Evening journal., 1904-09-10
TESTS OF THE INCAS
STRICT MILITARY TRAINING OF THE
ANCIENT PERUVlANS.
Fents of strength and Endurance
That the Cadets Were Called Upon
90 Perform During Graduation
Exercises which lasted "A Month.

60 Perform During Graduation
Exercises which lasted n Month.
Long before Columbus discovered the
western continent many interesting
peoples lived here, having their pecul-
lar customs and training their children
carefully in the way they considered
best calculated to make them brave
and wise men.
Not only the red Indians Of the north
but the people Of Mexico and Peru,
who had o certain sort of civilization
OF their own, trained their children
carefully and made them pass through
series OF trials which the American
boy of today may be thankful he does
not have 70 undergo
Men Of today In digging in the ruins
Of the splendid cities Of the Peruylans
have found almost n complete record Of
some Of their educational systems.
In Peru the king Of the country was
called the inca, and his eldest son. who
was always brought up TO succeed him,
received a training especially elaborate
and trying. The prince was sent TO
/
young noblemen were educated almost
as soon as he could talk. There he
was treated I'm all respects as If he
were not the heir TO the throne, but
just common. ordinary boy, who
would some day have to work for n
living.
The-school at which the prince was
educated was n military school, which.
according TO records, was the Peru.
vian West Point There, although
many other things were taught, the
chief stress was laid upon the art Of
war.
All the princes relatives, boys OF
about his own age and called the Inca
| nobles. were at the school with him
and had their final examinations at
the same time
The literary part OF their education
was inquired into in private by the
"wise men," which corresponded to
the academic board" OF West Point
but these examinations were followed
by public exercises
The public exercises were conducted
by board consisting of the most
! prominent Of the old Inca mobiles, and
Il corresponded TO the board Of Wis
, itors appointed by the president each
year 10 preside over the graduatlons
at West Point The graduating exer-
cises at tho royal Peruvian military
academy lasted for month
The graduates were required 10 H.
lustrate by drills what they knew OF
military tactics. Then they had to
give exhibitions OF boxing and wres-
tllng Running was also regarded as
n necessary accomplishment, for the
Peruvians had no horses. and the men
who were destined 20 lead their armies
had 10 prove that they could move
swiftly on foot over long distances and
not tire. Therefore long courses wer,
laid out for the boys TO run over, wtacl
taxed their endurance ana strength tC
the utmost
Then for several days together the
boys were compelled TO fast. being
carefully examined during the time &
see how they bore going without food
for the Inca said that soldier and q
gentleman should always be willing
and able TO 30 without food and moi
grumble when such abstinence was
necessary.
The cadets were also matched agains
each other in mimic battles. in which
though the weapons were blunted
many We're wounded and some killed
When this sort OF thing had gone OF
for month those boys who had woi
the best marks in their examinations
and had best stood the test Of the pub
lie exercises were selected for grudua
ton. while the others were dropped ol
e turned back into the next class
The king was always present at thes'
$ graduating exercises and delivered al
address TO thr graduates.
a Garcilasso. a descendant Of the incas
has left MS an account Of these al
dresses from which we know that they
10 were almost exact counterparts Of thI
addresses delivered today by promi
a. nent men az high school gr0duationi
and college commenccments. Othe
re things change. but the graduation ad
le dress seems to have been the sam,
thing In all ages.
N After the address something tool
place which does not happen ht moderl
I'd American graduating exercises. TIL
king pierced the ears of each graduat
= with a golden bodkin or large pir
which was allowed TO remain there nm
y, I'll the wounds healed leaving hol
= into which round ornament was in
y serted.
The size of this ornament was crat
ually increased until in the case of th
prince it was as large as an orang
Sandals were now hound on the fe,
Of the boys and they went barefoot Il
longer; also sash was tied abo,
their waists and crowns OF nowc
q placed on their heads.
y The prince was now allowed 10 pr
"a on his royal robes. and. though ON
sixteen. he was usually sent 20 coi
81 mand an army corps somewhere on d
= lDmer. where the king almost alwa
Ial a little war going on With q
nsghb0fing savages. New York Pre-.
Csn 30. 80 from any D. & A. pay ST