The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-21

closing incident of the Congressional
investigation at West Point reminds US of
the beautiful lines spoken by the Rev.
Mr. Chadband in Bleak House"
80 gushing stream of sparkling JOY;
To be a soaring human boy
! Our embryo Hannibals and Skaters in
! the Military Academy seem fully alive to
the advantages and exalted dignity OF the
station in life glorified by the poet. They
are evidently aware that they are not as
other boys; but prize specimens, segre-
gated from the common herd, and strictly
because of their superior worth and
merit. taken up by an admiring but re-
spectful country, and paid to study les
sons and TO prepare themselves for posi-
tions of great prominence and command
wherein they may appear more gorgeous
ly than a drum major. and look down
upon civilians with noble and becoming
scorn.
This last they learn to do by the time
they are in their first summer camp, and
beginning to share in the petticoat idola-
try which does SO much to make some
cadets the insufferable little prigs they
tice soldiers are thoroughly convinced
that the eyes of the world are focused
upon their school and their doings. The
extent TO which they take themselves
seriously is truly awful, as the incident
We have in mind will show. Just before
the Congressional committee termina led
its labors and started for Washington,
communication, signed by the four class
presidents, was read aloud by Colonel
Mills. 1t was as follows:
ITO the Superintendent OF the United States
Military Academy:
''Sir: Having become cognizant of the man
in which the system OF hazing as practiced
at the Military Academy is regarded by the peo-
pic OF the United States, we, the cadets OF the
United States Military Academyi-'ghile maintain
ing that we have pursued system from the
best motives. vet realizing that the deliberate
judgment OF the people should, III a country like
ours, be above all other considerations do now
reaffirIn former action abolishing the exercis
Ing OF fourth class men, and do further agree to
discontinue hazing, the requiring of fourth class
men to eat anything against their desire, and
the practice OF calling out fourth class men by
class action, and that will not devise other
similar practices TO replace those abandoned.
Respectfully submitted
There is an unspanked grandeur about
these infants that takes ones breath
away. Their motives have been pure and
manly, and their practice of having weak,
soft boys mashed into insensibility by big
bullies was always a harmless and
healthful diversion for everybody but the
victims. Nevertheless, in a country like
ours its aristocracy should always bend
a little to public opinion, when that can
be done without loss of dignity, and so
the cadet corps will overlook anything
that has passed between it and the COM
mon people outside, and hereafter will
refrain from requiring fogrth-class men
to eat anything against their DESIRE" and
from tormenting or abusing them other
wise.
This voluntary pledge seems to have
affected the committee almost TO tears,
it is so ingenious and SO disconnected
from any idea OF the storm that may
break when the hazing question gets be-
fore Congress in due form. II kept the
promise is well enough in its way. The
same bunch of boys, however. have bro
ken previous engagements, and are,
therefore, nc. too good TO violate this
one when the present trouble shall have
blown over. So We rather think that
Messrs. Dick. briggs, and Clayton should
not make too much of it. Amendment is
all right for a fresh start. but it would
be all the better to emphasize the change
by making examples of dozen or twenty
OF the worst offenders in the past and
dismissing them from the army in dis
grace.