The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-10

ment OF selection. The Presidential APP
pontments are, theoretically, reserved
for the sons of army and navy officers
whose duties :catter them all over the
country and the world. so that their
children are, in most cases, deprived Of
that residential qualification required by
law as an entrance condition to either
academy. These Presidential nominal
tons to cadetships do not entitle q boy
to walk into. Annapolis or West Point.
He has to pass the entrance examination
precisely the same as have all the nomi-
nees made by congressman, and if he
fail to make the required percentage, out
he goes. And when his career in either
of the two institutions begins, he must
make the standard mark in every branch
of instruction at the semi-annual eXaml-
nations during the course, or be
dropped" I could give the names; of
many young men whose families belong
to what are vulgarly called the arlsto-
cratic classes that have had to leave
both academies on this account during
the past five or six years. Behind them
was political influence enough to make
Governors. Cabinet officials and foreign
ministers, but it was powerless to keep
them in the two first institutions Of the.
kind in the world.
CHIPS OF TIE OLD BLOCK.
admit that there are what are called
"Army and Navy families" coming down
from generation to generation. AZ HFSt
blush it loo ks like military and naval
aristocracy. but il each case IS exam
ined. the charge, should it be made, falls
to tho ground What is looked upon as
an aristocracy OF political pull is really
the result of careful training and prepa-
ration of young men to achieve a certain
end AS many eminent lawyers and ply
Sicianss have trained their sons TO 1olloW
in their footsteps, so have many military
and naval officers aimed at keeping one
of their descendants in the service 1t
is an honorable ambition, and from every
point of view it is American. 1t is pre-
cisely the same spirit that has brought
into existence the numerous revolutionary
societies and that has banded together
the veterans Of the Civil War, and, later
still, of the Spanish-American War.
THE FAMOUS FIFTH.
In the inauguration procession ohlE
little more than one-half OF the troopers
of the Fifth Cavalry, now on its way TO
the Philippines. were in line This oc-
casioned some surprise, for it was un-
derstood that the military part OF the.
pageant was TO be made as imposing as
possible and, as the Fifth were at Fort
Myer, on the Arlington Hills within
sight of the White House and the Capt.
tO!, 1noy cOulC easily nave 'JtCii ohtSi SI
out. That they Were not was military
necessity Ali the horses of the Fifth
were in line, but the men that rode them
had no more to do with the regiment
than they had with the Coldstream
Guards, or any of the English bodies OF
troops that recently rode with King Ed
ward to open Parliament. The TACT Is
that the Fifth had to furnish mounts Tor
the warriors that posed in the parade as
aides and stalls. Inc Well
trained animals did not take kindly TO
the change, and many of them tried hard
TO toss their temporary riders.
The Fifth was organized as the Second
Dragons In that period OF its history
il had among its officers men whose
names are now famous in the military
history of the country. Robert Il. Lee
was the lieutenant-coione While ioerE
Sidney Johnston. George H. Thomas and
many others that won high command on
either side in the Civil War were majors,
captains or lieutenants.