Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-16
"MIss BROWN" UPON HAzING.
She Takes the Unpopular Side OF the
Controversy.

She Takes the Unpopular Side of the
Controversy.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
When I see how earnestly some good
neonle strive to remodel humanity after
pattern of their own, I begin to believe IN
the possibility of the future man being the
hairless, toothless, muscleless something
some prophetic scientists have dared TO
predict, and am oh! so glad that snail not
be here when our good old earth Is IN MS
or its possession And yet, come to THINK
of it, 1t would save so much trouble II we
had enough advanced copies OF that species
to supply West Point and Annapolis with
cadets. There would then be no need for
rules against fighting, and investigations of
the kind now occupying the public MIND
would be things unknown. OF course, If,
after the present fighting stock was gone.
an occasion happened to arise where Uncle
Sam had to resort to something stronger
than moral suasion. either in defense OF
his own family or some one else. then these
specimens might not exactly fill the Dill;
but in the meantime, just think how peace
full and happy the conditions would De!
As now constituted, I am sorry to OBJ
serve. your healthy, normal boy Is never
quite happy without something or some one
to try his strength against Ii two OF the
tribe meet, the first amenities are cuffs ana
lunches and friendship is impossible untll
each one knows just how much tne o.ner
can take or give, in the way of hard knocks
and throws. They test each others quail
ties by methods which often have spice
of the Indian in them, and are never 100
fine of feeling to push an advantage; Out
orce "a fellow is found to be AL right
in their estimation he is co-heir to all prlvl-
leges and can become the leader or the
crowd. If he is so inclined. Then, When
ID tIAra 10 q
that is. they don't cuff and throw each
other on sight; but the old Adam is there,
just the same, and the testing or each otner
now follows certain form-lt mas ac
auired the dignity of hazing; which Is, OF
course, very reprehensible and-very nat
ural, as, 1 am sure. ninety-nine out OF
hundred observing men will admit
On the continent this testing process takes
the form of dueling, and not in military IN
st!tutions only. At the leading universities
the fighting of duels is matter OF routine,
as it We're, and woe to the student VINO
shows the white feather when selected to
represent his corps with "schlaeger" In
hand. The practice Is not onpeniy counte-
nanced by the authorities 1t is true. but it
continues, nevertheless, and who VIII say
how much it has contributed toward giving
Germany the position she occupies today
in the rank Of formidable fighters.
When we consider that an officer must
not only understand his military duties. but
must in order to be a real leader, possess
good Judgment, tact, endurance and un-
questionable courage; must not only be able
to lead his men into battle. but must give
them the example of steadiness under fre,
of unhesitatingly facing death or muttla-
ton at the call of duty or humanity: and
that, moreover, if he lack these qualities,
he may be the cause of dire disaster to a
whole army-then, l say, 1t Is not wonder
full or surprising that those West Point
boys, knowing all this, should try to sift
out from among them those who plainly
show the lack of the requisite qualifica-
lions.
careful following of the testimony
brought out in the recent investigation
brings one to the conclusion that no proof
whatever has been adduced to show that
the young man in question died In conSe-
quence of swallowing some hot sauce: but
the fact is made patent to all that great
mistake was made in trying to make
soldier Of him, for which he evidently pos
sessed neither mental, moral nor physical
qualifications. and thus lost the respect of
his fellow students and felt himself thor
oughly out of place. 1t was simply case
of putting a round peg into square hole.
OF course. one is sorry for his family
and the poor boy himself. But imagine him
an officer, placed with his men In a posi-
ton upon the holding of which everything
depends, and then, when the onslaught
comes and hard knocks are the order of
the day, see him give up the f1ght-lie down
and cry. "Oh,' you say. but he was only
a boy then and would not do that when
older" My dear sir or madam. the boy
or nineteen lacks the courage to do thirty
five or forty will never dare to carry
through
1t was of young fellows. who only a
few months before had come from the
schools, fields and workshops, that Major
Waller said in his report: Having given
you the bare facts. wish to invite atten-
ton to the incidents of the busy week.
Our men have marched ninety-seven miles
in the five days fighting all the way. They
have lived about one meal a day for
six days, but have been cheerful and will
ing always. They have gained the high
est praise from all forces present and have
earned my love and confidence" etc.
Oh no. depend upon 1t, even hazing If
properly recognized and regulated, can be
made to do good work. IL by means of 1t
men are kept out of the service who would
weaken and injure it, it Is we'll worth a
little thought and attention, and should,
therefore, be under proper supervision, but
not abolished. At least that is the opinion
of many besides MISS BROWN"
What Constitutes a "Gentleman."
To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
Will some Of the upper class gentlemen
Of the West Point Academy kindly en-
tighten the public as to their definition of
the term "gentleman?'
Measured by their iron-clad code, cadet
Is not a gentleman
If he demurs at being detailed as the
servant of an upper class master. to per-
form his mental duties and obey his tyran-
meal comm ands
If he protests against being subjected to
physical torture and degrading and humii-
Ia ting ordeaiS for the amusement OF the
upper class gentlemen.
If he objects to being branded as cow