Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-14
CADETS. LAST PARADE
COL. HOWE ADDRESSES FIRST
CLAsS-BRILLIANT HOP.

the great green plain at the United States
Military Academy the annual graduation
parade of the cadets was held here yester-
day afternoon, while fully two thousand WIS.,
itors trimmed the tree-lined rectangle. This
ceremony, which has become a rite of the
Point by the usage Of years, marked the
end of the long. hard course Of the first
class, and was the first time that the class
as body had reviewed the rest of the
corps. All day visitors had been arriving,
most OF them young women who had an in
terest more than ordinary in the welfare of
the gray coated soldier fedglings.
Long before o'clock, when the parade
was to begin, they mad found places where
they could take in the view, impressive in
itself, of the plain that looks like an over
grown college campus And out upon this
stage, whose scenery was the woody range
OF the highlands, came first the band. There
was walt as the musicians stood silent
and the cadets began to file out of their
barracks and, form III long line of white
and gray and gold. At last 1t came, this
last parade, The cadets raarched-out into
the open and the music started amid the
applause of the crowd. AS they marched
and countermarched the music became
medley in which Aud Lang Syne' and
Home, Sweet Home" were intermingled.
Lieut.. Col r. l.. Howe, commandapt of
the cadets, stood close to the edge of the
plain and near the spectators on the west
side After all. it was only the ordinary
dress parade that takes place every night,
and the boom of the sunset gun and the
flag lowering of the usual order. But
finally there came the expected change.
After the manual of arms had been execut-
ed, at the adjutant's gruff orders, Front
and Center" the first classmen, who had
been in line as file closers. came forward
into line with the company officers. AS
the order was given they marched forward
the first class Of U7, to halt a few PAGES in
front of Col. Howe. AS he moved a step
toward them they removed their hats. He
gave the following address and congratula-
lions:
Address and Congratulations.
Gentlemen of the graduating class: For
the last time you have paraded with the
corps Of cadets. Tomorrow you lay aside
the uniform you have worn for the last
four years and graduate from this institu-
ton. where you have been trained for the
duties and responsibilities which are soon
to devolve upon you. In a few months you
will be scattered over large part of the
world, enduring every cline, from the heat
Of the tropics to the cold of the arctic re-
again. While the countrys horizon is not
dimmed by war clouds. and 1t Is to be
hoped, will not be, yet 1t Is for you to con-
tinue the preparations which you have had
and II the time does come, to do your
part to make worthy the tradition handed
down by those who graduated before you.-
Gentlemen. welcome you as officers Of the
army of the United States.
The first classmen then stood in line be-
hind the adjutant, while the three lower
classes pass in review before them. AS
the under classmen went off the grounds
the seniors broke ranks and were at once
surrounded by throngs Of friends. One
little old woman with white hair. had been
sitting beside a tree and eagerly watching
the affair. Now big, yellow haired cadet
ran up to her and. as he clasped both her
hands in his, said: Don't cry, mother be-
cause there are tears in my eyes, too
There was a lull of couple Of hours
while the cadets had their final dinner to-
gether in the mess hall before the gradu-
alton hop. which is the first hop the
"pebes' are allowed to attend. Fully 400
guests were present, and. with the cadets
were there. The hop is managed by the
second class in honor of the graduating
class, and N. c. Shiverick second class
man, shared the honors of receiving with
Mrs. Scott wife of Col. Scott, superintend-
ent of the academy. 1t was a brilliant af-
fair, with all sorts of uniforms, but with
military precision. 1t was due to end at
o'clock. Shortly before that hour the
cNeStid suuch up tne traditional Army
Blue in which all the cadets Joined. At
the close of this the officer of the day
marched in with drummer of the regulars
who sounded the recall. All four classes
lined up on the floor and gave their yells
cheering each other and the graduating
men added at the end of theirs, Never
again" 1t might be remarked that Seeing
Nellie Home" in these parts is swift per-
Torrance, for under the regulations any
cadet who took a girl to house on the
parade ground was allowed just ten minutes
in which to do it and report back to quar-
ters An equally unromantic scale was ar
ranged for the time limit in taking the
girls to Highland Falls.
Today will wind up the year with the
graduation exercises. when Col. A r.
Lawton will deliver the address and Brig.
Gen. William P. Duvall will give out the
diplomas.