Arizona republican., 1910-02-23
EGoTIsM IS ROUTED.
West Pointer Had to Read and Sing
 Own EuIoey.

1 Hazing at the United States military academy, West Point, has in the last ten years been so frequently followed | by punishment and otherwise discoun- ! tenanced that it has practically become a thing of the past A third of a cen | tury ago the mode of hazing varied,
 and many of them unique. A certain graduate, who hailed from south of
 the Mason and Dixon line and from
 west of the Alleghay mountains, told
 this story of his own experience. He was a tall. raw-boned fellow
 when he entered the academy as a
 ''plebe," and had been assigned to ! room with a bright little chap. with
 whom he soon became very friendly
 and confidential. Several weeks after
 he had entered the academy he re-
 ceived a letter from his good mother,
 in which she inclosed a clipping from ! their county newspaper. The article
 mentioned the fact that young MT. - | had received an appointment to West Point and had left for that place sev- eral days before: that whereas they ex- | tended congratulations to the young | man. the United States government | was to be much more greatly congra-
 tulated upon obtaining as one of its embryo soldiers a man from their community. the son of such noble sire. whose sire and great-sire had been equally noble, a young man above
 reproach. of great intellect and bound to make his mark in any calling he might elect. etc. This article inspired it's recipient with pride and pleasure;
 he found it impossible to refrain from
 showing it to his room- mate. and an hour after doing 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:
 MT -, I humbly beg your pardon for having been so stern with you. did not know until few moments ago what a distinguished and intellectual young man you were. You honor us by becoming one of us"
 The pleased "plebe," never for a moment scenting mischief. grimmly re- piled, That's all right, MT. -; for
 give you"
 That evening. while the "plcbe" and
 his roommate were engaged in study.
 there was knock at their door. and
 there entered the upper class nan who
 had accosted and apologized to the
 ''plebe" on the stairs. he being accom-
 panied by a dozen other upper class
 men He thus addressed the ''plebe":
 "Mr. -. here are a number of your
 HatS hn
 knowing what distinguished man they have among them. You will there
 fore 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 pelled obedience; embarrassed, he stumblingly read the whole article, at the conclusion of which the little up- per class man stated that the reader had mumbled in parts. had failed to enunciate distinctly, and required the poor "plebe" to read it again. This hav- ing been done. all shook hands with him in an apparently most deferential manner. after which the little upper class man stated that they would call the next evening, augmented by other cadets, and that in the meantime the "plebe' would commit the article to memory and be in readiness to repeat 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 he repeated the article, being prompted by the little upper class man. Before the departure of his visitors he was informed that he would be vis- ited again the next evening by still | greater number of cadets. and he was | ordered to be prepared to declaim the 1 article depicting his virtues.
 The visit was made and the decla | nation rendered. He was then in | formed that he would be again visited | the following evening. and would pre- pare himself so as to be able to rem der the article in song. This visit was made, the room being fairly packed | with cadets. and the poor "plebe" was required to stand on a table and howl the article from start to finish, for he | had not the faintest understanding of !, how to sing or turn a tune. In after years he said that if he had ever had any egotism in his composition it was knocked out of him by hav- ing to handle that article as he had to handle it.-J. w. Duncan, in Lippin- cott's