The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-09-19
HAZING AT
WEST POINT


Hazlng has not been abolished AZ West
Point II has nourished for many yeara
In tho past and In Ia present aspect Will
probably continue 10 be large part OF our
future generals first military experience.
One reason for this is the fact that in a
certain sense the kind Of hazing persisted
In at the Military Academy II necessary TO
the perfect Development Of the cadet IN
his preparation for the post Of an army
officer. lie must Grsi Of all learn instant
and unquestioning obedience. He does 81
BY being forced to obey every old cadet
who gives him an Order-forced, not by
his superiors, the officers and teIchers
at the academy. but by the sheer weight
Of public opinion In the corps Of cadets
once admitted as "pleb~" he must not
address an old cadet until spoken N, must
always add "Bir" 20 what he does say.
and, above all. keep hls eyes strictly h
the front To gaze At group Of cid
cadets Is an act most reprehensible and
fresh In a plebe, AMI Is sure 10 draw
forth some such sharp and characteristic
reminders ~ Take your eyes OF me.
SIR" What do you mean by gazing
about SIR" What's your name. mister?
You report at my tent after supper tonight
slr. Understand. sir?''
And when the plebe. after days hard
work At drill. turns up at the cadets tent
he very likely s put through a variety
Of caIisthenlcs that stamps the enormity
Of his offense upon his attention
Plcbes are required to "hn out. This
Dleaas that they carry their hands palms
10 the front, with the little fingers touch
Ing the stripe Of the trousers. Such an
attitude sets the shoulders back and ex-
pands the chest giving that erect "set-up''
that Is 50 Characteristic Of West Pointer
The old cadets take good care that no
plebc relaNes mis- position at any time
when walking or standing about in the
company streets Of the camp. Yet for
them 20 give an order to q fourth class
man to get your hands round" is one OF
tho forms Of hazing. and viii. II discoy-
cred. bring troubles upon the head OF
the overzealous cadet.
In reference to the habit Of answering
sir" to old cadets, 1t Is said the unex-
pected once occurred. \ serious faced
young man entered West Point from Ohio
Some cadets approached him in the usual
way.
Well mister, what's your name?'
John Walker" answered the plebe
Sir the cadet ADDED, sternly.
John Walker" the plebe replied in a
louder tone, thinking the first answer
rad not been heard.
Well mister, put Sir on that when
you reply to me- sir" thundered the
cadet,
Sir John Walker" answered the plebe
as meckly as he could. He was let alone
Ia the future.
At another time a squad Of newly ap-
pointed plcbes were at dinner in the mess
hall. The three cadet officers in charge
Of them were lettering near the door when
an elegant young man dressed In the
height OF fashion and accompanied by a
pretty woman approached. Raising his
hat the gentleman took leave OF his com.
panion and briskly ran up the steps OF
the mess hall
"Ah-is-er-thls the mess hall?'' he in
quired affably OF the young man in gray
at the door
Yes" the latter replied, and, with an
eye to possible introduction to the lady
d little later he put himSs5!.:: out to show
the supposed visitor the sights Of the
building.
These are the plebes, you know" he
went on, pointing to those silent AMI rigid
figures waiting for the command 10 rise.
The other cadets on duty gathered about
this stylish young man. who was probably
some wealthy citizen on pleasure trip.
Come over to the barracks" they said
wen he glad to show you round"
So over they went behind the squad of
plebes. When the visitor had seen the
rooms and the cadet office and the other
points OF interest. he remarked throwing
himself into the chair offered by his hosts:
How different, don't you know, all this
is from what they told me. They said l
should be hazed or something, don't you
know"
"Hows that" said one Of the cadets,
horrible thought flashing into his mind.
Are you a candidate?"
Why ya-as don't you know"
His entertainers sprang to their feet.
Get ont Of that chair, sir! Take of that
hat, sir, Gec those heels together, sir!
Take your eyes of me. sirl How dare
you slouch around here sir"
The asJonished gentleman found him.
self surrounded by crowd OF as angry
students as he had ever imagined. In a
moment his hat was knocked OFF. his cane
icrked away from him, his heels brought
together with a click and he was in spite
Of himself, one OF the despised plebes. 1t
was sometime, however before his tor
mentors forgot the easy way in which
they had been taken in