New-York tribune., 1902-06-13
WEST POINT.
A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE LIFE
OF THE CADET.

LIFE AT WEST POINT. The Making Of The The
and Amusements. BY H Irving HANCOCK
I2no pp X, go. G. P Putnams Sons
That IT is a strenuous life at West Point every
uody knows but just how strenuous will be ap-
preciated much better after reading OF MT
Hancock.s interesting account of the rigid dsci-
pline and hard work that are the rule at the
Military Academy His book is an admirable
and thorough presentation Of the life Of the
cadet and the purposes Of the academy that Is
of special and timely interest now. when the
eyes of the whole country are fixed upon West
Point and the centennial celebration going on
there.
He shows US the experiences Of a cadet from
the time ne first presents himself for exa1nina-
ton at the academy till he finishes his course
and the story is one that fully bears out his
statement that the principle is TO employ every
moment of the working day. and that the method
is work work work! That day is sixteen
hours long and begins at 6 O'Clock; it is ex-
actly portioned out the several duties Of the
cadets-includng recreation. Thoroush IS the
policy of the institution. Its notices are every
cadet every day for recitations. and every
cadet proficient in everything" No excuse is
accepted for deficiency in anything; and with
this fact facing him it is not surprising to learn
how quickly the cadet masters what is put be-
who visit West Point as Mr.. Hancock informs
us are ".astounded" at the immense amount of
work accomplished, and the method of II might
be suggested as an adjunct 10 some of the new
est educational theories. The little artfnce OF
students in general of quizzing the professor TO
draw out of him the nature of the reply eX-
pected in the classroom Is not eXpedient at
West Point Every professor and Instructor is
on the alert to head off such an offender thus;
Suppose the instructor sends cadet to the
blackboard TO write an equation showing re-
action from the union of two chemical COM
pounds The equation is written. and the IN
structor inquiries:
is the result of the equation acid or aka
Let me understand you, sir begs the cadet
hesitatingly. DO you mean
rs the result acid or alkaline? repeats 'he
Instructor.
Catching at the emphasized word the cadet
may respond promptly:
Acid, 1 should say, sir
Decidedly alkalinet" comes the retort and
the cadet realizes that his strategem has re-
coiled upon himself
The same thoroughness is applied to the ac-
tive duties of the soldier TO the studies IN the
theoretical part. The cadets are drilled from
March till November in every possible KIND OF
work and service in the field. AS to horseman-
shin. If has reached the dignity Of q fire art
The training begins in the cadets second year.
snd so thorough and constant is it that the
men who have never been on horse before
overcome their timidity and before long acquire
sn the feats known to rough riders.
The cadets day begins with the hrst can 10
-eve,ua,, at the stroke of s in the morning He
rlaxes sn instant toilet-but a thorough one. Tor
personal cleanliness is an immutabie law al
West Foint-sets his room TO rights according
10 fixed official principles, with books on the
table in certain prescribed positions. collar box.
lations demand and every garment hung on the
nail appoiuted for it. Then comes rollcan IN
battalion formation outside; breakfast is a
hasty meal, and forty minutes Of recreation 1ol-
low Al s o'clock the sections march to their
: ciassrooms. The battalion forms again al L
o'clock and marches to dinner, which lasts forty
minutes:
a cadet officer is in charge at each table
Upon him devolves the preservation Oh sooo
or5ar This does not mean that any cadet IS
unSer reprassion. Conversation is unrestralneo'
and usually takes the form Of chaf in winch
most of the young men specify become auep.9 |
All that the cadet officer at each tapie Is re-
sponsible for is that every man under his nouce
shall observe the rules of gentlemanly conduct I
Dinner is a merry meal; hlgh sparlts are III
= evidence through the great dining room
Twenty minutes are allowed for recreation
h after it. and at 2 the march to the recitation
{lroorns is again taken up At o'clock the
recitations end and in the academic portion Of
fbe wear drills begin at 40. That is followed
nv dress parade which function is seen at its
acme of military splendor at West Point MI
Hancock compares IT TO the solemnity and
grandeur Of a religious ceremony. At $50
comes supper which may be eaten TIL a.
TWENTY minutes later the buge call sends the
young men to their rooms for study, and study
"a. West Point means the closest kind of appli-
cation At $50 tattoo IS sounded and then the
cadet r1ay-and may is rare word at the
acadeny-unroll his bedding and prepare his
cot But at 10 O'Clock he must be in readiness
to put out his lights and set to bed. and make
81 evident TO the guard that he has done So
she DAVIS work OF sixteen hours is over, and
after its strain. all thar the best manhood
can endure he is ready for eight hours of
sleep.
As cadets must become officers and gentle
men," as much time as possible-which Is natu-
rally. little-nust be given TO his social train
tng and 10 making him at home IN society with
the poise of a well bred 1t is little
amusing to read of the provisions made to enter
tain cadets ar the homes Of the officers and
their families where they are allowed on Sat
nr6ay afternoons Sundays TO visit or to
be snvited to dinner; II seems almost like a part
of the curriculum. Then there are during part
of the winter Saturday night hops where the
cadet is made tc realize the charm Of the ball
ROOM Here, too. even the awkward country
boy learns and learns rapidly To call upon
ladies at the hotel, which is allowed only on
Saturday afternoons. the cadet must first Sc
cure permission, must then go TO the hotel Of
fee and register in a special book, and then re-
pair TO the hotel parlor. He is not allowed in
the dining room. Due official provision is made
for the use of Irritation walk in the summer.