The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-02
MILITARY EDUCATION AND
 THE MAKING OF A CITIZEN

I From the moment the scholar enters I the school his welfare Is shifted from his shoulders to those of persons l trained in the art of cering for him. 1 He is properly fed, ciothed.and housed. He immediately becomes the object of attention of some trained officer. The 1 cadet officers placed over him add to their natural zeal of pride in the or | ganization to which they belong. and I to his instruction Is give all the care l that would be bestowed upon a delicate piece of mechanism. He is taught that I on the degree of perfection attained I by the individual depends the degree of l perfection which may be reached@eby I his company and the rivalry between l organisations inspires the best efforts and stimulates him. He is taught that cleanliness means sanitation and is es- sential to health: by constant associa- tion with others he comes to regard | it not luxury but as a necessary ad- iunct to his comfort. He is given sub stantial and becoming garments and is , supervised in their care until such su- 1 pervislon becomes necessary. By in- i struption. precept and example he Is made to understand that nattiness and ] neatness in personal appearance are essential clements of responsibility. By judicious restraint he is taught the dis tinction between order as inspired bw
 
 and love of moderation.
 His life ia ordered and arranged for him after the manner best calculated t0 bensat him. To this end he is sub- jected only to the restraint necessary for the observance of discipline. Tn the end he becomes devoted to moderation and recognizes that discipline is aimed as much at the nfisbehavior of others whereby he may be discomforted as at his own shortcomings; he learns. to re- gard 1t as a protection rather than a menace and in this Knowledge he &C., quires the fundamental principles un- deriving all law,
 His physical welfare is subjected to careful attention. Almost impeFceptibly and perhaps unconciousiy he Is physic- ally remodeled and developed. By the drills which he probably regards as pleasant pastinle his rounded shoulders are strengthened and broadened ris nas- row nat chest is deepened and widened his legs and arms trained to respond gracefully and without effort to the im- pulse of his will. Careless carriage and unnatural gait are replaced by healthy and upright posture and the easy swinging stride that distinguishes the smart soldier the world over. He has acquired the spirit of confidence and self-reIiance which makes him a more efficient member of any profess ion or walk in life he may choose to enter.
 Morally he as not been neglected, and in this respect his education is gained in great part by absorption from his environment. Tn the dormi- tory, he Is a member of an organized, disciplined family. the comfort and se- eurity of which are dependent upon the honesty and integrity of the indi- viduals composing it. The community
 
 abundant opportunity for dishonesty. and 1t Is the knowledge of this inse- curity which leads the students mind and becomes a matter of abhorrence.
 In the pursuit of the purely military feature of his education he has gone through the school of makeshift, so that he is as Wellington expressed it. able to fix anything with a string" that quality of the country boy which accounts for so much of his success. He also comes to understand that truth is necessary to the proper performance of military duty. He comes to realize that the slightest departure from truth on the part of others would lead him into error and consequent punishment or might endanger his own and his comrades safety As a matter Of self protection he demands undeviating truth from others and the habit of truth telling insinuates itself upon him until 1t becomes a matter not of ex- pedience but one of fnaturabinclination He comes to learn obedience as a habit. and he learns the lesson ot self-res- traint and respect for authority. While he has been advancing through the various grades he has become familiar with natural limitations. which 1t is necessary to respect and consider, and by having been the object of tolerant consideration by his instructors he takes thase qualities upon him. self and reaches a position of auth ority without the tyranical tendency so often observed in persons too sud denly advanced. Tn the daily routine of his duties, he has learned the lesson 1 of promptness and the value of time Finally. the student emerges from his | school either to enter upon his life | work or pursue advanced or special | studies. and from his methodical habits | of order, nromptness, honor, together | with his athletic body, clear head. and | self-reliance he is peculiarly equipped | to succeed.
 It is not dificult to observe that in | the foregoing great stress has been | placed upon the purely military fea- tuFe, aside from tine mental training; l