The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-22

nat Is the meaning of all this hilar-
ity?' asked the lieutenant. Cant you
gentlemen have a few hours recreation
without making such a disturbances? How
do you think l can sleep downstairs while
thls racket is going on up here? FAN in
IL didn't take us very long to get into
Ine. AFTER executing several commands
we found ourselves squatted on the
floor in tailor fashion, our backs to the
wall, and facing the lieutenant. We were
each IN turn requested to sing a song OF
our own selection. While visiting a
sehoomate at Fort Warren, whose father
was an officer of the Third artillery,
learned several West Point productions,
and when my turn came | sang the fol-
lowing:
And so upon the list of June,
l reported wild with JOY,
To think that life would surely be
Henceforth without alloy;
For sumner in my native town,
| vowed ia easily
Upon my muscles so right through
This Big Menagerie.
But. ah, my bold, defiant pluck,
Which plainly all the way.
Before l had a cadet been
For more than one long day,
They put me through a course of sprouts,
From which | could not flee,
And then l learned another dodge
In this Big Menagerie.
The first time that went on guard.
The night was dark as pitch.
They took my gun and then threw me
Right in Fort Clinton ditch;
For the commandmt / then did call,
But not step came he,
And they threw me up in a blanket,
In this Big Menagerie.
They call us beasts and vile reptiles,
And goodness only knows,
I'd rather be a kangaroo
In one of the circus shows;
For even little monkey,
Far happier life than we,
For they don't know what studying Is
In this Big Menagerle
During the singing one of the candi-
dates had permitted the shadow of a
smile to pass over his countenance. He
was directed to step to the front and
taken to task for not having better con-
troll over the muscles of his face.
What do you see funny to laugh at.
sir?" asked the lieutenant. 1--WE will
now have the pleasure of hearing you
recite Mary Had Little Lamb, with
variations. Say MIR. before every word
commencing with a vowel and Miss be-
fore every word commencing with con-
sonant."
Missionary, Mlss-had. MIRA, Miss-llttle,
Miss-lamb
Mr.-its, Miss-neece, Miss-was, Miss
white, Mr.-as, Miss-snow,
Mr.-and, Mr.. -everywher, Miss-that, Miss
Mary Miss-went.
Mss-the, Miss-lamb, Miss-was, Miss
sure, Miss-to Mss-go.
"You little man with the red necktlel
How dare you smile on an occasion Of this
kind?" Thus the kid" was addressed. He
was nicknamed the kid" on account of
being the smallest and youngest Of all the
candidates.
Put the washbowl on the floor in an
inverted position. Sit down on 1t and let
me see you whirl around"
The kid" sat on the inverted wash.
bowl, took his feet off the floor and spun
to perfection, saying, I'm top, see me
spin, see me spin"
Lieut. Gerald left the room. We listened
until his departing footsteps could no
longer be heard when our pent-up feel
ings gushed forth In unrestrained laugh
ter. We really enjoyed the afternoon
entertainment as much as he
one evening ! found an envelope on my
table addressed to Candidate Hammond.
The Enclosed letter read as follows:
United States Military Academy, West
mond. West Point. Sir: At your earliest
convenience you are requested to furnish
me with a copy Of the song. big Men
egerie," sang by you on the 22d instant,
Respectfully, Carlos Gerald.
Lieutenant Corps OF Cadets, United
States Military Academy, in charge OF
candidates.
After carefully writing the song and
taking particular pains that the spelling
and punctuation were correct, ! handed
It to him. Thank you" said he That
was the first kind expression ! had ever
heard him utter, ana ! returned to my
quarters much elatel to think had
pleased him. The @,followng morning
however the song was returned by In.
dorsement, requesting me to dot my rs
and cross my is. Ii Is hardly necessary
to say that when / gave Il to him the
second time his request had been com.
piled with.
The time arrived when we were "a
learn the result Of our examinations
Candidates, turn out promptly" sound
ed throughout the beasts quarters for
the last time. We formed the line, and
Lieut.. Gerald read of the names IN al
phabetical order. The candidates, whose
names were called. mine being the ffth on
the list, stepped two PAGES 10 tho front
and halted.
Gentlemen Of the front rank" said he
"you failed 10 pass the entrance examl-
nation. As soon as the government prop
erty now IN your possession has been
turned over 10 the quartermaster you are
al liberty 10 leave West Point The front
rank Is dismissed"
Thus 1 was officially uehered ont