our posts respected.
Members OF tho third and first classes would
coma on our beats and take away our rifles.
0fIicer. and corporas of the guard encour-
agod this demoraizing practice by taking
mart in it themselves, although they must
have known that sentry duty Is the most
important function Of the prlYa'e solder
and that toinduce its neglect IS ruinous TO
damage discipline
IN used 10 be common for upper cinssmen
20 punish "plebesn by compelling them TO
do s'choo-choo. an exercise so-calieu from
tho fact that il was intended 10 represent
tie motion of an engine. The 'plebe' had
~ lie down on his back aud paw the air
with his hands and feet at the same time
making sort Of putting sound with ms
vocal organs. This punishment innlcled
fatigue and sometimes pain ana was
looked upon as extremely ueElAulps
though not so degrading as some other
torments.
PLUCK ILL REWARDED.
Now orr particular fourth classman vas
sent one night with an insulting message
from one upper classman 10 another. Very
reluctantly be reported az the tent deslg-
mated and said his say. Immediately the
third claesman grew indignant and ordered
him 20 do thousand chOo-choo- ms
meant that he should continue tue h'tlou
while one thousand was being counted
rather slowly. Now IL happened that ohoo-
ebOo. for some physical reason hurt our
elgssmate exceeding He therefore asked
that be might be allowed TO do some other
kind OF peneuce. but the old cadet was OBJ
durate. The "plebe' must fight or yield.
For once he reinem bered his manhood, and
seconds were speedily appointed.
Some OF US were awake early that day and
saw the fight. Twas four o'clock one
still morning in July when the seconds
placed their men in the ring on bit Of
green turf lust inside the line Of sentries.
The fog was still thick In the hollows, but
there was plenty OF light, They had an
hour and a half for the fight before re-
veile but they did not need 50 much.
Like all hard fights. this one made bru-
tai and sickening spectacle, but IL was
brief enough At the end OF two rounds
the "plebe" had won on technlcahty,
while in point Of fact be was so badly hurt
and his opponent 50 little that the real
result was the reverse OF the nominal The
"plabe" had been t0rmented INTO acute
nervousness for month and a half un-
derslept and overWOrked. His opponent
was fresh we'll trained aud vigorous. The
beaten man went 10 the hospital. He
had received three or four bad cuts, but
his worst injury was that Of his back.
which be had terribly strained And
more than all. the heavy pounding and
the fierce excitement OF the fight bad
precipiated him into a state like that Of a
women 10 hysteris.
He did not improve under the treatment
he got after leaving the hospital. Upper
classmen crowded TO his tent 20 annoy
him. One fellow IN particular worried
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14
"PLEBES" AT WEST POINT
rnEfR nrrEs MADE MISERABIE.
Young Men who should SET Examples Of
Gentlemauly Deporiment 10 'he'r S"-
boraiuaies rransformea Into Bal'ies.

Sound common sense has long since con-
5o,,nod certain forms Of "hazing' and
kindred practices at colleges and uniyer-
,itie. As brutal aud degrading. To a large
extent public sentiment has succeeded IN
spppressing this species Of youthful de-
uravitv and inhumanity. But that It stu
exists IN a yirulent form at the West Point
Military Academy was recently shown by
the experience II Mr.. J. W. Broatch, Of
Omaha. who. maniulIy rescntng the mag
mites 90 which be was sub ected. found DIS
ooeition 80 intolorabie that be was COM
teUed ~ resign Mr. Br0atch has written
FOR the Herald tho following account OF ITO
s,eraecutiOps aud barbarltics pracuceu upon
the unfortunate "pieDes' at West tolht ny
those who should set them an example or
uentlemanly department and many coui"A0
and lorbearance.
Philip Sheridan. ike many anotler youuk
man was once % cadet al West Point. he
I'D certalu fiery temper. the same, no
doubt that made him a wall ~ Mur4ree
boro and an avalanche at Cedar creek. h"V
IN his Younger days 10 only got INN mo
trouble bv rendering him quite re5lFe un-
dor onv sort of personal tyranny. whether
illoeitiMate or apparently legltlhlH'e' o.
IA hls memoirs, we may Ieau 20"
tackled. with lowered bavonet' ana after
ward with bis fists a cadet sergeant VINO
Lad used abusive language toward MN IN
the ranks. Tor this affair Sneu0aA was
eusuended f0r one year. There was plou"-
blva deal of pr1v0oatOn for the attack or
he would have been dismissed tie service.
This Characteristic OF sheridan appears ia
some words here quoted from the memoirs
Quickly following my admission ! was
broken .n by course of hazlng, with many
OF the approved methods that the cadets
bad handed down from year to year since
the academy was founded. sun ! escaped
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

beast. must I'm out" until his formal
admission and for three months therea ter.
He must also "depress his toes" that is
every time be makes step lower the
point OF the toe 80 as 10 shove 1t
along the ground au inch or two. This is
supposed 20 cultivate a proper step IN walk
Ing or marching; 1t Is also productive of
cOrus.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14
GETTING ''BnoKrN IL 50

