The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-03

as the upper-class men confine them
selves to them there is little or no OD-
position from the authorities
"A piebe hrst night on guard is gen
eLdiIy an unpleasant experience for
ann; for, besides the official visit Of
the various officers and uncommis-
stoned officers, charged with his in
struction. to see that he understands
all the fine points of his duty as sen
tlneI, ne Is sure to be visited by a Ie-
Slon or SpoOks. hObgOblins and various
otner unauthorized individuals
An incident of this kind is related
where a yearling wrapped in q sheet
appeared on the post of a plebe senti-
mel at night, Haiti shouted the
plebe- Who is there?"
Moses and the Ten Command
mentS, came the response
me poor plebe thought there was
something irregular, but he remem-
bered his instructions about never al
lowing more than one TO advance at q
time at night, so he promptly shouted:
Advance, one commandment, to be
recognized
An amusing anecdote is related o.
General sherman, who, as command
ing general of the army, visited West
POlnt one June for the graduation ex-
ercises- He accompanied the COM
mandant on his Sunday morning
tour OF inspection of barracks. and on
entering a certain room he walked
over TO the mantelpiece STOPPING
down. he pried up a brick from the
middle of the hearth with his sword
scabbard and revealed a hollow space
about foot square, in which was
nicely packed a. considerable quantity
OF tobacco and other cOntraband arti-
cIes- Meanwhile the cadets occupying
the room stood mutely watching anC
wondering what sort Of man the gen
gsT-ga vs-.fe IL
the only cellar" of its kind in bar
racks Turning to the commandment.
the general remarked.
7 have been wondering II that hole
was still there 1 made il when I was
a cadet and lived in this ROOM
One Of the most Interesting of West
Points traditions is that relating to the
billiard table. Shortly after the civil
war the cadets, always on the alert for
some new scheme for amusement. de
cided that they would like to have a
billiard table. and accordingly organ
lied billiard club.
The authorities soon became aware
that there was a billiard table some
where in the barracks, for they could
hear the balls clicking together. but
they could not find it. The cadets con-
tlnued to enjoy the privileges of the
billiard club for more than year Fin
ally one night, soon after midnight, as
TWO officers were returning from a
conVivial evening at mess, they saw
two cadets, clad in their undertaking
and dressing gowns, emerge from the
north saIlypOTt and disappear down
The steps to the areaway in front of
the barracks Instantly the thought Of
the billiard table flashed through the
mir Is of the two officers. and they
started quietly after the cadets. on
reaching the basement doorway Of the
sixth division the two cadets entered.
and the officers. arriving a moment
alter, saw them climb over pile of coal
anu enter an open doorway, through
which came sounds of laughter and
conversation and the clicking of balls.
while the air was laden with fragrant
tobacco smoke.
The officers paused for a moment and
held a whispered consultation Finally.
deciding that they would tell the other
officers Of their discovery and have all
II them come down the following night
and enjoy the fun Of a raid on the club.
they withdrew and went home Next
DAY all the officers at the post were in
formed Of the discovery and il was ar
that the raid should occur q
All might have gone well, and the Of
1cers might have had their little fun
ldu IL not Deen mat there were three
'adets the previous night instead of
two. The third had forgotten his pipe
and had gone back for it. while the
)tner Two went on and were discovered
by the officers. The third coming along
4 moment later, saw the officers and /
quietly followed them. observing All
heir movements and listening to their
whispered conversation. When they
withdrew be went in and told the |
members of the club all he had heard |
and seen The cadets at once realized
hat it was AL OF with the club. bur |
hey determined TO have laugh at the /
expense Of the officers. Accordingly an /
were made before The I
hub adjourned that night.
The next night the officers met IS
arranged and crept Stealthily down the !
ireaway and into the sixth division.
Hearing no sound of clicking balls.
iome became skeDtical and concluded
he whole thing was a hoax. but. never
heless, they pushed on and climbed
,ver the pile of coal. Opening the door.
hey were greeted by a glow of liEht. 1
'u~ still no sound. On entering they
ound the room deserted, but there was
he billiard table. an almost untouched /
leS Of beer, several pounds of tobacco.
ome chairs. and, lastly a note on the /
al bic, addressed TO the officers an d41tv