The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05

Wooiwich ana snndhurst Vastly Different from
pncie SAME west Point Academy.

Wooiwfch ana Snudhurst Vastly Different from
uncie SANS west Point Academy.
The essential difference that exists between
tine respective methods of Uncle Sam and John
Bull for the education OF their officers is one Of
money. England demands that her cadets pay,
and pay heavily, too. for their training, where.
as the United States is content to pay her mill.
tary pupils as well as educate them. There Is
but little similarity In tho two systems, though
tho result achieved is the same. Admission
to the Royal Military Academy. Wool.
witch. where England trains her would.be
'sappors" and "gunncrs." and tho Royal
Military College, Sandhurst, where the
cadets AFRO trained for the cavalry,
is obtained only through n very severe competi.
tive examination, held under civil service rules.
and the usual medical inspection. When tho
struggling student has at length overcome all
difficulties, his father must face a yearly bill of
RlOO. unless no holds or held q commission In
tho army. Tho size of this sum- even though 1t
be only for two years. the full course. is suf-
ficient TO debar all but scions of well.to-do
families. This qualification Of means is very
necessary. as the young officer cannot expect to
live on his pay, which Is only 5000 a year for
some considerable time.
Once within the gates. the studies and drills
arc very similar to those of our institution. but
the social and recreativc systems differ consid.
erahly. At Woolwich and Snndhurst the men
of different terms" have no common inter
course, nnd, Of late years 1t has become intensely
bad form" for one term to interfere with an
Other at all, But not many years ago the peErse s
arc called in America, was SO great that it
finally led to n revolution. The unfortunate
snSShses to w shSw to their nnp aisSPHnSsT%dl Es seSir
Marching in n body out of the academy
i held Bl tSIes miles w nSS2, sheg 1'i ntte TSs ira S g
threatened with police interference, declared
| Nhnt thnv M mo fnlr nat frnn nm tir
tho features of the fair, il a policeman dared to
devils eifectuaily cowed the local Dog6errys.
When the fair was over the cadets returned and
which ordinance the only notice they took was
to seize all the bread they, could lay hands on,
loaves, and deliberately turn them on the Gov:
ernor,s house, the windows OF which suffered
Thus was the backbone of a most pcrnicious
system OF persecution broken, and now all is
man by his felloW termcrs. "Toshine" IS a
form OF amusement which consists Of forci.
bath. l'u and is GENERALLY s"s H!e't eonanod fSa winter,
while Raging" a man is to continually irri-
tate, annoy; and inconveniencc him by petty
insults, such rs making hay" of his room or
conccaling his accoutremenis.
Snndhurst is the great attention devoted to
sports and athletics, Intercollegiate contests
and in the respective seasons OF the two great
national games matches are made with q largo
number of other clubs, and the teams always
get leave from studies and drills for the day OF
the match If necessary. II they play away from
home the institution pays their travelling eX-
penses.a and IL they play at home n good luncheon
is always forthcoming for the occasion. In fact,
a cadet who is never seen joining in the games
is always in disfavor with the authorities. while
an athlete ID proportionately liked.
Liberty of action off parade and the amount
OF leave" given Ia another point wherein the
military schools of the two countries differ
greatly. In England tho cadet Off parade Is free to
dress himself in cricket fiannels and amuse him
self as he sees At. being in no way bound by any
strict rules of decorum such as prevail at West
Point. Tho young Enelishman is supposed land
knocked out of him at his public school. and to
cadets according to the "schoolboy's code Of
honor"
Leave of absence is given. to all whose parents
consent to the arrangement. every Saturday
from IL noon till Sunday night at H.. Most of
the young fellows having friends or relatives. In
London, 1t is a fine relaxation after the weeks
work to assume plain clothes" again and
forget that there are such things as parade and
punishment drills. Three months vacation are
given in the year, one at Christmas and two in
midsummer, SO that. considering everything,
the cadets life is fairly happy. rs he is willing
to acknowledge when he has left the "shop"
some years behind him.
The American and English systems are equally
good in their way, but neither is suited to the
other country. Woolwich and Sandhurst are
essentially aristocratic institutions, but West
Point Is truly democratic.