We all reported. one by one, - tho four
cadet officers in command OF us were
roundiy rated taught % nm OUT 20 de-
press our toes, 10 keen our eyes 90 toe front.
and were then sent 90 our quarters A
more detected looking iot of men never
were seen. Bat We Oboyed implicitly all
the commands given US. tor We Thought
Thar 10 al they did the cadets were prompfed
pY m1iliary law, aud that IT We resisted we
should Get no redress
Ot the whole corps only the two cadet
heutensnts and the two corporals in CHARGE
OF us nau access 10 US. aud. on the whole
they treated us harshy but ipstlv In
ranks We were thoroughly scolded for ever,
mistake; but this Was military disoiniins
hnd we had no right 10 find fault with h
~ was only once or twice. when we want
20 tue rydrants Tor water and there me-
cadets who shouted hooking questions IN
Us tnat We encountered any offensive
treatment. We passed our exaninatinns
and babe goodbye 20 those who had failed
We were now cadets, but not in the eyes ~
upper class men. To them we were merely
'plebes." '''''''y
The battalion had by this time gone into
camp. We. who were too raw. as vet 10 10
regular military duty. were drilled seyersl
umes day ia the vicinity OF the barracks
wbere we slept. Al meal time We narol.ed
ao8n 70 the mess ball and walked 10 onr
taples very shy snd siient. No had 10 nm.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14
BOOTS. SHOES. &c.
HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

What are you Wearing2 II isn't possihls
that your feet are still encased in heavy wi Z
ter shoes 20 this season Of the year. II this
is not only possible but true. isn't IL about
time that you made change and won't our
Oxford Tie be a most decided change FOR the
better? Fora wonderfully light shoe lis won
derfully durable and for wonderfully good
shoe the price is wonderfully light Don't be
surprised II II sees You through another sea
son as well as this Isn't economy in loot
wear getting pretty near it, limit when We
are selling such a shoe as this for siOO to $3.50.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

excessive persecution, although there were
in my day many occurrences go extreme rs
70 call for condemnation and endeaYor 10
suppress the senseless custom which an I'M
proved civilization has now about erad'-
Gated not only at West Point but at other
colleges
That condemnation end that effort have
been growing at the academy from year TO
year. Tut the senseiess custom" although
almost o thing of the past elsewhere, r. sti
in it, full flower and glory at the Military
Academy
tits from Sheridana text that this paper
is TO preach O little. incorporating IN us de-
scriptious much of the personal experience
OF the author and much tnat has ueeu
learned from entirely competent authority;
Not all the incidents mentioned occurred
during the fourth class period OF any one
class. but they are all recent and an true:
II is admissible o. treat them as II tney had
all been incidents i'm the life of a single class,
because this method will consolidate ana
give form 10 the narrative.
ISirIATIyE ABUSE.
We arrived on the post by detachments.
SO soon ms we bad reported % tie adlutant
we we're conducted IN parties Of twos and
threes 10 the Office in the cadet barracks
Here the late corners found line of right
silent and preternatmaiiy solemn young
men in civilian costume. "cts standing by
an open door. On the door post was paper
which read:
Prefix Mr. TO every name. Answer
every question with a Sir. Take of your
hat. 30 not speak until spoken 20. Knock
three times before entering.
Just as our detachment arrived the man
nearest the door knocked
Come in" was the gruh response. lie
walked stifiy into the Office.
"Stand up. Drag M your chin. Get your
shoulders back. Suck up your stomach, b."
were the commands which greeted him.
Then this candidate was taught TO report
bis arrival in a military manner and dis
missed with a torrent OF eXtrayagant abuse
that made the whole line outside shake with
faint laughter. Forth rushed a cadet cor
poral. The first man he saw had broad
grin on his face all the others had ceased
smiling.
What your name, you man"
'Mr. Jones. sir"
Get those fms back"
The candidate was aghast
You hear me. Get those fms back"
Then. as the candidate seemed not TO
understand how TO obey this peculiar com
mand. the cadet showed him how o. extend
his arms stlfly by his thighs palms 10 the
front. aud then by forcing tho thumbs out
ward and TO the rear, 20 throw back the
shoulders. In this position the hands
do really look like FMS, and the operation is
called filming out" The candidate, or
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

EULI1FD AND DEGRADED
Why, then, did we submit 10 il? Because
we could not help ourselves. Because We
did not yet know that oil we encountered.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14
INFORM NEEDED

