The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-11-19
CADET CODE AT WEST POINT.

The course of study at West Point
Is extensive. but 1t is very thoroughly
covered. The secret of the success of
the academy is simple. In the first
place the academic board-the faculty
lis composed of permanent professors
who teach mathematics, physics, and
the like, and of officers temporarily
assigned, who are the heads of depart
departments of military engineering
tactics, law, ordnance, etc. The per-
manent staff maintains traditions that
have been approved by the experience
OF nearly a century; the officers de-
tailed temporarily bring fresh blood to
the school, the experience of war, of
camps, Of active service. All the pres
emit officers of instruction. without
exception, are graduates of the acad-
envy and represent what is best in the
whole service.
The second keynote of the peculiar
success of the school consists in the
proportionately large number of in
structors compared to the number of
pupils. The register for 1901 bears
the names of sixty-three officers who
are charged with the instruction of 391
cadets. There is one instructor to six
pupils, nearly. This enables the
classes to be divided into small sec
items for Rotations. In mathematics,
for example, the sections consist of
about ten cadets who recite to one in
structor for ninety minutes daily. The
mathematical requirement of each
cadet Is, therefore, tested on the aver
age, during nine minutes, daily over
q period of two years. No single days
work can be neglected without detec-
ton. Nemesis comes once a week in
the shape of marks" posted for each
days Rotations. If the marks are
excellent the cadet may look forward
to quick promotion in the future; if
they are passable, his promotion will
be delayed; II they are low, he runs
the risk of losing his commission in
the army and besides this he is punish
ed by confinement to his quarters, ETC.,
'for neglect of studies" which is neg
lect of duty-a military offence, there
fore. Every offence is punished in the
same way, by "demerit Marks" There
are, for example, about $4,000 oppor-
tunities for a cadet to be late at roll
CALI during the four years. For each
hardness one demerit mark is given
Two hundred demerit marks received
In any one year cause dismissal
Every dereliction of duty is noted
zone button of uniform coat unbutton-
ed at drill" for example-and pun
ishment follows hard upon It. This
is the method of Mother Nature
stumble and the fall will hurt. Pun
ishment is Immediate. inexorable, just.
habits exactly fitted to the conditions.
Besides the written code of the acad-
envy the cadets have an unwritten code
of their own. No man may lie and
remain comrade. for example. Con
duct unbecoming cadet and gentle
man" is an offence against the written
code and is also punished by the ca
diets themselves who refuse to associ-
ate with a man under such ban. Up
TO point their unwritten code is
wholesome. OF very late years it has
been carried entirely too far, owing to
the recent growth of "class spirit"
The written law does not. and should
not, recognize class presidents and tn
like. by return to the old method
of recognizing only the officers of the
cadet battalion the remedy for recent
Irregularities is at hand The hazins
OF new cadets must be stopped once
and for all. and discipline must be il
the hands of the officers only. Tn,
country at large has decided this poin
definitely and the cadets have accepted
the decision Loyalty, as they are &C
customed to accept all orders of thei
lawful superiors. Let them look out
side OF the little government resarva
ton at West Point and see the deld
in which they viii soon he called upol