The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-06-28
LIEUTENANT v. II. FOSTER
A YOUNG HoUsToNlAN AT HOME
FROM WEST POINT.
Life at the Academy Thorough Fitting
for the Striving Notwithstanding Has
Been Discontinued.

w.
graduated with high honors at the west
Point military academy has arrived at
home ON tniee months Through rlnd.
Ing II impossible to avoid an interview,
Mr.. Foster courteousIy consented to tax
in general way about life at the Point,
bat remarked; II have just started upon
my military career, and one OF my tlrst
good resolutions Was to refrain from tals-
ing
Mr.. Foster is splendid conversation
alist, nevertheless and is every inch a
soldier II manlilness and superb health
be the starting point and the goal OF tine
cadet. MIR. Foster has been great sue
cess. In speaking of his college experience.
just closed, AIR. Foster said:
This epoch Of humanity lays great stress
on the name American, which signifies man
hood, hence Our National training scnoui
lays high importance on the CONSEQUENCES
OF being man, genuine American, and
IL ~ demand addressed TO US from the
start 10 attain 10 this, to an education
Astounding In results, ready obedience and
indefatigable effort nre required. My school
days at West Point will ever be a pleasant
memory. The academy is all that 1t should
be, the best of Its Kind In the world,
school of training which educates by de-
velopinent, employing infalhDc methods,
science and art of education, and our In
structors possess vivid and practical
knowledge of the aim and purpose. the
ways and means. necessary to lead us &c
Virtue, self stability and morality, and an
education which win satisfy and be SUI
hclent In all the relations ana endeavors
of life
NO one," said he, ''can 20 through the
four years of strenuous developing WORK
at West Point and come away helpless,
weak and indetermlnate. When he leaves
the academy the cadet should be rendy FOR
the conflict With the world the flesh and
sne devil q man and soldier, unafrad,
capable of grasping and handling, of com
pretending and doing his duty, and OF I'M
derstandins the world and its ways"
When asked II four years were time
enough for the training desired, Mr.. Foster
replied; YES, the four years suffice Tor
the s,quiremeut Of the basis upon when
TO b I'd, and unremitiing diligence ana
strenuous employment are needed to rencn
that goal, The chief benefits derived FROM
the course Is the cultivation OF the capacity
for thinking and the cultivation OF the
reason. together with that OF the power OK
will aud action, and through these we
scqnire the true foundation for the train
ing especially needed by the soldier.
There are several, perhaps ten, Texas
cadets at the academy said Mr. Foster
'all Jolly. manly fellows who nre an honor
10 our State, one OF the chief officials OF
the academy Is also Texan, Captain
Thomas n. Franklin Of san Antonio be-
ileve. He is our quhrternnstery and cap
tain In the commissary department detailed
ic' the war department. He has charge Of
the mess room and all cadet money ant
supplies 60 through his hands. NeAt Polnt
Is tho most democratic place In the world
and upon entering the academy all socia
distinctions cense III n cadet for ANY
reason becomes higotcd or vainly self as
srrtiye he is promptly squeirhed by MI
fellows and they are all on the sam'
fontlug."
5N.hnr o.tnd 90 bq,lpg MAD hear eaectunir
abolished and II II had been done because
OF the Booz case. Lieutenant FOSTERS darl
eyes flashed and he replied; Il can no
discuss that subject may say, however
TINT hazng Is thing Of the past, rh
cadets themselves abolished II in Difference
10 public sentiment, 1t has been. ! think
exaggerated. for always considered hahn
good thing when not carried TO OK
tremes. 1 went through the experience my
eclf without hnrmful results.
MIR Foster sold there were 46o cadet
enrolled at West Point and that provision
would have 10 he made for the accom-
mediation Of the additional cadets called 70
bv recent leciratlon.
life Mt tho. academy Il OF course
pcnsntions My chief delight was riding
There's great fun IN That, We were ais
given occasional leave of absence 10 Visit
places Of interest New York city is ont
nftv.two mites away and many or IN
cadets snond their holidays there. I'm
academy Is situated IN very picturcsqu
region and It is the mecca OF camera nends
The academy Is on m elevated plain hhou
. lB5 feet above the level of the hudson
'The school was drst suggested by Coions
Pickering In April. 1873, and was repeatedl
commended to congress by President WASH
Ircton. In 1SS the superintendent Coioht
Williams recommended the appointment O
an acndcmical stan, consisting of n super
intendpnt and professors of natural nhllos'
MY. mathematics. engineering. archltet
tire. chemistry. mineralogy' ana teachers !
drnNtnr French, tiermnn riding, tencln
and sword exercise. Congress hnally chi
ried his recommendation into effect"