Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-11-12
A WEST POINT HAz|KC
II Knocked All the Egotism Out
OF the New Cadet.
SINGING HIS OWN PRAISES.
Ne Was KEEP, o, u to His Own m0r'i'
hestion and the Delight OF the Upper
Glass Men-A Clipping From His
Home PAPER Started the Trouble


Glass Msn-A Clipping From His
Home Paper Started the Trouble
Hazins at the United States Military
acad.my. West Point. has IN tue pasl
ten years ls-rn 81 freqn"nlly tohoNeu
by punishment aud otherwise discoun-
iena u, I'd that Il has practically become
q thing OF the past. A third ~ cen
fury ago the m,-drs of hhzlhg were
varied aud many "f them unique.
certain graduate who hailed 'roin
south OF Mason and Dixons hne any
from west az the Allegheny mol
iains told this story II his own expo
ri-uCp:
He was tail. rawboned fellow
when BIZ entered the academy Ms
"plebe" and had been assigned 10
room with brighI lille chap. WIN
whom be smnu became very rriehui!
aud confidential Several weeks aite'
be had entered the academy he receN'
ed u letter from his good m"ther' III
which she bad inclosed clipping from
their county new -Nalet'
The article mentioned the fact that
Young Mr.. had received an ap
pniptment to West Point aud 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
greatly congratulated upon obtaining
as one OF its embryo soldiers a man
from their community. the son OF such
a noble sire. whose sire aud great-sires
had been equally noble. a young man
above reproach. Of great Intellect and
bound TO make his mark In any call
ing he might elect. etc.
This article inspired its recipient
with pride and pleasure. He found II
impossible 10 refrain from showing II
to his roommate and an hour h'ef
having done 80 was accosted Vile
going downstairs by an upper class
man who had been drilling hil.. 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: "Mr. -.
humbly beg your pardon for having
been SO stern with you did not
know until few moments ago what a
distinguished aud intellectual young
man you were You honor US by be
coming one OF u.s."
The pleased ''plebe," never for a
moment scenting mischief. grinningly
replied: That's all right, MIR. -.
forgive you"
That evening while the ''plebe" and
his roommate were engaged In study
there was d knock at their door, and
there entered the upper class man who
had accosted and apologized to the
"plebe" Oh the stairs he being accom-
panied by dozen other upper class
men. He thus addressed the ''plebe:'
"Mr. -, here are number Of your
brother cadets who are DESTROYS OF
knowing what q particularly distin
guished man they have among them
You will therefore kindly read whaI
your newspaper says Of you"
The "plebe" was inclined to demur
but the determined manner and steely
eye Of the little upper class man com
PEELED obedience. Embarrassed, hs
stumblingly read the whole article. al
the conclusion of which the little upper
class man stated that the reader hat
mumbled In parts, had failed to eDun
ciate distinctly and required the pool
'plebe" to read It again. This having
In an apparently most deferential man
ner, after which the little upper cias'
man stated that they would call til,
next evening augmented by other ca
diets and that In the meantime the
"plebe" would commit the article L
memory and be in readiness to repea
It when they called
His manner brooked no disobedience
The call was made the next evening
the number Of cadets being nearly
double that Of the previous evening
and be repeated the article. being
prompted by the little upper elias.
man. Before the departure of his Wis
itOrs he was Informed that be would
be visited the next evening by still
greater humber OF cadets, and be wa.
ordered 10 be prepared to declaim tn,
article depicting his virtues.
The visit was made and the declama
ton rendered. He was then informed
that he would be again visited the fol
lowing evening and would prepar,
himself so as to be able to render tn,
article in song. This visit was made
the room being fairly packed with ca
diets. and the poor "plebe" was re
quired to stand on table and how
the article from start to finish. for h,
had not the falntest understanding O
bow to sing or turn tune In afte
years he said that II he had ever hat
any egotism in his composition 1t wa
completely knocked out of him by hav
ing to handle that article as he had t,
handle it,. w. Duncan in Lippin
cott's.
| Foley's Kidney Rem dy will cure an