The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-12-13

starts to work on a pOntOon, or has to
handle the, trenching tools on ditch
work, especially after 4 rainy night,
the cadet must be beside him, ready to
do whatever he is ordered to. No ex-
cuses 60, as the cadet knows, therefore
he generally tries to rush thru this
drill. AS these drills last from an
hour and a half to two hours, three
times week, and are the only times
that the future officers ever have to
obey the enlisted men, it is almost use
less for me to tell you that the enlisted
men take every opportunity to impress |
this fact upon them.
The athletic work at the academy |
ranks high, the gymnasium being one
of the best equipped in the country.
The athletic work is in charge of a
professor and three assistants, each an
expert in his line, and the excellent
work that is done is felt in the intel
lectual and moral life of the cadets.
The physical training consists Of a
progressive and systematic series of
exercises, in which movements of ques-
tionable value are omitted.
1t is well known fact that students
at any college who do not receive phys
ical exercise, or at least sufficient exer-
else to offset the drain OH their mental
faculties by an evenings close applica-
tion to study, become sluggish, and are
constantly annoyed with trifling COM
plants; and as mental worry will cause
more trouble to the human system
than all other ills combined, it has been
thought best to make the gymnastic
drillcompulsory. Therefore the fourth
class receive forty-five minutes i'll
struction dsily, the other three classes
receiving but thirty minutes four
times week.
Early in September of each year an
anthropologist takes the measure
ments of each cadet and those falling
to reach the required standard are
compelled TO take special course of
gymnasium work in order to remedy
the defect. Fencing, boxing and
swimming are required, the fourth
class being compelled to take years
course of each.
Football, baseball, handball and row.
ing are encouraged and practlced
whenever possible. Football heads
the lists of sports, and one game is
played each season with Harvard, Yale
U. of P, Princeton, Carlisle, and last
but not least, the annual Army-Navy
game with Annapolis. These games
must all be played on Saturday after
moons, and with the exception of the
Army-Navy game, are all played al
the point. Becoming member of tht
team does not excuse them from thei
recitations or other duties. Were i
not that the physical condition of th'
4 cadets is so nearly perfect, which ii
j itself insures considerable promisin,
. material, they would not be able t.
: make the remarkable showing tina
they have with the leading football
teams of the country, as they canno
i devote as much time to practice as tn
other colleges.
! The discipline rs very strict, and tn
punishments for offenses, of whic
,, there are many, is severe. Thei
u standing at the academy, in both stue
. les and conduct, is based upon meri
Is system, and failure to keep to certai
Is standard results in dismissal. Still
II an astonishing amount of freedom
70 enjoyed by the upper class men, wh
. are frequently required to act as of
u GERS of the lower classes, and as sue
y enjoy extra privileges. In fact, tt
e new cadets or fourth class, rece1'
G their entire preliminary instructic
from the first class. They never 70
re get these instructions, as those havir
Of them in charge have been thru Il
SO same thing, and are stern drill-mastel
ry The social life at the point is of {
We exceedingly delightful nature, the
lg being card parties, luncheons, rece
ey tions and the regular weekly hop he
pc in the academic building, at whi
ng times the walls and ceilings are pr
or tily decorated with ferns and pain
&C. At the weekly hops the cadets wi
their neat uniforms, and their la
IN friends, make a beautiful pictu