Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-08-24
THE QUALITIES THAT WIN.
Anecdote ofLieut. II. n. Whitney Whss
He Ran the Hedge at West Point.

Anecdote ofLieut. n. II. whitney Whes
He Ran the Hedge at Wsst Point.
In the last few days many stories
have been printed about Lieut.. II. II.
Whitney, Fourth Artillery, who recent
y returned from Porto Rico with valu-
able information for the War Depart
nent. There is one incident OF his ca
-eer that has not found Its way into
he newspapers. The story Is connect
ed with his student days at West Point.
and was told to q reporter Of the Sun
by a person who knew all about 1t.
Whitney is the son Of a clergyman,
and the father intended that the son
should be q clergyman. The son want
I'd to be a soldier. and refused to study
for the ministry. When he was ready
for college he asked his father to Try to
get him an appointment to West Point.
rhe elder Whitney refused, and the
boy went to a Congressman FROM Penn
sylvania, in which State the Whftneys
were living, and secured an appoint
ment.
He passed an excellent entrance ex-
animation. and stood so well In tactics
and discipline that in his senior year he
was made captain in the corps Of ca
iets Just before graduation In the
spring Of 1892 young woman 10
whom the cadet was Interested arrived
at the hotel IN West Point Ono even
Ing Whitney wanted 70 call upon her.
It Is q rule that no cadet may pass the
hedge which surrounds the hotel with
out special permission. whitney could
not get the permission. The girl was
going away the next day. and 1t was
absolutely necessary that Whitney
should say goodIby.
There was only one thing for him to
dO-run the hedge and take his chances.
He did %. made bis caA, said every
thing but what he intended to say. and
started DO return to the barracks. On
the way he ran into the officer Of the
guard, who asked questions which the
young cadet couldn't or wouldn't an
was court-mArtialed. and in the pres
ence Of the assembled corps was strip
ped Of his shoulder- -straps and reduced
to the raukA
The boy was terribly cut up. and.
while staI smaFtang uadee Tie hnmil4a-
ton, went % the wife Of one Of the fac
ulty and told her The whole story. II
happened somehow that Whenever q
cadet cot into trouble As went TO the
same quartef, end when be came away
he felt better for having gone. When
Whitney had told his story she merely
laughed At him. He couldn't under
stand this, and, jumping up, he said he
would resign from the army immedi.
ately after graduation, a. he could new
ar live down his Disgrace. After the
young man had given vent TO his feed
lngs the professors wife said quietly:
"Stt down q moment, Mr.. Whitney,
and listen to me. 1t Is the lot Of an
army officer to take many chances in
active service. When he decides he
must act quickly, and once his plan is
settled he must not turn aside until his
purpose Is accomplished. He who
pushes forward boldly. without falter-
Ing. is bound to succeed In the army.
In running the hedge. after you had
decided that that was the thing to do.
you showed the very characteristics
which will win you success in your
chosen profession II you hadn't run
that hedge. when you knew who was
waiting for you behind It, should
have advised you to leave the army nj
once. Now I'm sure you'll make q briH.
liant record"