The Washington times., 1902-03-16

tuition in the country where scientific
education was given.
Great as the influence of this new es
tablishment was upon the army, its bear
ing on the general education of the peo-
pie was still greater, for the Government
thus assumed the charge of first intro
ducing into the United States the sys-
tematic study of science.
Requirements for Admission.
The requirements for admission at first
were r;diculously low, being less than is
at present demanded of the student in the
upper grades of the grammar school. As
the old certificate has it: Each can
didate, previous to his being admitted,
must not be less than fourteen nor more
than twenty-one years of age; nor of
less than four feet and nine inches in
Height; must be free from deformity, dis
ease, or inirmity which would render him
unfit for military service; mus. be able
to read and write well, and to perform
with facility and accuracy the various
operations of the four ground rules of
arithmetic, of reduction, of simple and
compound proportion, and of vulgar and
decimal fractions
Change il 1882.
In 1852, there was change in the
part of the regulations concerning age
and height. Sixteen years was made the
lowest age limit, and five feet, the mini
mum in height. Today, the requirements
are not more than those of the good high
school. but the physical examination is
very severe.
Within year or so, the original ten
cadets were increased in numbers to
fifty, as Jefferson took great interest N
the project. Appointments were made
haphazard, without any special reason
even of preferment. There was great lack
of system in all the arrangements con-
nected with the management, due partly
to the newness of the scheme, and partly
to the objections to the existence of such
a school, and indeed, doubts were raised
as to its constitutionality by people OF
the South and West. Efforts were made
TO abolish it altogether, at the time the
army was reduced, and upon this fail
ing proposals were made for the esrab-
fishing of similar schools in other parts
of the country.
Reorganization of Academy.
But beginning in 1914, and lasting for
four years. a reorganization of the hcad-
emy occurred, and it was placed on a
more secure foundation and the number
Of cadets was increased to 250 At the
close of that time, 1t was very nearly on
the present basis. Major Sylyanus Thayer
was appointed superintendent, an officer
of great ability and man of unbendiug
will.
He introduced among the cadets the
right discipline for which the Academy
has ever since been famous, organized
and arranged the classes, prepared for the
approval of the War Department the cur
riculum of studies, established the system
Of drills, and inculcated the highest prIn-
ciples of honor. integrity and truthful
ness as the basis of their moral educa-
tion. He remained at the head of the in
stitution for sixteen years and gave it
the character which it has ever ;ince
maintained.
Senator Barbour's Opinion.
AS to the change in the making Of ap-
pointments, Secretary Barbour says. in
1928: In making appointments, one OF
the leading considerations inducing prfer-
ence is the claim CT applicants on the
ground of public service rendered by their
ancestors. eagerly seize the opportun-
ity of cancelling the debt OF gratitude,
by appointing the descendants of those
who have been distinguished by such