davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04

enjoys every moment of his liberty What
other people regard as a matter Of course
he considers the greatest luxury To be
able to sit in a rocking chair, to wear civil
ian clothing, to have pockets in which to
put his hands, to be able occasionally to lie
in bed in the morning, all these privileges
are to him the acme of bliss. At West
Point the railroad station at the foot of the
hill is "off limits for cadets, and to go to
station every day of his furlough if he
likes, to get on train and take trip, is,
indeed. purchasing through ticket to the
seventh heaven.
The first year cadets constitute what is
officially the fourth class, but 1.-The plebe
class is the name generally applied. The
next year this becomes the third or year
ling class, its members being termed
'yearlings' from the length of their stay
at the academy thus far A cadet goes
through ''plebe camp and a ''yearling
camp, but at the end of ''yearing year"
he does not begin his third year with a
camp. This is his summer off. He becomes
second classman and, leaving the other
three classes to make up the camp. his
class goes on furlOugh, whence its unofficial
designation as the "furlough class" Back
comes the "furloughman'' to resume student
and barracks life the first of September,
and when summer rolls around again he
goes to first class camp" for, having ar
rived at the dignity of his senior year he
scorns to use any except the official desig-
nation of first class" Toward the end OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
Plebe Battery.

that he has ever seen any attractions in
the profession of arms. He goes to roll
calls. to squad drill, to company drill, to
artillery drill. He marches to all Of his
meals at the mess hall a quarter Of a mile
away. with a cadet officer at his heels d.
recting him to keep back his shoulders to
draw in his chin. to straighten out his
knees, to hold up his head. or to correct
any or all of the thousand and one bad
tendencies Of the frail mortal in walking.
In addition to the above duties he has to
be in immaculate condition for dress parade.
both morning and evening. He marches to
instruction in swimming and to his dane
ing lesson. All cadets are taught to dance,
but the plebes. not being recognized as hay-
ing much more than a right to exist, do not
attend the hops that are given during camp
our democratic government insists that all
snail have fair show and an even chance
DE nlahlng them wait a year to start in, so
that the green. awkward boys shall not be
50 badly Handicapped by those of their
classmates who have had better early op-
pOrtUnities "
Having established the plebe in camr, We
may now turn our attention to those pa Z 8
OF me system which apply to all cadets
alike Mess failure in examinations caus-
IS cadet TO be discharged from the serv-
Ice sooner, he does not. in general leave
w est POlnt Tor two years from the time no
enters he then receives a furlOugh for tu,o
months ana half and goes to enjoy the
comforts and freedom Of home. all the more
appreciated by reason Of long absence. The
furlough summer is all too short SO nleas
antly 90 the days fly. The released cadet
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04

Hoods barn, but goes direct across the
HELD, jumping bitches and taking fences to
reach the object sought. His fight with
doke Smith over the Conyers post office
gave him national reputation, but his
work In committee and on the floor OF the
Rouse ought to make his fame enduring
mere Is the true Georgia grit about him
and no mistake. Neither threats nor per-
suasion will ever drive him with the herd
his surname was not misplaced, and he
shows his disposition in his face and man.
her. he has never been knocked out and
never Will be while life lasts.
PROBABLY the steadiest. most lovable ana
lnnuential wheel-horse in the House is
David Il. Culberson of Texas. Broad Shout
oered. full chested. unobtrusive in manner
ana disposition, he commands the confidence
ana respect OF both sides of the chamber
AS chairman OF the committee on the iudi-
cary, he wields an untold power Like
Lulher' ne eVlnces no eagerness to enter
INTO discussion, but once in IL he eluci-
dates the situation so clearly and CRYSTAL
llzes II in such few words as 10 carry sincere
cOnNlctlOn. Indeed, the disposition of thu
Rouse is such to lead to the passage OF
Dill after il has been considered in Culber-
sons committee. Backed by a plain state
ment from the chairman himself. IL usually
goes through without dispute and without
word OF protest. In this he stands with
out a superior among chairmen of COM
mlttees. He is deliberate in movement
ana manner as in the consideration of a
knotty point at law. Some fancy that he
is lazy, but when they encounter him in de-
bate he turns out to be the livelest sort OF
a lazy man. A patient careful Investigator,
there Is no better lawyer or legislator on
the hoor Of the House. and none more in
1uential.
Another member OF the committee on the
judiciary may be well termed a wheel-horse.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04

