The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-17
WEST POINT THEN
WEST POINT NOW
"Senex" Gives a Few Rem
inescenCes.
THE HAZERS HAZED
A Bull Head "Plebs" Gets the Better
of His Teasers.
BRUTALITY A SYNONYM FOR FUN
Fifty Years Ago the West Point Cadets Were
the Most Truthful, Highto1ed, ChivalrOus
Set Of Young Gentlemen That Could
be Found In the World.
be Found in the World.
CWashington POST, February ). 19O1l

be Found In The World.
washington Post, February 8, 19O1.)
Brutality is a synonym for fun. So
says the savage whilst gloating over the
agonies of his victim. So thought and
thinks Dantes demons in Inferno, as
they pile on the fagots for fresh arrivals
in that hopeleft region. 1t passes belief
that any save creatures of this debased
and abnormal type could take delight in
suffering, and, least of all, in those of
their own kind. Recent DEVELOPMENTS.
however, in our two national nurseries
for soldiers and seamen forces the re-
luctant conclusion that innate propensity
in the baser sort for inficting pain when
solely one-sided game is not modified
by fortuitous station or a little super
fetal culture. The british instinct OF the
son of Aurelius, whose chief delight on
the verge of manhood was to torture flies,
naturally paved the way as his great
father foresaw in his successor, to Com
modus, "the execrable," torturer Of
men. AS easy the transition from the
torturer of "plebes" to the tyrant of peo-
pies, when opportunity places it in his
power. Eliminate the whole cowardly
detestable brood as fast as the vile ma
ture is developed.
Fifty years ago, says an old man.. the
older cadets would have little harmless
sport out of the newcomers by jest, gibe.
or harmless bOyish pranks, rarely, if
ever, transcending the gentlemans bound
of courage, decency, and Unborn gentility.
There was a tradition then, still current
on The Point" old Senex continues,
which may have had much to do with
putting a curb on vulgar, upstart preten-
sion. But to the story, be it purely
apochryphal or mostly true, and the last
is my diagnosis having ever believed
that "the boy is father Of the man" The
tale is told as it was told at the time,
half a century ago.
Back in the 'twenties," so the tradi-
tion runneth, quoth "Senex," there came
to the academy a stalwart son of Ken
tusky country born and country bred was
he, but high-strung and self-reIiant
Modest and reserved he was by high home
culture and gentlemanly instinct, but
punctilious to hairs breadth in ques-
tions involving his Inherent rights. or
course the lad was unknown to fame. The
world had never heard Of him up 10 that
day 1t has heard of him ever since, and
tongue and men have ears.
On the night after his arrival he was
waited upon by visiting squad of soldier
cadets on a little fun intent Soon
one of his visitors passed him the lie, for
specific purpose of provoking excuse for
ulterior proceedings He got 1t, for tho
next moment he was in recumbent
position from a blow between, the eyes
OF course, such an unheard of presump-
tion, a plebe striking an older cadet
could not be atoned except in blood. Such
the predicate laid down by outraged dig
nifty, to which the offender was more than
acquiescent.
Yes" was the cool reply, "Ill fight
your whole posse in detail, in any way
you may elect, if you will only promise
fair play
With both sides so very accommodating.
of course the preliminarles were soon ar
ranged.
Place, Koscuskc's garden. Time, just
after reveille in the morning. Weapons,
musllets loaded with fifteen buckshot
each. Distance, fifteen PAGES.
One Of the young gentlemen kindly vol
unteered to act as the plebes second.
They met according to agreement, and at
the first fire the older classman fell. The
younger proceeded at once to reload his
own gun with the deliberation and non
chalancc of Juvenile rabbit hunter.
What are you doing, Plebe?' Don't
you sec you have killed your man." ex-
claimed his friend" in evident alarm
Wei, if he is dead, little more kill
ing won't do him any hurt was the
aim rPDlv 'fWako I'M vour dead friend
and tell him for me he had better pro-
coed to do what ] am doing, for am re-
solved to have another shot or two before
this funny party breaks up. Here are
three honest cartridges, not firecrackers.
Select one for your dead friend and an
other for yourself / will keep the third.
All three as we'll as the one in my gun
barrel are charged precisely alike OF
this you must take my word but rest as
suFed there's lead in each. Go and re-
port what you have heard and let me
know the decision Of yourself and
friends"
There was a hurried interchange of
opinion in that mimic council OF war"
when that plebes mandate Tor plebiscite
became known. The story runs that the
dead man" evinccd more vitality and
more pacific spirit than any other In that
conciave Of fun-seekers and merry max
ers. They do say that after he came to
life he talked with a luency and volu-
bility until then dormant in advocacy OF
acquiescng in the bullheaded plebe's de-
mands. They do say, too, that he had a
most eloquent seoonder in the late sec