The Washington herald., 1909-06-12

West Point. n. Y, June 1L-Secretar1
OF War Dickinson said to the graduating
cadets OF the United States Military
Academy just before he handed them
Their diplomas this morning:
West Pointers have so generally main
tained the standard OF honor. obedience
TO law, love of liberty. and fidelity &c
duty that the name is always accepted as
.prima facIa evidence that its bearer is al
that is implied in its highest sense In the
fine old term. a gentleman
There wore IO3 graduates. but only 1Ol
will enter the United States army. Two
Ling c. Chen and Ying H. wen-win &c
back 10 China and become colonels OF
generals, or something like that in the
Chinese army at once.
In addition 10 bright skies which dis
PEELED the gloom that has hung over the
Point since Tuesday and prevented most
or the outdoor exercises were frightened
by the presence Of a distinguished lot OF
visitors Besides the Secretary of War
and Gen. Horace Porter. the chief speak
er OF the day. the venerable John Bigelow
came over from his country home in
Highland Falls and was warmly well
coined,
salute Secretary Dickinson
Secretary Dickinson arrived at the gar
rison at s:S5 O'Clock in the morning, and
as the carriage containing him and Col
Scott, the superintendent Of the post,
came out on the edge OF the parade
grounds salute Of seventeen guns was
fired and the cadet battalion. which was
drawn UP in front Of the barracks facing
the parade grounds, presented arms.
Word was passed for a review. and the
cadet companies soon began 70 swing out
on the sward. After they had been duly
formed they were presented 70 Col Sib-
ley the commandant- He, in turn. pre-
sentea them 10 Secretary Dickinson and
Col. Scott.
Orders were then given FOR a review.
The military reviewers, accompanied by
Gems. Webb and Porter. passed down the
lines and to the rear. Just as Mr.. Dick
Inson reached the extreme left Of the line
he paused to cast his eye along the align
ment and nodded his head In approval.
The reviewing party had just passed
Company z when there was a slight COM
motion in the rear rank. A cadet who
had become overwrought with the excite
ment of the occasion. and who had not
been strong for some time. tainted and
fell over backwards. The reviewing party
knew nothing Of IT, Two file-closers re-
vived the young man and then led him
10 the barracks. He felt terribly cut I'D
about il, and his mates asked as a special
favor that his name be kept out Of print
As soon as the reviewing party resumed
their places the cadets marched passed,
and the outdoor ceremonies were ended.
Graduating Exercises.
The crowd FASTENED 10 the memorial
hall for the graduation exercises.
After the onlookers had been seated
the graduating class marched in and was
greeted with great applause. Chaplain
Travers then read the West Point grad
uation prayer, an eloquent invocation
composed several years ago by the Rev.
Herbert Shipman. now Of New York City,
and then Gen. Horace Porter was intro
duced to make the chief address.
Secretary Dickinson told the boys that
the eyes OF the nation were on them.
and said that he was sure that they had
"the unqualified admiration Of the moth
ers, sisters. and sweethearts." who were
present. That made the Secretary solid
with al, and he proceeded to read his
formal speech.
After this had been read and the boys
had received their diplomas. they started
for New York, where they spent the
evening at the Casino.