formations keep them busy from morning
until night. The old cadets go into camp
on a corner of the grounds about the mid
die of June. In July the new cadets follow,
and camp is maintained until the end of
August. Meanwhile, the new cadets have
become full hedSed fourth-class men, and
are now known as ''plebes," name which
clings to them until the following June, or
a whole year. sharp line separates the
plebe from his colleagues of the other three
classes. Among his own classmates he is
called by his last name or, if popular, by
his first, but to an upper classman he is
always Mister So-and-so. When address,
ing an older cadet he must always prefix
Mister and end up with a sir, and in
return lie receives the same courtesies with
scrupulous exactness. The following dia-
logue between an old cadet and a plebe
after his arrival in camp is of hourly &C.
culrence.
what is your NAME sir?"
''Mr. Smith. sir
Where are you from. Mr.. Smith,"
From California, SIR
Who was your pred predecessor, sirr
Mr.. Jones. SIR
what was your previous condition of
servitude. Mr.. smith,
Il was a student SIR"
The Routine of the Day.
Camp drags YEARLY by for the poor plebe
and it is a daily source of wonder to him
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04

feet on one of the iron floor landings" The
prompt explanation was a relief, but 1t
was Immediately followed in quick success
sion by two additional shocks almost as one.
So deafening Were they in their long drawn,
awful echoes that 1 felt that the obelisk.
beginning at the top had undertaken to
turn itself inside out. That's what it is,
assre you, ladies and gentlemen" quickly
spoke the conductor as he saw signs of
fright among his passengers, Its just a
lot of blamed idiots jumping on the iron
foors.'
I'D like to jump on them with both feet "
observed the parson-if he was a parson-
and every soul in that cage breathed a fer
vent amen.
Thus the crowd, standing closely together
in the slowly but smoothly rising car was
restored to condition of confidence-so
far as appearances indicated-and thus ris-
ing, they busted themselves looking through
the wire meshes of the cage at the dimly
lighted sections of stairway, which appear
ed gnomelike, to be chasing each other
first to this side and then to the other of
the endless shaft. The noises were depress-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04

our several tongues and the reply was over
whelming. Thereafter the woman of ex-
perence was a superior being and in her
awful presence we lapsed into state Of
silent insignifcance, well content to listen
| to the attendant as he resumed his monoto-
nous "All persons wishing to go up please
take seats on the left"
Then a party who might have been
clergyman or a book agent asked: How
many persons will the car accommodated"
and the ATTENDANTS reply was thirty"
While They Waited.
There are thirty on this side all ready"
ventured the clergyman, and the attendant
not deigning to reply. varied his song with:
"An persons wishing to go up. please form
in line on the right-hand side
But you told US to take seats on this
SIDE" chimed in half-a-dozen voices on the
left as they jumped up to go over to the
right II know it, stay where you are"
said the attendant, you go up on he next
trip and these people over here Will take
your places on the left, after you are gone"
The lugubrious manner in which he referred
to us as gone was not reassuring, but
had no time to brood over the matter. be-
cause, just then 1 heard one gentleman say
to another: Talk about the 20-story mon
strosties of She-cago, why, sab, this build
ing was begun in lS4S, when She-cago was
village, sab. and 1t has about thirty
stories. sah!' I learned later that the
speaker was an old resident of Alexandria.
And as we waited and waited, seemingly
an hour, but in reality less than twenty
minutes, l realized that the place was a
perfect Babel of weird noises. One very
agie looking young lady skipped lightly
up the stairs. telling her friends that she
would meet them above in fifteen minutes.
and a middle-aged man. whose knees wob-
bled perceptibly as he came down the last
few steps, said: There are 800 or $50 steps
in this shaft, cause 1 counted 'em all the
way down"
At last the car arrived on the down trip.
1t was naughty thirty that proudly step
ped therefrom into the open air while a
new thirty crowded into the place they had
just vacated. Then there were lot of
noises, like nothing else that is noisy, the
car began its ascent and at least one Of the
passengers was wondering whether life in
surance policies cover the risk of tours in
toll al
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04

