Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-11-24
A WEST POINT HAzING
1t Knocked All the Egotism Out
of the New Cadet.
SINGING HIS OWN PRAISES.
He Was Kept at II 60 His Own MORT.
heation and the Delight Of tho Upper
Class men-A Clipping From His

HSsboU anu NuS Cc'SHN ot NHo upper
Class men-A Clipping From His
Home Paper Started the Trouble.
Hazing at the United states Military
academy. West Point. has I'm the past
ten years been SO frequently followed
10y punishment and otherwise discoun-
tenanccd that It has practically become
n thing OF the past. 4 third OF Il cen.
fury ago the modes OF hazing were
varied and many OF them unique. \
certain graduate who hailed from
south Of Mason and DiSon's line and
from west OF the Allegheny noun
iains told this story OF his own eXpe
rlencc:
He was tall rawboued fellow
when he entered the academy ms n
"plcbe" and had been assigned To n
room with n bright little chap, with
whom he soon became very friendly
and confidential Several weeks after
he had entered the academy he recclv-
eel II letter from his good mother, In
which she had mclosed clipping from
their county newspaper.
The article mentioned the fact that
young Mr. had received an APP
polntmcut To- West Point and had left
for that place several days before; that,
whereas they extended congratulations
To the young man, the United States
government was To be much more
l'rently congratulated upon obtaining
~ one OF its embryo soldiers n man
from their community. the son OF such
"a 81 ~ al t-sair
had been equally noble, n young man
above reproach. OF great intellect and
bound TO make his mark I'm any call
ing Inc might elect, etc.
This article Inspired its recipient
with pride and pleasure. He found Il
impossible TO refrain from showing II
to his roommate and an hour after
having 0'ne so was nccosted while
going downstairs by an upper class
man who had been drilling him and
had been very severe. At this meeting
the upper class man. who was ABOUT
half his size. looked at him solemnly.
removed his cap and said: MIR. --.
humbly beg your pardon for having
been so stern with you. ! did not
know until few moments ago what n
distinguished and intellectual young
man you were. You honor us by be-
coming one OF u.s."
The pleased "plebc." never for n
moment seeming mischief, grinningly
replied: That's all right, Mr.. ---. l
forgive you"
That evening while the "plebe" and
his roommate were engaged In study
there was knock Mt their door, and
there entered the upper class man who
had accosted and apologized 10 the
'plebo' on the stairs. he being accom-
panied by n dozen other upper class
men. He thus addressed the "plebe''
"Mr. --, here are n number OF your
brother cadets who are DESTROYS OF
knowing what particularly dlstln.
gulshed man they have among them.
You will therefore kindly read what
your newspaper says of you"
The "plebc" was inclincd to demur,
but the determined manner and steely
eye OF the little upper class man com
PEELED obedience. Embarrassed. he
stumblingly read the whole article. at
the conclusion Of which the little upper
class man stated that the reader had
mumbled In parts, had failed TO cnun.
ciate distinctly and required the poor
''plcbe" TO read t. again. This having
been done, all shook hands with him
IN an apparently most deferentIaI man
ner. after which the little upper class
man stated that they would call the
next evening augmented by other ca
diets and that I'm the meantime the
"plebe" would commit the article to
memory and be In readiness to repeat
Ii when they called.
His manner brooked no disobedlence.
The call was made the next evening.
the number of cadets being nearly
double that Of the previous evening.
and he repeated the article. being
prompted by the little upper class
man Before the departure OF his Wis.
itors he was Informed that he would
be vir,ici the next evening by still
.,r>ater number OF cadets. md ne was
ordered TO be- prepared 10 deciaim the
article depicting his virtues
The VISIT was made and the dccIama.
ton rendered He was then Informed
that he would be again visited the fol.
lowing evening and would prepare
himself so MS 10 be able TO render the
article IN song This visit was made
The room being fairly packed with ca
diets. aud the poor "plobc" was re-.
CURED 10 stand ON n table md howl
the article from start 10 finish. FOR ne
had not the falntcst understanding of
bow 10 sing or turn n tune In after
years be- snid TINT 81 he had over had
any ccotism in bis composition II was
completely knocked ont OF him by hay
Ing 10 handle thnt article as he had TO