The Republican journal., 1903-11-19
A VISIT TO WEST POINT.
THE CADETS AT DRILL AND AT PLAY.
VIEWS UP AND DOWN THE HUDSON.

could be wished by the girl OF to-day
than a trip to West Point? The answer
to that question, when the altogether
delightful plan was proposed, and after
the day was over, was fixed and I'M
alterabe decision that such a thing
would be impossible to find. One bright
October morning the Corporal and
detail of three from the ranks heard
the reveille at an unusually early hour
and mess call followed closely upon its
heels. At 7.25 the detachment were on
board one of the morning expresses
bound New York ward. The train was
full of commuters going into their Of
fees and nearly all of these prosperous
looking business men had their eyes
glued to the financial columns of that
general favorite and standby, 'The
Sun" Without its steady light the
world would be darkness indeed to
many New Workers. Our train came
to halt just inside the limits of the
Grand Central Station, and the hurry
microbe with which one is inOculated
on approaching the great metropolis
was getting in its work and we tore up
the platform and got car, changing to
one Of the cross-toWn horse car lines
which brought us down to the 22nd
Street pier with time to spare. Here
one of the privates was detailed for
special duty in New York and we babe
her adieu after we bought our tickets
and stepped through the gates, where
we spent the few minutes wait III
watching pile extractor at work.
The magnificent great steamer AL
Danv swung into the landing and the
waiting crowd hurried aboard and Sc
cured seats in the comfortable arm
cha.rs grouped costly about her decks.
After passing some magnificent private
yachts # anchor we realized that the
walm October sun was welcome and
excl aueed our view of Hoboken, Wee
lawken and Shady Side for the more
interesting one Of Riverside Drive and
Grants Tomb, a structure which adds
dignity and beauty to its fine surround
}n2s. rs we neared the f23d street
landing we were interested in noticing
the HGs- Of tie series of landslides that
Mad - .n.peded the railroads after the
severe storms of few days before.
Fort Washington and Fort Lee of
Revolutionary fame were left behind
and tie beautiful residences along the
east hank of the Hudson were admired.
After the landing at Yonkers everyone
settled down for quiet enjoyment of
the beautiful sail. The Palisades on
one side and on the other green lawns
and beautiful trees made contrast at
once striking and perplexing. We final
" gave up trying to see two things at
once. and voted on the east side for the
trip up and the west for our return. AT
Irvington the Cosmopolitan building,
the home of that widely known maya
zine. Was a prominent feature OF the
laud,cape. and a pleasing one. too; for
the iu!lGing. beautiful in itself, with
thu added attraction of beautiful
BACKGROUND, was all an artist could
have wished. \ trolley ride from Siam
ford 10 Ilvington was one OF the plans
that tie weather man vetoed so that
pleasure was left for the next time.
We did not recognize Tarrytown, our
Old friend from our new point Of view;
and Sing Sing, little farther up the
Hudson. did not at all fulfill our ideas
of that place of unenviable fame. The
group OF red brick buildings down near
+he water looked more like manufac-
tuning plant than the abiding place of
criminals. The names of the pictur-
esque little villages clustering close to
the waters edge in order to get foot
hold betrayed very plainly the nation
ality of their sturdy early settlers.
Crugers, Verplanck and Peelskill
brought to ones mind the scenes of life
there in colonial days, typitied so well
by that pioneer of American authors,
Washington Irving.
As West Point was approached our
little party sought the bow that view
of both banks might be mere easily OBJ
Gained Gathering up our belongings,
we sought the main deck in company
with number of other excursionists
whose destination was evidently the
same as ours. One uniformed officer
on she landing was the only indication
4har we had arrived at a place where
tbincs military reigned supreme. we
took one of the English-looking buses
for tie short, but almost perpendicular,
ride up to the parade ground. When
we alighted we were fortunate enough
10 see a detachment of cadets at caval-
~ drill. The little knots of regulars
along the edge who were waiting to take
fine horses back to the stable were
watching the riders with critical eyes,
and that they found food for amuse-
ment was evident from occasional aud
ible smiles. When the drill was over,
the regulars in khaki led off the horses,
and the squad marched back to bar
racks.