lion whose amazing circle compasse the
chiefest of the sacred soil of America.
And yet, filled as l was with the majesty
of these scenes, / am only human. Hence
deserve pardon for stumbling Unexpectedly
as l changed my position to another win.
dow. upon the following picture.
OF course couldn't help hearing what was
said. but made all the amends in my power
by hastily passing on to the next window
Then, through fear of showing my guilty
knowledge In case 1 should meet the happy
pair in the elevator, / began the descent
afoot. Half an hour later / stood adm. ring
the beautiful tablet from Michisaa-a FLOCK
of pure native copper weighing 2,1OO pounds
with the word Michigan" across its face
in native silver-a gentleman and lady pass
ed me and I heard the man ask: Don't
you begin to wish you were in the elevator
NO, DON'T responded the lady. 81
wouldn't have that man see US again FOL
anything"
CHARLES S. HATHAWAY.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
Parade Ground.

lands of the Hudson. which rise in the rear
Of the grounds like small mountains, the
military cadet learns the rudiments of the
art of war amid the most peaceful sur
roundings. So quiet is the place that the
casual visitor fancies the cadet must float
as lazily through the academy as does the
nag in the breeze.
Could the visitor follow the cadet from
feVeille until taps he would conclude that
The latter has great deal to do besides
wearing fine clothes and dancing the ger
man. The writer has labored sixteen hours
day on the farm, but never in the BUSH
est agricultural season did he work as ne
did while cadet at West Point To IN
derstand fully how this is true one must
Follow out in detail the comprehensive sys-
tenn requiring the great amount of work
tnat the cadet is called upon to perform.
west Point, in view of it's unique posi-
ton IN the educational world has a sys-
tenn peculiarly its own The line at which
1t divides from other great institutions is
that 1t pays its students a small salary to
cover all their expenses, while in the usual
case II Is the student who does the paving
IhlSs fact enables West Point to do about
as IT pleases. and to withdraw from the in
olvldual cadet that much coveted privilege.
The result is an iron discipline. which. with
salutary restrictions. is wisely administered
for the best interests of all concerned. II
must be remembered that this is 4 national
school, maintained by the people and al an
the object in view is the e!ucation of am
oIncer ntIed TO represent those people in
the army, all the more imDortant ON g
count of its small size. which forms fne
nucleus OF their defenders
Now for the Cadet.
BY this time the visitor is inauirine about
the trim cadet. whom he has seen disan-
pearins around the corner of the barracks
In response to the solemn call of a bucle
First OF all. how did he become a cadet
He was appointed by the War Department
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
ROOP MORNIN ABE.

