Arizona republican., 1898-06-21
WHITNEY RAN THE HEDGE.
Was a West Point Cadet Then and
 Wanted to See Young Woman.

In the last few days many stories have been printed about Lieut.. Henry H. Whitney. Fourth Artillery. who recently returned from Porto Rico with valuable information for the War Department. There is one incident of his career that has not found it's way into the news papers. The story is connected with his student days at West Point, and was told to reporter of The Sun yesterday by person who knew all about it.
 Whitney is the son of clergyman, and the father intended that the son should be clergyman. The son wanted to be 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. The elder Whitney refused, and the boy went to a Congressman from Pennsylvania, in which state Whitney's parents were liv- ing, and secured an appointment
 He passed an excellent entrance exam ination and stood so well in tactics ana discipline that in the senior year he was made captain in the corps of cadets. Just before graduation in the spring of 1892 young woman in whom the cadet was interested arrived at the hotel in West Point. One evening Whitney wanted to call upon her. It is rule that no cadet may pass the hedge which surrounds the hotel without special per mission. Whitney couldn't get the per mission. The girl was going away the next day and it was absolutely necessary that Whitney should say good-by.
 There was only one thing for him to do-run the hedge and take his chances. He did so, made his call, said everything but what he intended to say and started to return to barracks. On the way he ran into the officer of the guard. who asked questions which the young cadet couldn't or wouldn't answer to the of fcer's satisfaction. He was court-mar- tailed, and in the presence of the as senpled corps was stripped O fhis shoul- der starps and reduced to the ranks
 The boy was terribly cut up, and, while still smarting under the humiliation. went to the wife of one of the faculty and told her the whole story. It hap pened somehow that whenever cadet got into trouble he went to the same quarter and when he came away he felt better for having gone. When Whitney had told his story she merely laughed at him. He couldn't understand this, and, jumping up, he said he would re- sign from the army immediately after graduation, as he could never live down his disgrace. After the young man had given vent to his feelings the professor S wife said quietly:
 ''Sit down a moment, MT. Whitney, and listen to me. It is the lot of an army of- fficer to take many chances in active ser vice. 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 faltering 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. If you hadn't run that hedge, when you knew who was waiting for you behind it, should have advised you to leave the army at once. Now I m sure you'll make a. brilliant record.''
 When Whitney walked out on the plain he felt heap better and he con- cluded to stick by the army. The girl felt almost as badly Whitney did at what happened, and she, too, decided to stick by the army if she got the chance. She got the chance and now she is Mrs. Whitney. Both she and her husband think the wife of the West Point profes- sor is the wisest woman that ever lived. New York Sun.