Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-26
A CADETS DAY.
Every Moment Is Full From First Gun
at a Quarter Before 6.


at a Quarter Before 6.
If you would know how a cadet
passes his day during the academic
term tits about as follows:
At 5:45 in the early fall the bang
of a feldpiece cracks the stiffness
of the frosty air, followed by the
rattle of drums and the piping of
ffes. Immediately the field music
starts on lively march for bar
racks and, passing through the
reverberating sally port, concludes
its fracas in the barrack area.
Sleepy, half conscious cadets hear it
all dreamily, and not until the sep
arated drums explode like Calling
guns in the hallway of each division
do they think it imperative or heed
the summons. There yet remain
two or three minutes before the
drums cease their clatter, at the
end of which each man must be
clothed and in his right mind, in
ranks, ready for roll call and for
battle if need be, although much
fear that if the enemy were to de-
scend suddenly upon the battalion
at reveille they would find a some
what scantily clothed force, under
overcoats, opposed to them. In
these previous last three minutes
the cadets jumped into shoes and
such clothing as shows from the
outside and avalanche down the
iron stairs just in time to avoid a
"late."
And now the days real grind be-
gins. Back to his room to sweep
and tidy and fold, ready for room
inspection in twenty minutes. Ten
minutes later he is in ranks again,
marching to breakfast after an
swering at another roll call. In the
mess hall each mess of ten men has
a separate table and commandant,
and all must eat their food in con-
formity with mess hall regulations
and traditional etiquette, which for
the poor plebe has some nice dis
tinctions that do not enhance his
appetite or enjoyment, although,
for the matter of that, his appetite
does not need any encouragement.
In about twenty minutes or SO the
senior cadet captain commands,
"a company, risew The meal is
done, and back marches the bat
talon to barracks, and the days
work.
At 7:15 the academic bugle
blows "call to quarters" that dreary
trump that summons each would be
warrior to his cell and studious
meditations. From 7:15 in the
morning until $3.50 in the after
noon, with the exception Of the din
ner hour, study and Rotations
claim him, and also must he be at
all times ready for the unsparing
eye of the inspecting officer, who
descends upon him as the avenging
angel Of the "blue book" in which
are writ the laws of his daily life,
the unalterab1e code of regulations
by which cadets breathe and move
and have their being. At 1915 the
drums and flies voice his clamorous
stomach with the tune he calls
"peas upon treneher," and he re-
peats the march to and from the
mess hall.
The afternoon academic period
ends at $3.50, but with drum call
to fresh labor, The different drill
squads fall in and are marched off,
some to infantry drill, some to light
battery, some to heavy guns, others
to signaling, or to field explosives,
or target practice, tactical prob
lens, practical military engineering
or something else, depending upon
the season and class. At 4:40 back
again at double time," just in time
to wash off and Jump into full dress
for dress parade, which is followed
by guard mount. At last there
comes a minute--thirty Of them
in which to catch breath before the
insistent can to supper and "retreat
parade" at 6 o'clock. After supper
another rest of half an hour until
the bugle siren sings it's alluring
vesper song Of ''call to quarters"
for the long evening grind at books
I'D ,,rolIo,.o NoIooo1 JovnoJ Z,