which he has learned during term time.
i He builds bridges of pontoOn boats or of
| such materials as the woods afford. The
thermometer may be in the ninetieS in the
shade, but the cadet stands in the broiling
sun, and at the word of command en-
braces a heavy stick of timber and waltzes
it into position as gracefully as he will his
best girl at the hop that night Perhaps in
some unaccountable way that self-same
girl will discover that both of the cadet 8
hands are blistered by the pick and shovel
with which he has been digging a siege
parallel or throwing up earthworks. In his
after life an officer the cadet may never
have to labor thus with his hands, but he
will have to command soldiers who do, and
he must know how it is himself.
Camp Life for Cadets.
AS soon as the cadets march into camp
in June a guard is mounted, and never
until the tents are struck, at the end Of
August, is the camp without sentinels
Night and day, rain OF shine, they keep
their silent watch. About once a week
each cadet has, in some capacity or other,
a tour of guard duty which lasts for
twenty-four hours. In his best uniform he
prepares for the rigid inspection at guard
mounting, and that ceremony over, he goes
on duty. There are three reliefs, each SEN
tinel walking two hours and resting four
1t can hardly be called resting, for the
guard tent with all his clothes and belts on
and his rife at his side. ready to spring up
at moments notice to repel the real or
imaginary attack of enemy that may
happen along. This enemy is usually the
inspecting officer. who comes around once
or twice during the night and turns the
guard out, to the great disgust of all con-
cerned.
During the camp three hops are held dur
ing each week. They last only two hours
put make up in hearty, enthusiastic en-
Joyment what they lack in length The
girls are relatives of the officers and cadets
or visitors at the post, and come from all
parts of the country. In spite of the guard
ana other duty the cadet in camp finds
considerable time for happy strolls around
IMITATION walk with some girl friend and
adds, mayhap. his romance to the many Sc
crets which the historic old rocks keep for
those who have gone before. He Is usually
aple 10 attend couple of hops every week.
Out sometimes. when he is most anxious to
CO. ne VIII be Unexpectedly detailed for
guard IN place of a man who has been
taken SICK. Or the depa rtment of phLos-
ophy VIII decide that it is beautiful night
Tor part of the first class to have practical
astronomy. As a soldier he can only ohev
and with a telescope for a partner and the
crlckets Tor an orchestra he goes to mis-
task, trying. like Aeneas Of old to read in
the stars what career the future has IN
store LOT MN. CHARLES HINE.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04

ing until someone asked: How much time
do We have after We get to the top?'
You don't go clear to the top" answered
up only 500 feet"
"Only!' calculated a young lady who
looked like society girl in an illustrated
weekly.
That's right" said the conductor. You
see the monument is 555 feet high and we
only take you up to the bottom of the py-
ramid roof or peak Of the monument, which
Is fifty-five feet high. After you get UP
there you may stay until o'clock If you
| choose"
rs this the tallest affair Of the kind in the
world"' asked an elderly man who had a
miniature badge of a fire engine on his left
breast and was proud of it, and someone
who was too deep in the crowd to be seen,
cried out: That's what! She's within nine
teen feet of being twice as high up as the
top of the statue of Liberty on the Capitol"
- go on!' sneeringly observed another
unknown !!n at which the conductor added:
Fact! It's the highest structure in the
world beating the city building at Phila-
delphia-the next highest piece Of architec-
ture, by nearly eighteen feet"
Inside the Great Shaft.
I have no means Of knowing who made
the accompanying remark, but l am free to
confess that, in my opinion, capital punish
ment would not be too severe for the cul-
prit. Just think of 1t! The conductor had
announced that we were 200 feet from the
earth. and there we were with goodness
knows how many cases of heart disease-in
Iact there was no way of knowing anything
about the crowd. because we were standing
packed together like the tiny splinters in
penny bunch of matches. True. 1t was a
case or compulsion, we were forced to be
brave, and there was no way out Of II.
Acknowledgement l say il with pride-I neu-
tralized the effect of the stupid observation
by saying, in a loud voice: Hello, see the
memorial tablets on the walls. There's one
given by the Sons of Temperance of Rhode
Island" Instantly all were interested in
catching glimpse of the only tablet We
had been able to decipher on our way up
and at the same time all thoughts of a pos
sible breaking of the elevator cable were
dispelled. Even now cannot help thinking
how fortunate 1t was that the Rhode Island
tablet hove in view at just that instant
or course l might have guessed at 1t had 1t
been any other tablet, but that would have
been less satisfactory.
Speaking of the memorial tablets, 1t is not
strange that a majority OF them are scarce
ly legible to persons passing up and down
in the elevator. In the first place. Ameri-
cans as nation were novices at monu-
ment building forty-five years ago. and at
that time elevators were practically I'M
known. Next. it is entirely safe to assume
that a majority of those honorable COM
mittees who had charge of preparing the
various tablets were reasonably certain that
their very own and particular contributions
would, by virtue of their excellence, be
given a position on 1.-The first floor. front"
There are evidences also, that some Of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
rope should breok!"

