The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-25
THE NALTE OF IT.

THE VALUE OF IT.
Many may still ask, What is the use
of such terrible severity, formality,
and Tigldty of requirement-of such
education? The use must be measured
by the result. The writer was a MEM
Der of the Board of Visitors to the Mil
itary Academy some years ago, and, as
its secretary, prepared the report Of the
Board to the Secretary of War. The
following answer was there given to
this question::
We have car Iefully watched the various
examinations and exhibitions, and, not
speaking of the members of the class in
higher standing, but considering only
those of average grade, we have seen
young men who four years ago came he:e
from country schools ard from rural oc-
Cupations, educated barely well enough
to be admitted, far from erect in their
bearing, often slouchy and delicate in
physique, and Incapable of enduring IA
tigue or of continued physical activity
we have seen these young men, erect,
bright, clean-Cut, and intelligent, stand
ing square upon both feet for ten or fir-
teen minutes while giving an intelligent
demonstration of aEstluse scientific prob
lens, or passing examinations in other
branches most cieditably; going through
tllt tNOlullOIS Ol ultSS pdIdue DIS NGll dS
soldiers who have no other duty and no
other training; handling light battery IN
pctive drill evidently without fatigue
and without hesitation; performing equal
ly well in cavalry drill. at target praC-
tice with siege-guns and seacoaSt guns
and mortars, at pontoon and spar bridge
building, and in every branch of the q lty
of soldier acquitting themselves with
the skill of veterans and with the intel!l-
genCe of educated men.
Their exercise I'm the gymnasium ond
fencing school is excellent. In the riding
school the exhibition was an astonsh-
ment to all who saw it for the first time.
n near approach to perfection in such
horsemanshp as in Indispensable to
well-trained cavalry soldier was to be
expected, but the bareback riding, mount
ing with one hand, Vaulting into the sad
die and over tc hose. mounting and dis
mounting ct a gallon, taking the belt
With saber and revolver from the ground
when in motion. performed by the whole
class Dresent--these and other exercises,
when considered in connection with all
else that a cadet must learn to do with
his head and with his body, were more
than remarkable.
PRACTICAL TESTS.
As this development of the individual
has its primary purpose the creation
OF the Ofncer, the use Of 1t must find
its final demonstration in war, where
the efficiency of the whole army is put
To the supreme test, and where the in
terest of the Nation, if not it's very life,
depends upon its meeting that test
triumphantly. The two military pro-
verbs, "A good colonel makes a good
regiment" and The captain is the
mother of the company" are demon
strated To be true i'm every war. es-
pecially here where the volunteer force
is such a pre-eminent factor.
1t was shown in the War of the Re
bellion that regiments largely ofIicered
by men who had been trained to the
proper care of their commands. espec-
tally in the matter of food. clothing,
shelter, sanitary regulations, and dis
cipline, could be depended upon TO turn
out eighty-five or ninety per cent. Of
their full force as effective for duty,