Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-05-15
WEST POINT Etiquette.
Singular Rules of the Military
Academy.

Academy.
The etiquette of West Point is a
thing sui generis, and is certainly O
curious institution, says the Illus
trated American. 1t has been
evolved out of the peculiar con-
ditions which exist at the military
academy, and only those who have
been there can fully appreciate how
harmless and proper it seems in it's
surroundings. For instance, when
cadet has obtained permission to
make out q girls hop card he signs
her name with his own opposite in a
book provided by the hop managers
for that purpose. Then any other
youth who wishes dances on that
girls card knows to whom he must
apply for them. Many are the COM
plications arising from this system,
and it behooves him who wishes to
dance with o belle to apply early
lest he find her card full. Often
when there are few girls visiting on
the post q man who has been fortu-
nate enough to secure one and
who wishes to dance o good deal
himself will refuse to give dances ex-
cept to such as can give them in ex-
change.
A story is told of one astute youth
who wished for more than his allot-
ted four dances, yet feared it would
look strange for his name to appear
six or eight times. In order to2oyer.
como this difficulty he put down the
names OF the guard detail that day.
They, of course, could not be present,
so when the time came for their
dances with profuse apologies he
appeared before his charmer and ex-
planned that Mr.. Dumjohn was un-
avoidably detained and might he
offer himself instead? At graduation
hip, however, there is usually such
multitude of girls that many men
make out more than one card, and
rumor hath it that once a "spoony"
youngster was nearly driven frantic
in o vain attempt to keep thirteen
cards from being tangled up. But
then, cadets will exaggerate.
There arc other reasons why this
hop is on important event at West
Point. Not only does it mark the
departure of the fledgling lieutenants
from their hitherto we'll guarded
nest, but it also brings socially to
light the erst undeYeloped resources
OF the plebe or lower class. Through
out the first year at West Point
regulations and customs do every
thing to -uppress the exuberance
which freshmen at other colleges
feel. and the plebe is taught to con-
slider himself so small in every way
as to be locally unfit to shine in
society till the training OF his first
year has clicked him into shape"
And in the long run this view is
about correct. If a maiden comes to
West Point without friends at the
academy she can have her hop card
made out Just the same by sending
her name to the hop managers. They
will provide partners for her and in
troduce them at the proper time,
And this is another of those anom-
allies which West Point etiquette
gives rise to.
The hops are held at the mess
hall, and between each dance the
walks in their vicinity are filled with
cadets and their partners, cooling
off and enjoying the moonlight II
there be any; if not, they enjoy the
darkness equally. Naturally, the
coming in and out of so many does
not improve the floor, but there is
one advantage about it-as rule it
is so bad it cannot be injured. Just
rs soon as supper is over the tables
are piled up in one corner OF the
hall, the floor is tenderly rubbed
over, and the pretense of cleaning is
so poor that it would deceive no one
even if the dancers skirts did not
betray the truth. This seems to be
unavoidable, since supper is at z
and the smaller hops begin at 8. All
the hops which begin later, however,
are marked by somewhat better con-
ditions. The tables are removed
from the hall and some real cleaning
is done. But the result is that the
cadets 60 without their evening meal
and are asked to stay hearty appe-
tites on formidable sandwiches.