The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14
OUR MILITARY academy
fHOROUGHNEss OF THE SOLDIERS,
EDUCATION AT WEST POINT.
Interesting Details That Show why
tiers of Their Profession.


III
curing and transmitting by proper establish
ments the knowledge of that art.''-Wash-
, ington.
The great use OF education is to prepare
US for 'the pursuit of happiness" which
is the best aim in life. and which becomes
a higher and higher aim as education raises
its standard The most complete and last
ing happiness of which we are capable
comes from sense OF duty done. To
achieve this is the noblest human aspira-
ton, as it is the browning glory of tech
meal training of the soldier; it is. above
this and above all, the forming of charac-
ter, the implanting of high standard of
duty and the melting OF an ambition for
its unremitting performance. 1t develops
an intelligent manliness. which pursues the
happiness of always doing ones best.
The opportunity for education there Of
fered is open to all classes. So far as the
chances of securing a cadetship go, all are
born free and equal. No one is interested
to increase or to restrict the number of adj
missions. Each congressional district of the
United States and each Territory is entitled
to have one pupil in the academy. The
President may appoint ten from the coun-
try at large, and one from the District of
Columbia. Political influence seems to fail
here Of the force it so often exercises over
other appointments. Sons Of officers of the
army and navy frequently (and property
find favor with the President. Members
of Congress- ambitious that their nominees
should do them lasting credit, and glad to
evade local pressure, often leave their Sc
lection to competitive tests among the grad
yates of schools of their districts. The ap-
pointment is for life, the appointee will al
ways be in conspicuous position, and his
career will be watched by the community
from which he comes. 1t is a case where
a mistake in selection must be avoided, If
possible.
Admission is based on only such attain
ments as are within the reach of all. Any
young man between the ages of seventeen
and twenty-five, who is able to pass an ex-
animation in reading, writing, arithmetic,
geography, American history, and English
grammar, and who is of sound body and
mind, is acceptable Less than this should
not be demanded; more than this might ex-
clude worthy candidates and even work in
justice to some classes or perhaps to whole
sections Of the country where only these
branches are taught. The purpose of the
examination is not so much to find out what
a young man knows or remembers of what
he has learned on these subjects as it is TO
test the degree to which his previous in
struction has prepared him for the educa-
tional work on which he is about to enter.
The only motive for exclusion is based on
the improbability of the success of the cam
didate in his academic course; that is, the
only thing considered is the chance of his
being able to maintain his position among
his fellows and to repay the government
for his cost by profiting from his advan-
tages.
Prof Niche, who has been at the acad-
envy for thirty-one years, and who takes
strong personal interest in all of the cadets.
says:
when the results of the entrance exam
nation are announced, and the candidates
are drawn up into line to receive their first
instruction, it is pathetic sight to look
upon their earnest faces, and one well call
culated to arouse our deepest emotions In
dress, appearance culture and material con-
diticn they are representative types of ev-
cry section of the country and Of every class
Of our people. But from this moment the
cherished associations of birthplace and
home pass little by little into that inner
sanctuary where the love of mother abides,
and the newer affections of service and
country are gradually implanted"
That the examinations are not too severe
Is evidenced by the large number of those
admitted who cannot stand the strain of the
subsequent course.
Admission is followed by a probationary
period of six months, when those who have
shown by their proficiency that they have
q good chance OF maintaining a fair stand
ing in their class are regularly installed,
and enter upon a course of education. of
military drill and training and of physical
development, lasting, with little intermis-
sion, for three and half years.
Simple though the requirements for adj
mission are, fully, one-third of the candi-
dates are excluded for inadequate prepara-
ton. once admitted, the competition Is
sharp and severe, and innate mediocrity
those who enter the Military Academy fail
to keep up with their classes, and many
drop by the wayside because Of insufficient
preparation, or of lack of capacity, or of
the perslstency and industry needed TO meet
the exacuonS of the very severe course OF
l1fe. equality means only the equality OF
opportunity. Wealth, social standing, int1u-
ence and favoritism can secure no advan-
tage. The poor youth from a remote agrl-
cultural region meets the son Of the million
nire of the city on an absolutely equal foot
ing, and they have throughout the course
There is a fair field and no favor, and the
best man wins by his own unaided effort.
Those who have money are not allowed to
use ii. Each candidate admitted is required
to deposit his private funds with the quar-
termaster and commissary of the corps, to
be returned to him at the end or the course.
His pay is SIS per month OF this 81 is re-
tanned for his final equipment as an officer
after graduation, and a further saving is
penscs during vacation. Each cadet keeps
q pass or check book, and is credited in it
with the amount of pay due him by law,
and is charged with all articles procured by
him from the storeroom. He is charged
with subsistence, clothing, bedding, text
books, washing, gas brooms, buckets,
brushes policing barracks, use of diction-
airy, SOAP printing and such other articles
as are considered necessary for him to have.
A strict supervision is kept over the ac-
count of each cadet in order that he may
More than this he cannot spend, and he
handles no money; as matter of fact, he
has no pockets.
A SERIOUS BUSINESS
Education at West Point is far more ser-
Gus business than education in civil life.
The four years hard work is interrupted
only by vacation of two months in the
second year and two months relief from
study while I'm summer encampment during
the other years. Even during the camp
period military instruction and drill are rig
orously prosecuted. Thoroughness, rather
than extension of attachments, is the prin-
ciple controlling education here ITO learn
a few things and learn them we'll" is the
rule of the academy and Professor Niche
sets this forth as a good rule in the IN
stTuction CT youth generally. He says that
normally no cadet has more than two dis
tinCt studies per day in which he will have
to prepare himself for recitation, requiring
SIX hours of severe mental preparation and
two and one-half hours in the recitation To
exhibit his efficiency thereon. OF the re-