The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-19
PALMY Days Of HAZING|
Conditions as Existed at West
Point in the Early Eighties.
RESORTED TO CRUELTY.
Defenders Claim II Develops Young
Men to Control Their Temper and
Think Before Actine--in One Care
a Sentinel Drove His Bayonet Into
a Cadets Leg.

Men to ControI Iheir Temper and
Think Before Actine--in One Care
a Sentinel Drove His Bayonet Into
a Cadets leg.
Hazing has prevailed at West Point
from the time the Military Academy
was established. Wherever we find
three hundred or four hundred young
men, all physically strong, scientific
ally Strengthened up and sharpened to
meet the demands Of physical life
there necessarily we also find a su-
perabundance Of spirit and vitality,
says Col. J. Blake in the New York
Herald
In the ordinary hazings as soon as
candidates for cadetship passed the
physical examination they were reliev-
ed of their money and other contra
band. Their names, places and dates
of birth were recorded and they were
then conducted to certain room in
cadet barracks where specie lily select
ed cadet officers awaited them. The
opening of the door Of that room
marked the beginning of the candi-
dates trials and tribuations.
A squad Of five of us were led into a
hall and stopped in front of the In
QUESTION door. The sounds OF roar
ing Come I'M" bombarded our ears.
was somewhat stunned but gently
turned the knob. opened the door and
stepped inside. holding my hat in my
hand. Behind small table sat
cadet officer about six feet four inch
es in height, who, on catching a
glimpse of me, leaped over the table,
jammed his nose in my face and yelled
OUT
What do you mean by entering my
Office with your hat in your hand?
Get out, leave 1t in the hall and cUme
back at once"
AS I again stood before the giant
maneater he seemed to calm down o
that | could see two more cadet Off
GERS sitting against the wall behind
him, both staring at me in such a vic
ious way that feared they would
make a sudden dive and attempt to
swallow me, boots and all. The giant
now commanded me to take the po-
sition of soldier. put my heels
together. swelled out my chest,
Strengthened myself up and looked
straight to the front. THAT is very
well. sir, but you do not look like
a soldier. Now put your little fingers
on the seams Of your trousers, close
your fingers together, turn the palms
Of your hands square to the front, lean
slightly forward on your hips. draw
in your stomach and throw back your
shoulders till the blades lap over"
With much difficuNy | finally sue
ceeded in satisfying him and he re-
sumed his seat behind the table.
felt very much out of gear and terribly
twisted up, but | had regained COM
plete possession of my senses.
After getting out of me all he wish
ed to know, he made me thoroughly
understand that obedience was the
first duty of soldier, and then di-
recting my attention to a certain fly
crawling on the wall he commanded
me to keep my finger pointed at 1t and
under no circumstances to lose il II !
| did not wish to land in the guard
house The fly was very restless.
| concentrated my attentions upon il
and tried to follow II, but In doing
| so I stirred up other flies and in the
mixup | lost my charge.
Harmless haZing materially assists
In bringing raw young men within the
influence of that discipline so neces
sary In military service. IL develops
the character and teaches the younG
man to control and curb his temper
| and to think before he acts. From 3
military point of view 1t does more
| in my opinion, to teach the meaning
| OF obedience to orders than any text
book ever printed, for 1t Furnishes in
| such way as to leave a lasting, but
after all, not an unpleasant impres-
| sion.
II carried to the dangerous extent of
| iossing up in the blanket or to bru-
tai or indecent extent in any way
the guilty should be dishonorably dis
missed and forever debarred from
| holding a commission In the United
| States army. 1t is true that fights dc
sometimes result from hazing Nations
do not settle their troubles every time
by arbitration, then why should We
expect II of young men? Why forbid
young men to fight in school where
they are educated and trained to fight ?
When nations fight nations 1t is man
against man, and enough the practice
is DISCOURAGED yet II is safe to say that
II will never be abolished. | would
make a rule of conduct something tC
the effect that after the fight enc par
ticipants should shake hands, declare
all differences settled, and that tht
one who draws first blood shall be
given the victory. Under some such
rule all fights resulting from hazine
or other causes could be easily and
satisfactorily settled without serious
harm to the contestants. l say, con-
tinue decent and harmless hazing, but
condemn and punish severely when II
lescends to the level of football.
4 a lak aIl