The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14

tSo hours reserved for study Each of the
three relieis is inspected by It's corporal, ny
the officer OF the DAY and the officer or ser
eeant of the guard. SO that for the pleoe'
on post there are three vlsitations Dy up
per-elass men. Every one or the olncers
and non-commissioued officers OF the gnara
bos absolute authority over the sentinel and
can renort him for the smallest offense,
even for a trihing clumsiness IN his way OF
carving his rifle on post. He ls under
their authority TO the full extent OF military
discipline.
II the cadet officer OF the guard wac in q
Good humor when be inspected ana nked
the ''pleben on post, the latter got on with
a word or two relative to his duties. But
often the cadet officer would stand quar-
ter of an hour on the post delivering him
self of every kind of irritating remark I'M
der the pretenee OF correcting the sentinels
errors Indeed in at least one case the ofil-
Ger of the day was drunk when bis guard
was posted. and growing no better as tne
evening progressed inspected IN maudlln
condition and added 20 a natural roughness
the greater brutality ot drunkard.
QUILTED ~ CHAPEL.
Although it was not customary for upper
clrss men 10 Jump "plebes" after the pat
talon had left camp. still IL was often done
in particular cases Of spite. At times there
would be q feeling in the corps that the
fourth class men were getting too independ-
ent, aud then they were not safe from III
suit az any time. The most common form
OF annoyance was calling after fourth
class man in q loud voice TO 'btand up,
Keep your eyes 10 the front Certainly
words would fail 10 convey tho depth OF lrri-
tatiOn that lay IN such phrases uttered with
the customary accompaniment OF insulting
looks and threatening manner.
This 'pebe jumping as 1t IS called at
West Point, varies in all degrees from silent
contempt 20 the more frequent open bru-
tally. Ii fell 70 our class TO witness one OF
the most extreme manifestations OF tins
spirit. In several ways one OF our class had
offended a cadet CORPORAL Now, in chapel
il was customary for most OF the men. AFTER
the clergyman had left the pulpit 70 rise
and remain standing until the captains OF the
companies gave the command: Such ana
such company, rise linen the severn,
companies successfully lett the nan ana
formed on the parade in front, Inc COM
mand Rise was not intended or inter
preted as implying that the men were to be
seated until it was given; it was merely
q signal for leaving the chapel. AS
matter of fact. nearly all the men
would be standing when the command
was given. 10 was perfectly optional
with US to sit or stand. The man Ia ques-
ton usually remained seated until the COM
mand, but on one particular Sunday he was
standing by seat waiting for the command
e. 90 out and fall. into ranks with his com
many. Now. the corporal of whom / spoke
had a seat not far from that OF our class
mate. Leaving It he came over 10 where
the 'plebe" was standing and IN rough
tone and insOlent words ordered MIN 10 SIT
down again The whole act was utterly
waDton and IN nowise backed by any part
or the regulations. it was the tirst time we
had ever seen the hazing spirit carried into
the house Of God. The thought that not
even there, before the altar, would petty
spite be silent stung like d blow. Not only
the fourth-class men. but even at least one
frst-class man bitterly condemned the
action. But at no other place than at west
Point would II have been tolerated or posi-
bic.
uL-TRRArED EVEN IL HOSPITAL.
Another example of how far the system
OF bullying is pushed can be found IN the
abuse of junior cadets In hospitals. There
q steward and several nOn-cOmmlssloned
officers and privates of the hospital corps
are stationed. Before these enlisted men
the cadets should certainly show one
another ordinary respect. A cadet ID sort
of younger officer. and nothing is more
ruinOus 10 the morale of an army than quar-
reling among rs officers. For the punci-
pie of the thing it IS not well that even a
few enlisted soldiers should form bad i'm
preston OF their superiors IN rank. Nor 60
the enlisted men enjoy seeing their tuture
officers handled 80 unspaungy.
However. 1t was necessary 70 ind some
occupation for the old cadets who went TO
the hospital, not because they were SICK.
but because they sought IN the hospital an
agreeable refuge from the wearlsome monot-
or IrflIa
There We're always 'plebes" in the hos
pital-aick 'plebes.' A 'plebe" scarcely
ever had etrOutery enough 70 felgn sickness
lust 20 get into hospital fourth class
man IN hospital almost always represented
q case of genuine illness. such poor tei-
lows, although sick, had often b DO double
step dance on the narrow mantelpieces or
90 through a mOckery OF military drih anu
routine. Sometimes these exercises we're
very tiresOme and even painful. Even
worse was sometimes the under class mans
lot. We were told that in the very class
that chiefly prosecuted us was man Who'
when his class was the lowest ia the corps,
had 30 bark on all fOurs like dog, for
share of the food at the hospital mess.
Men who seemed to have little liking for
such practices were afraid TO interfere with
them. However fine a fellow an upper
classman might be he was always unpopular
if he WIS thought 10 favor 'plebes." There
were some men who we're openly against
"plebe Jumping Others found ways 70 do
small kindnesses on the sly % particular
fourth classmen. Some Of.our own class. IN
and out of hospital, recelved3many niue
favor that contrasted most sgreeably WITH
the thousands of cases where wrong and oit-
terness marked all the dOlngs OF one class
with the other.
Rad EFFECTS on CHARACTER.
There is limit 20 the 'plebes =" trouble.
Parades and parades there are, but none
like the last parade ~ a pleasant day IN the
middle Of June. when the trst-clsss men
fall out Of ranks at the command Parades
dismissed % never again 20 enter them. IL
il then that the fourth class men become
third class men and the year Of servitude Is
at an end. Those who remember their
feelings at their elevation from freshman
shin 10 sophomore dignity have felt just
trace Of the happiness that comes over the
under class man at the graduation parade.
He is now an upper class man. No one IS
likely TO WantOnly prosecute or abuse MN.
Certainly all the annoyance wnlch came
upon him merely because he was pleDe
is departed. 10 the long year past he may
have made some enemies. but these can
never again have the same authority 70
ygreak their will on him The most Of them
are apt to be oil with the third class on
furlough. we'll out of the way for the three
months of camp.
our third-class man, ''yearllng' rs
thew call him. is greatly changed
IL l. vuIrr, ha autared tle