The evening times., 1897-03-03
THE WEST POINT CADETS
Their Rigid Military Life at the
Academy.
THE HAZING OF THE PLEBS
Various Ways of narrowing the
Hearts of the New Men-Many
Cannot Stand the Strain of the
Study and work-The Opposition
TO Their Coming to Washington.

The heated debates recently in Congress
concerning the coming of the West Point
cadets to participate in the inaugural
ceremonies have served 10 draw popular
attention to the historic place and the life
OF the lads who become the great men Of
the military world
There i $ probably no place in the United
states the name of which is so closely
iuterwoven with the history Of the coun-
try as that of West Point. 1t was a con-
sricuous place in the days OF the Revolu-
tionary struggle, whcnits Typographical sit
uation made it desirable, and near and
about it were enacted some of the deeds OF
beroism which viii live TO the credit of
the patriotic Continentals while the annals
of the Republic shall last
Its situation on the Hudson is one OF the
beauty spots OF the country, and, Willie
great changes have been made near it since
the days OF the Revolution and the relent-
less hand of nineteenth century progress
has transformed many districts near II
into modern, prosaic towns, West Point
remains undefile1 and ma jestic as ii left
the hand OF the Great Architect, and even
modern buildings which have been erected
on the heights which overlook the river
and the proud monument which recalls
! the names of departed heroes pale into
| insignificance before the picture OF nat
ural beauty which nothing can obliterate
while the Hudson winds beneath the rocky
cliffs and ver,!ure and sunlight add their
colors TO the scene.
But to the American, West Point is at
tractiYe beyond its association with the
days of old and its natural beauty, because
from the academy which the government
maintains upon the reservation came the
men who wrote their names in imperish-
able letters upon the CUuntrys n.story
and repaid in many instances with u cir
lfe's blu.d the benefits which they re-
ceiyed there During the great struggle
which tested tie strength OF the republic
thousands OF brave and efficient officers
were recruited from civil life, AMI on the
sacred roll of honor there are great num-
berS who had never seen Tie Military
Academy: but OF those who will always
remain the conspicuous heroes of the strug-
gle the greater number were taught the
art of war t West Point
The Men From West Point.
There also the men against whom
they battiod received their education, and
there they owed, as did their fellows, to
supp oTt the flag under whose protection
the institution was maintained; and when
Grant. aud Slelman, Sheridan, Scott and
Haueck are u4eft ontd IN CtHnoCiiCn with
tie place, tie Eau.eN OF Lee, bdaulesald,
Johnston and remberton should not be
Il
same disc i,liEe, en-. Dyed tie same advan-
tarcs. peii o.Ined the ircontical work. The
halls OF Cong ress, with their roll of mighty
ard co .uent statesmen who debated there,
ard tie great seats of learning. each with
its rec objection Of distine uished men who
lived anG learned theIe and WI ose worcs
ard deeds live after them, while they
usually impress tie VIII, or with Ieversuce,
leave some cold.
But there are few Americans, no mater
from what part OF the country they nay
come, whom West Point does not inspire
with awe. There the men whose names
are sacred were boys. There they had
their youthful JOYS and sorrows and formed
the habits, acquired the knowledge, and
developed the patriotism which made them
leaders or men and fitted them 'or places
in the affection of their countrynlen.
The turf on the parade ground yielded
to their step, their boyish shouts woke
the echoes OF the rocks, they paced the
hard walk as punishment when their COM
rades were az play, they studi I'd and tlelved
in the little rooms of the barrdck, and
probably enjoyed as much as those who
came after them the walks and talks in
Lovers Lane.
There. under the supervision OF men who
gained their educationin the Academy, sur
rounded by objects which recall the valoro OF
those who preceded them, and with the faces
OF the nations heroes looking upon them
fromframes in every classroom, 800 Amer
ican youths are making a study OF the art
Of war.