The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-09-29
A WEST POINT HAz|NG
It Knocked All the Egotism Out
of the New Cadet.
SINGING HIS OWN PRAISES.
He Was Kept at 1t to His Own Morti-
fieation and the Delight Of the Upper
Class Men--A Clipping From His
Home Paper Started the Trouble.

fcation ana tno Deif9nt OF tno upper
Class Men--A Clipping From His
Home Paper Started the Trouble.
Hazing at the United States Military
academy, West Point, has in the past
ten years been so frequently followed
by punishment and otherwise discoun-
tenanced that 1t has practically become
a thing of the past. A third Of cen
fury ago the modes of hazing were
varied and many of them unique. A
certain graduate who hailed from
south of Mason and Dixon's line and
from west of the Allegheny noun
tains told this story Of his own expe-
rience:
He was a tall, rawboned fellow
when he entered the academy as
"pebe" and had been assigned to a
room with a bright little chap, with
whom he soon became very friendly
and confidential Several weeks after
he had entered the academy he receiv-
ed letter from his good mother, in
which she had inclosed clipping from
their county newspaper.
The article mentioned the fact that
young Mr.. - had received an ap-
pointment 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
greatly congratulated upon obtaining
as one of Its embryo soldiers a man
from their community. the son of such
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 he might elect. etc.
This article inspired Its recipient
with pride and pleasure. He found 1t
impossible TO refrain from showing 1t
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 at him solemnly,
removed his cap and said: "Mr. -, I
humbly beg your pardon for having
been SO stern with you. did not
know until few moments ago what
distinguished and intellectual young
man you were. You honor us by be-
coming one Of u.s."
The pleased "plebe." never for a
moment seeming mischief, grinningly
replied: That's all right, Mr.. =.
forgive you
That evening while the "plebe" and
his roommate were engaged In study
there was knock at their door, and
there entered the upper class man who
had accosted and apologlzed to the
''plebe" on 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 particularly distin-
gulshed man they have among them.
You will therefore kindly read what
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, he
stumbingly 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
''plebe" to read 1t again. This having
been done. all shook hands with him
In an apparently most deferential 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
''plebe" would commit the article to
memory and be In readiness to repeat
1t 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 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 visited the next evening by a still
greater number of cadets and he was
ordered to be prepared to declaim the
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 prepare
himself so as to be able to render the
article In song. This visit was made,
the room being fairly packed with ca
diets. and the poor "plebe' was re-
qulred to stand on table and howl
the article from start to finish. for he
had not the faintest understanding Of
how to sing or turn tune. In after
years he said that II he had ever had
any egotism in his composition 1t was
completely knocked out of him by hav-
ing to handle that article as he had to
handle 1T. w. Duncan IN Lippin-
colts.