Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-05
They're Excused
Or Not According as the Lie Strikes he Legal Ear.
A CADETS DAY.

Every Moment 10 Full from the First
Gun at a Quarter Before Six.
II you would know how a cadet pas
ses his day during the academic term
1t is about as follows:
At S.45 in the early fall the bang OF
field piece cracks the stiffness OF the
frosty air, followed by the rattle Of
drums and the piping Of ffes. Imme-
diately the field music starts on
lively march for barracks, and, pass
ing through the reverberating sally
port, concludes It's fracas In the bar
rack area Sleepy, half.conscious
cadets hear it ali dreamily, and not
until the separated drums explode
like gattling guns in the hallway Of
each division do they think II imperR.
tive to heed the summons. There wet
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, IL need bes
although l much fear that If the enc
my were to descend suddenly upon
the battalion at reveille they would
find a somewhat scantily-clothed
force, under Overcoats, opposed to
them. In these previous last three
minutes the cadets jump 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 inspec-
ton in twenty minutes. Ten minutes
later he Is in ranks again, marching
to breakfast after answering at an
other rollcall. In the mess hall each
mess of ten men has separate table
and commandant, and all must eat
their food in conformity with mess
hall regulations and traditional ETH
Quette, which for the poor plebe has
some nice distinctions that do not
enhance his appetite or enjoyment,
although, for the matter of that, his
appetite does not need any encour.
agement. In about twenty minutes or
so the senior cadet captain commands
"'A company, rise"-the meal is done
and back marches the battalion to
barracks and the days work.
At 7.16 the academic bugle blows
"cal to quarters" that dreary trump
that summons each would-be warrior
to his cell and studious meditations.
From 716 in the morning until $3.50
in the afternoon, with the exception
of the dinner hour, study and recita-
tions claim him; and also must he be
at all times ready for the unsparing
eye of the inspecting officer who de-
scends upon him as the avenging an
gel OF the "blue book" in which is
writ the laws Of his daily life, the
unalterabie code of regulations by
which cadets breathe and move and
have their being. At 1915 the drums
and fifes voice his clamorous stomach
with the tune he calls peas upon a
Trenches" and he repeats the march
to and from the mess hall.
The afternoon academic period ends
at $50, but with drum call to fresh
labor. The different drill squads fall
In and are marched ofr-some to in
fantry drill, some to light battery,
some to heavy guns, others to signal
ing, or to fleld explosives, or target
practice, tactical problems, 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 of and
jump into full dress for dress parade,
which, In turn, is followed by guard
mount. At last there comes a minute
thirty OF them--in which to catch
breath before the >lnsistent call to sup
per and retreat parade" at o'clock.
After supper another rest Of half an
hour until the bugle siren sings It's
alluring Vesper song Of "call to quar-
ters" for the long evening grind at
books and problems.--From Col.
Larned's "The West Point OF Today"
In St. Nicholas.