The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1900-07-27


honorcd customs no the West Point
military academy which are held si-
cred hy the cadets uf that ideal school
FOR FoldicF. but % o. doubtful 10 thcrc
Is nnothcr custom us rcligiously kept
as that " hazing writes william T..
Curtis ln an article on the military
academy There has always been more
or less hil.ng lt West Point aud there
alEays Will De- as long as bows will De
boys although Col Mills the present
superintendent has succeeded in sup
pressing the practice which has pre-
vailed there for several years OF com
pelling tbc freshmen to undergo phys
zeal exercises at the orders OF the
sophomorcs and upper class men. II
Il difficult 10 ind cadet of any class
who Ia Dis solicIude for the welfare
Of the Institution does not defend haz-
Ing as necessary for the proper train.
ing and discipline OF new cadets wnon
they enter the academy They claim
that u promotes the esprit du corps ana
the democratic spirit OF equality. that
Il mmes bullIcs. develops the cour-
age OF the tlmId. rcstraina those who
are too active. stimulates those who
lack energy and corrccts faults that
cannot be cured In any other way. II
Is principally APPLIED 90 those who are
vain or fresh. those who assume
airs OF superiority. and those who arc
careless about their dress. uncouth To
their manners. slouchng In their pos
lures and Indifferent to the welfare OF
others. The military academy Is n little
republic where the doctrine Of equality
Is enforced with more care and zeal
than In any other institution | know
A cadet who prcsumos upon the FAINT
otAls name. the wealth or social posi-
tlon Of his family or MS own tnients.ii
toned down to the level Of the average
while those who come from the sol
and the slums. as cadets have come are
toned up to the standard OF gentlemen
These re ults are actually accomplish
ed by comrades who sometimes ALLOW
their enthusiasm aud zeal 20 obscure
their judgment and lead them into ex
oessos. Then we hear OF 1t through th'
newspapers. but the transformation o
an awkward. uncouth "plebo" into al
erect and graceful soldier Is general!
accomplished quietly within the quad
rangle and the barracks. screened from
public observation, and h due quite a
much to the training Of his comradc
as the teaching Of his instructors TIT
result, In apparent to everyone who hal
had the opportunity TO inspect squa,
Of plebes at the hour OF their entrance
and afterward at the grand review al
tie close OF their FIRST year at the acnd
envy. There are two kinds Of hazlng
physical and moral. The latter II
known here as "deylllng. "and although
II is not forbidden by the regulations II
generally tries the soul Of a cadet more
than the physical exercises ordered By
his tormentors. When boy Gomez
here fresh from the farm. with hayseet
In his hair. tlmid and trembling, OF
from some famous preparatory school
eoncelted and confident, his comrade,
Of the upper classes take his measure
as accurately ms the tailor who makes
his first uniform or the director Of the
gymnasium. who after a physical exam
nation tells him how he can oxpant
his chest or broaden his shoulders ol
strengthen the muscles OF his arms,
and there is always sufficient ingenuity
10 the "yearllng" class TO suggest IA,
proper corrective. This Is the first test
Of cadets manhood. the first battle OF
the soldier. There Is always great
difference In the manner In which the
boys stand their hazlng. Thus, some
Of the newcomers at the military acad'
envy sail smilngly through the ordeal
while the souls OF others are sorely
tried. when, however, a freshman be-
comes a sophomore and passes into Tho
upper classes and later receives hl-
commission In the army and becomes
useful and sometimes famous, he' ale
ways admits that the "deviling' "a
which he was subjected did him good
and was as much q part Of his train
Ing as the instruction he received from
the faculty.