Manchester Democrat., 1909-11-24
A WEST POINT HAzIkG
1t Knocked All the Egotism Out
of the New Cadet.
SINGING HIS OWN PRAISES.
He Was Kept at 1t to His Own Morti-
fication and the Delight of the Upper
Class Men-A Clipping From His
Home Paper Started the Trouble.


Hazing Mt the United States Military
academy. West Point. has in the past
ten years been so frequently followed
by punishment and otherwise discoun-
tenanced that it has practically become
thing of tile past. A third Of CEN
tury ago the modes of hazing were
varied and many of them unique. A
certain graduate who hailed from
south of Mason and Dlxon's line and
from west of the Allegheny noun
tains told this story of his own expe-
rience:
He was tall. rawboned fellow
when he entered the academy as a
''plebe" and had been assigned to a
room with bright little chap. with
whom he soon became very friendly
and confidential. Several weeks after
he had entered the academy he receiv-
cd a letter from his good mother, in
which she had inclosed n clipping from
their county newspaper.
The article mentioned the fact that
young Mr.. - had received an ap-
pointment to West Point aud had left
for that place several days before: that.
whereas they extended congratulations
10 the young man, the United States
government was to be much more
greatly congratulated upon obtaining
MS one of its embryo soldiers man
from their community. the son of such
"A noble sire. whose sire and great-sires
had been equally noble. young man
above reproach. of great intellect and
bound TO make his mark in any call
ing lie might elect. etc.
This article inspired fits recipient
with pride and pleasure. He found 1t
impossible to refrain from showing it
to his roommate and an hour after
having done so was accosted 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 ut him solemnly.
removed his cap and said: "Mr. -. I
huInbly beg your pardon for having
been so stern with you. l did not
know until a few moments ago what a
distinguished and intellectual young
man you were. You honor us by be-
coming one of us"
The pleased "plebe." never for q
moment seeming mischief, grinningly
replied: "That's all right. Mr.. -. L
forgive you.''
That evening while the ''plebe" and
his roonimnte were engaged in study
there was IL knock Mt their door. and
there entered the upper class man who
had accosted and apologized to the
''plebe" ON the stairs. he being accom-
panied by IL dozen other upper class
men. He thus addressed the ''plebe:"
Mr. -, here are number of your
brother cadets who are desirous of
knowing what particularly distin-
guished man they have among them.
You will therefore kindly read what
your newspaper says of you"
The .'pleRe" was inclined to demur,
but the determined manner and steely
eye of the little upper class man CON-
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 enun-
ciate distinctly and required the poor
'plehe" TO read 1t again. This having
been done. all shook hands with him
in an apparently most dcferential man.
ner after which the little upper class
man stated that they would call the
next evening augmented by other ca
diets and that in the meantime the
'.plcbe" would commit the article to
memory and he in readiness to repeat
1t when they called.
His manner brooked no dlsobedIence.
The call was made the next evening,
the number OF cadets being nearly
double that CT the previous evening.
and he repeated the article. being
prompted by The little upper class