Not long ago the newspapers were loud
against certain practices of Il certain society
at Harvard. We heard about awful brand
ings 10 which candidates for admission
were subjected during their period OF proba-
BUTTONS those who would be initiated must
undergo. IL seemed 90 great many very
respectable people quite = serious question
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

him 90 etraightan IL out. lie Told TIE HE
closer he could not, and stated the reason.
Ihereupon the file closer aud half the other
sergeants and corpOras OF the company be-
gan abusing him, yelling and shouting at
him until be was very much iTritated and
excited Finally one Of the superior cadet
officers stopped the business aud threatened
TO report TIE file closer who had begun the
trouble But this man WIS not so easily ST.
fenced. For a week be and his friends, the
sergeants aud ieutenants, kept up con
tiuued fire of abuse of the unhappy pleOe
whenever he appeared in ranks, at drill. at
church formation or at formation for meals
OF parade. The 'plebe' was 30 ANNOYED
that he could not study. and his marks for
that week showed a startling drop from his
usual high standing. This WAS but one case
OF many. There was one man IN the CORDS
whom these attentions forced into insomnia
and drove out OF the academy long before
the January examinations.
At length the authorities decided that we
were ready 90 enter camp We had been
two weeks in barracks and had learned
little Of the drill. We were also pretty
thoroughly cowed and dreaded the sight Of
an upper class man. Some OF these had
been detailed as drillmastors over Us and
ha / told us while we stood at place rest
at drill that camp would be to Us sort OF
miniature hell. Nor were these eXpecta-
tiOns altogether disappointed.
We took what little property we had our
water buckets. mirrors guns and belts
and making several bundles of them set
out singly or in twos and threes for the
camp.
There was a number of young ladies sit
ting on the benches in front OF the parade
which faces the cadet encampment. As
we crossed the path west of the tents and
came into the body OF the camp cadets
would rush out. make Us halt and subject
us to "A most searching verbal examination
of the kind we had already undergone many
times in our brief cadet experiences. These
questions were all asked in "a loud. angry
tone that was very irritating. Very seldom
are men ever spoken 10 so roughly; and GER
tainly there IS no American college whore
any of the students would dream Of infict-
ing and enduring this irritating and inso-
lent style Of address. Even at West Point
the printed order-book expressly forbade
any cadet % hold 1t toward q fourth class
man. and the same order, dealing with the
"haziug OF harassng of candidates and new
cadets made it breach of military discp-
line for a ''plebe' 10 brook abuse from a
superior
EULIIFD AND DEGRADED.
Why, then, did we submit TO it? Because
we could not help ourselves. Because We
L.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

dergo constant Ere Of ouizzing remarks.
Ne had 10 take daily ration Of language
that anywhere else would be regarded as
uppTovoked insults. 80.
Nor were we any happier st the table.
We could not talk much. nor were We
allowed % look up from the table-cloth.
After We had finished our dinner and were
waiting the command rise" we were 70
ouired 10 look AT potato or some other
obiect placed on the centre OF the table
cloth There was little pleasure IN eating
under these circumstances, and all the way
down 10 dinner and all the way back. and
likewise on the march to and from supper
and breakfast. the file-ciosers subjected
Ms q a running FIRE of command, sarcasm
and iuyeotyo.
sAMpIE OF BRUTALITY.
As an instance of their injustice may be
cited the case of one OF our own class. 1t IS
the moro striking as occurring late IN tho
fourth class year long after the worst OF
pebedom Is supposed to be over. This
classmate OF ours. very well drilled and
soldierly fellow. had great sore on one OF
his arms from a recent vaccination. 80 that
he could not keep his arm Strengthened out,
es Is required in ranks. A file closer ordered
Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-21
Court NOtea.


Charles Wheeler, native of Canada,
was admitted to citizenship by Judge
Smith yesterday.
Eddie H. Greenfield, the 10.year.old
boy who ran away from home and was
brought back by Constable Mayes, of
Lancaster, was Yesterday committed to
the Whittier reform school by Judge
Smith, for two years. The complaint
was made by his mother, Mrs. Blanch
Greenfield.
Pierre Gelos. native of France, was
admitted to citizenship by Judge Van
Dyke, and Jules Ferrero, also native OF
France, by Judge Shaw.
In the case of Hunter vs.. Hunter,
Judge Van Dyke granted the defendant
10 days further time in which to file an
answer and cross complaint.
The case of Woodworth vs. the River
side, Santa Ana and Los Angeles Rail-
way company, was continued for the
term by Judge Van Dyke.
Judge Van Dyke granted judgment by
default in the foreclosure suit of Cohn
vs. the San Jacinto Lumber company,
for $5O5.
Judgment was granted by Judge Shaw
for the plaintiff in the foreclosure suit
of Spence We. CleIand. for $1250.
Alberto Lopez, charged with horse
stealing, was partially examined before
Justice Stanton yesterday, and the ex'
animation continued until Saturday.
Lopez claims he was drunk and had nc
intention of stealing the horse.