The evening times., 1902-06-11

them, are methods as democratic as the
most liberal minded could desire.
The fact that during the last cen
tuTy less than One-haIf Of those who en-
tered were graduated shows an instruc-
tion as thorough as the most exacting
could demand Here every cadet must
stand on his own individual merits. He
who would be called Thor must be able
TO WELD ThoT-s battIeax; he who would
be called Ulysses must be able to bend
Ulysses bow.
IN talking with officers of the mill
tary schools of Europe. when I have
told them the requirements Of cadet life
here. the long term of service. the ex-
acting course CT study, the number of
drills. the few hours Of recreation. the
one fuTlough only in the four long years.
those officers have been free to confess
that the youth Of their lands could never
be brought TO endure it
1T has been asked. Why impart pTac-
tically the same education 10 all cadets
to those destined for the line as well
as for the scientific corps? II is because
It is believed that the mental discipline,
powers of investigation and accurate
methods Of thought requisite IN solving
difficult problems in the higher branches
OF science are the same qualities which
are necessary in planning campaigns
against willy savage tribes or conducting
battles against trained armies.
Value of Training.
AN ancient writer has said: we
fatten sheep on grass, not in order to
obtain a crop Of hay from its back, but
so that it may feed US with its mutton
and cIothe Us with its wool In like
manner we train a soldier in science,
not with the expectation that he viii
use an equatorial in getting the range
of an advancing battle line, or ascertain
his own whereabouts by finding astro-
nomfcaIIy the longitude of his post by
means Of lunar culminations, or frighten
away and enemy by shaking table Of
logarithms at him, terrifying as those
figures are, but in order that he may
have the general powers Of his brain
fully developed. be able to concentrate
his thoughts. TO reason logically. TO
grasp with decision the difficult prob
lens Of campaign. and thus be the
better prepared 70 lead men and TO gain
battles for the Republic. The fight may
last but a day the training to win It
may require many toilsome years. 4 BIZ
cycIist with broken machine stopped
at a country blacksmith's to have it
mended. The workman said his charge
was s1-25 for the Job and IS cents for
knowing how to do it. Battles should
be won drst with the brain, and then
with the sword. Men should be taught
not only how 10 stop bullets. but how
to direct them. Where human life IS at
stake, we want dUeIs, not buteheries;
victories. not excuses. It is quite Ger
tain that future successes in war will
depend less on numbers and more on
discipline. the cultivation OF the morale
OF the soldier, improved weapons, ceIer-
ity Of movements. and an intelligent ap-
pIication Of the study OF logistics.
1T is conceded that no student can
successfully master d subject unless his
mind becomes duly interested in It. To
produce good music an instrument must
be in tune The student who here stud
les the art Of war finds himself in
purely military atmosphere. and feels
ali the stimulus Of his Surroundings
About this region, celebrated for its
strategic Importance. there cluster the
most inspiring memories Of the war OF
J.
roic age Of the Republic Here invading
armies were checked. hostile fleets were
barred. treason was bafT1ed. Here flows
the historic Hudson, rich in precious
Revolutionary "reminiscences. From the
unequal battle Of Harlem Heights to the
triumphant field CT Saratoga, yonder
stream throughout its entire length is
studded with beacon lights of liberty
Upon the plain are displayed the tro-
phies Of former wars; upon the giant
rocks are craven the names Of victorious
battles. Pendant On the buildings walls
are tablets and portraits which recall
the record Of imperishabIe deeds and
perpetuate names which deserve to be
immortal Here statues are erected TO
commemorate men who lived believing
IN their country. who died that their
faith might be fulfilled. The mute elo-
qUence OF their monuments will plead for
equal sacrifice should war again threat
en- the nations life. for example is
stronger than precept and patterns are
better followed than rules. II would be
a recalcitTant cadet indeed who. under
such circumstances. could fall to be i'm
bued with an absorbing interest in the
study OF the profession of his choice
Type OF True Soldier.
1T may be asked whether an eduea-
tion amid such surroundings may not
mako men lovers Of war and anxious to
taste its experience. IN this country a
soldier is no longer respected if he fails
to realize that war should be under
taken only in the interest Of peace, and