The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-16

- INcE the days OF Tom Brown, as
doubtless before, the new boy
at school has been heir to unhap-
~ piness. His seniors welcome him
with studied abuse. his Instructors
ignore him. and until he settles into his
place in the system his sole task is to en-
dure.
This feature OF American college life
fs well known and well understood. and
the youth from the prep" school enters
the higher institution with his mind well
braced for the ordeal, and his feelings
protected as far as may be by stoical de-
termination. Even Oscar Booz, who died
the other day, did not expect that he
would be received as an equal by the
uniformed young men at West Point. One
of HIS friends said that the boy discuss
ed his probable treatment and determIn-
ed to Yield with good nature TO what
ever reasonable demands might be made
upon him by custom or the within of his
seniors.
Something went wrong In his case
Either his Initiation was more severe than
usual, or his attitude lrss. complaisant
than that Of the average newcomer. But
whatever the merits OF this widely-dis-
cussed case. no one attempts to deny
that 'haxiqg meaning course OF In
genfous ridicuic. not necessarily accom-
panied by sviolence-has been and Is today
! recognized institution at the United
States military academy.
Lieut.. Hugh r. Reed. United States
army, an author OF military text books.
gives 4 detailed description of some of
the practices In his Cadet Days at
West Point which IL not fiction. but an
actual account OF life at the academy.
Sparkling OF the arrival of the luckless
novice. he says:
"A number Of the cadets surrounded a
poor candidate calling him plebe or an
animal, and fired dozens OF questions at
him at once. The madden the plebe got
the more run II was for the old cadets
As the candidates were not acquainted
with one another. and as they dreaded
70 meet the old cadets, they naturally
some Of the old cadets called upon them
there.
'Hbun. squad. Attention. plebes.
Palms to the front. What's your name?
spell II. Spell 1t backwards. What state
are you from? Who Ii your predecessor?
Say Mr. Climb up on that mantel and
be lively about IT, too. Now move your
arms and say Sow, cav Stop that
laughing? Eyes to the front.''
A graduate OF West Point. who is now
in civil life. was asked 20 tell how
plebea were received at the academy
Don't ask me to discuss this Bristol
CASE he said ut IN so long since /
left West Point that my opinion and my
"reminiscences can have no bearing on
II. In my day, as now. II was consider
ed Indispensable that plete should be
brought Immediately on his arrival to a
proper reatixation Of hts own ins.gnifi-
cance. 1t WAS n tough ordeal, but good
one. as recaltn The youth who reach
ed thesacade1py with his mind full or the
compliments OF his home friends necded
a few jolts to shake down his self esteem.
For the first month or two he was sub
tected to unexpected visits In his room,
BY dav and night. Even sentries and or
derby officers were known to display pal
pabls detective sight nnd hearing during
these incurslons. And the unhappy plebe,
sleeping like a log after his first busy
day at the acacemy. would be 'yanked'
In the middle OF q resifu nap.