New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-07
THE WEST POINTERS AT WORK
EXAMINED IN LAW AND OTHER SUBJECTS.
A SPLENDID EXHIBITION OF HORsEMANSimf
GIVEN by THE GRADUATING CLASS

A SPLENDID EXHIBITION OF HORsEMANSfmP
GIVEN by THE GRADUATING CLASS.
West Poiut, n. T.. Juno tspeciaD.-The buges
sounding across the plain and robins singing 10 Tue
trees awoko tie cadets this morning to begin the
second week OF The graduating exercises: and all the
mountains awoke with the day. All last night Tie
thunder rolled among the hills and broad sheets OF
lightning flashed through the rain and the darkness
NJ one can appreciate thunderstorm unless he has
experienced In the mountains, for there the mum
der begins far on in untrod valleys, swells to great
and awful dapason. and then dies away among tue
hills lingering long In sheltered gorges, where the
echoes proong It, II loath to lose the power ana
terror OF The sound. fash of lightning makes noun
tain and valley stand out for instant In fierce
glare far as thu can reach. and then the utter
blackncss falls and mountain winds drive by the rush
Ing rain. To such night day flooded with snn-
light had succeeded. When the air got not III die
afternoon q kindly shower swept out from the noun
ans and fall OF rain for quarter Of an hour cooled
the atmosphere.
The Democratic House. In its wild desire to econo
mizc in things which should not affect In any way
the constituents Of the Democratic members, discovered
that there were three clerks at West Point drawing
81 800 year. These clerks, who had devoted their
lives to their work here have no vote md no pOucai
friends SO they regarded leHtimste prey, ana
bill was passed reducing their salaries 1900 year
each prominent Democrat on the Board Of VISITORS
when the wording Of the institution was explained TO
him. seemed to have pricklng Of conscience regard
ing the reduction OF the pay Of these old and faithful
employees OF the Government and said to the officer
who was escorting him about THE clerks. sup
pose have not resigned account Of the bill reducing
their salnrie~l'
No. answered the officer, they all here except
one"
"Ah, trust he has got another place.
Yes lie was here forty seven years. and now he
has another place IIe l. In the cemetery there
lie died tile other day The subject OF Democratic
economy was not "a further subject Of conversation
The Board Of Visitors last year in their report
severely criticised the department OF modern languages
and thought the cadets did not receive enough instruc-
ton in the use Of the English Language The report itself
was this year given to the cadets being examined
I'm modern languages, 10 he corrected aud put into
orthodox English Thus doth the merry professor get
In "a point on his critics.
The first class flushed It's examination in ordnance
and gunnery this morning. and began the cXamn-
atIlns In law The third class was examined in
mathematics. To those unscquained with tho
cNigencles of, the service It might appear that the
.tndy Of law would not be important part OF
tho education OF an army officer; but. as matter
f fact 1t Is The common law Is, ana must ever
be- paramount to the military yet its origin ana
history and It's vitaliying spirit are and must
always Just us surely remain distinct the night
from day from the methods and underlying principles
the cadet who is to become officer In the United
states Army Is instructed In law In order that he
may know where his province ends and where the CON-
mon law takes command 1t Is a knowledge OF the
greatest importance him. and Is regarded at the
academy.
The graduating class enve an exhibition Of horse
manship In the Idingschool this afternoon.
which showed the perfect mastery OF the horse pos
,rssed by the cadets. and made ono who saw
thera proud Of hi country and her army.
There was no dicult part Of Workmanship which they
did not perform With saddles and without saddles
the cadets rode mounting and dismounting al speed.
shooting cushions from posts or knocNng them on
with swiftly crcing .abres they dashed around the
tan -bark covered arena The riding Of the West
Point cadet, aid their abilities as horscmcn have
been descanted often that II is almost suerfuous
to describe what the members OF the graduating
clns. did today II was the same display OF
equestrian ability which has been witnessed under
The old v..nlcd roof 81 the riding school for
wears vet every year II seems TO excite
flesh interest. From that riding school are Turned
that cannot be surpassed IN any service
IL l. the trimming received there which enables tie
Army officer the plains 10 make those long rldcs
which hive II time saved Isolated communities
from slaughter brought relief to soldiers henmed IN
by hostile Indians. Even the indians those perfect
riders are compelled 10 admiration when they see a
West Point graduate ride. go
Captain Craig In charge Of the riding drill TO
day and his pupils acquitted themselves admirably