committees had an idea that the tablets
We're to be placed upon the outside surfaces
of the monument very near to the ground
and to be seen by daylight. Instead of this
however, they are on the inside faces of the
walls and anywhere from eighteen feet to
$50 feet from daylight, just visible under the
scant illuminings from four electric lights
at each landing. More lights? There are
about Is electric lights in the monument
now,
Well at last we reached the end Of the
terrific lift, and for our reward We were
given access to a series of pictures which
cannot be duplicated on this globe. That is
eXtravagant? How so? Where else is there
such a city of Washington? Point out to
me another Potomac. Tell me Of a second
Virginia or a twin Maryland, with their
Arlington heights and their Georgetown
heights. Go find for me an exact copy OF
the wondrousy beautiful stretches of noun
tains, valley, meadow and forest, reaching
miles away in every direction to that hor-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04

taken upon any great measure the quorum
seems to vanish like the mists Of morning.
Those who live nearest to the Capitol are
the ones who are usually absent when
minor topics are discussed.
There may be a quorum present in the
city without being made manifest In the
House. Scores Of members are ramping
the departments in the interest of their
constituents with deft eye to business in
the House. A bill important to the inter-
ests Of their section of the country may
draw them to their legislative duties, hut
they evidently consider that their imme-
date constituents are more Interested I'm
offices than in bills drawn in the interest
Of those who live far away Some Con-
gressmen appear for a day or two In each
week. make a short speech on some unim-
portant matter SO as to secure a place in
press dispatches, and then disappear. They
are like carrier pigeons. flying home on
the first opportunity and distributing in
telligence Others vanish for weeks for
months, and in two cases for years without
being recorded on yea or nay vote.
Even among the steady attendants Of
the sessions Of the House there are very
Few hard workers. The man who talks
the most, as usual thing, works the least
There are outriders and cavorters around
the legislative coach, and a very few wheel
horses. Judge Holman has been a wheel
horse for quarter Of a century No man
can estimate the value of his services to
the country. but age and hard work are
telling upon him. He pulls In the traces as
steadily as ever, but has not the strength
and endurance characterizing him in former
years. The old wheel horses are giving
place to the new, and among the new ones
there are some well worthy of mention.
Georgia has two democratic wheel horses
In the legislative traces. One is a man Of
great experience and of acknowledged abili-
ty. He is a member OF the committee of
ways and means, and has seen much SER
vice on this committee. He is Henry G.
Turner of Quitman. He has taken a very
active part in all the hearings before the
committee OF ways and means, and like
Speaker Crisp. was at one time chairman
OF the committee on elections Indefa tira-
BILE in his committee work, he is a power on
the floor Of the House. His speeches though
few, are well seasoned and carry great
weight. There is nothing dramatic or tho
atrical about him. He speaks calmly and
dispaSsionately, combining himself TO the
point at issue and calculating facts very
clearly and convincingly. Extremely cour-
teous in bearing and language, he COM
mands both the attention and the considera-
ton of all who hear him. He is one of the
steadiest and strongest of the wheel horses
In the House.
The nation, let alone his state could fu
afford to lose him.
Another OF the steady pullers from Geor-
gfa is Leonidas +. Livingston, Turner is a g
quiet and placid as a June morning bur
Livingston is as breezy and as stirring as
the wind that scatters mountain gardens
with the blossoms OF fruit trees in spring
Turner Is undemonstrative in manner and
Livingston extremely demonstratiye The
former never gets into white heat, and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
An Inhignnnf Deninl

FROM Inc Detroit Free Press
she mad been at the sea and among the
mountains all summer and her industrious
fiance had been working and waiting for
her during the long. long days. Now she
had returned and he had been hearing many
things of her and was sore displeased.
'They tell me-" he said painfully that
you were engaged to six men this summer -
Her cheeks flushed and her eyes blazed
"Who told you that she asked angrily
Several people. 1t has been common
talk
Her anger gave way to sObs.
"Oh, George" she pleaded as she flung
herself on his neck, 'it isn't true; 1t isn't
true"
A great load was lifted from his heart
NO George" she went on, at isn't true
there were only four"