Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-11

devotion are taught by precept and ex-
among the cadets. it is there. The Mil
| itary Academy is no place for dudes,
nor for any boy who thinks himself
better than his companions, because the
such superiority, the slightest sign of
lself-appreciation, is almost certain to
call for discipline from his fellow-cadets
that will impress the virtue of humility
upon his mind forever.
1t is only the Upstairs. the "smarties %
as they are called. who have trouble.
No boy Is accepted at his own valua-
ton. 1t takes only q few weeks for his
comrades to find him out, and II he has
estimated himself too highly. they do not
hesitate to show him where discount
should be applied.
The selection of cadets by competitive
examinations. as is the custom in many
districts, gives boys of humble parentage
an opportunity to get a technical edu-
cation and commission in the army.
The cadets come from every class of
society, to meet on a common level.
Wealth and aristocratic connections are
apt to be to the disadvantage of a lad,
particularly II he is inclined to presume
upon them.
While the academy is ruled with the
severity of military law the govern
ment of the cadets in all that relates
to them as a community is based upon
the purest democracy. Political or
cial influence. whatever these may eff
rect In securing an appointment. can
not be of the slightest service to a
cadet after he is admitted to the acad-
envy. Then he stands upon his own in
d1vidual worth and merit He can OBJ
tain no assistance from without and
receive no favor from within. and
must yield ready compliance with
granted. no partially is permitted and
no contributions of money or supplies
from parents or friends are tolerated.
Percentage of Cadets.
The records of the parentage of
cadets furnish a suggestive study and
illustrate the representative and demo-
cratic character of the corps. You
cannot find among the pupils of any
public school a wider social range than
that from which the cadets at West
Point have been chosen. They come
from all classes and ranks of people,
and the largest number from the farm.
1t is an interesting fact often re-
ferred to at alumni reunions and in
addresses delivered to the cadets that
one of the most distinguished of the
ward wore the epaulets Of a major
general, was once a bootblack on the
streets of New York. and was plying
his trade when he noticed in the New
OTk f1eTdlO HI announcement OI d
vacancy at the academy for the dis
trict in which he lived. and applied for
it. Another of the traditions is that
one Of the best cadet officers that ever
wore the gray was the son Of a con-
vict, and although that fact was known
to every one of his comrades, it never
made the slightest difference in his So
cial standing. 1t increased his popu-
larity rather than otherwise, because
they recognized his manliness and en-
ro1 ,oIp
I do not know of any other institution
the same loyalty of comradeship could
have been displayed.
The captain of the foot ball team who
died from injuries received in game
last fall was the son of q policeman.
and his father, since deceased. is buried
by his side In the little military ceme
terry among the graves of some of the
most distinguished soldiers Of our his
tory.
The star men" in the class which
graduated last June-that is, the ten
cadets who stood highest in scholar
ship, department and military quail
one lad of Irish birth,
one Bohemian. one Canadian and seven
Among the number were
two sons of army officers, and the
fathers of the remainder were a
farmer. a grocer. a lawyer. physician,
a contractor and builder, a real estate
agent, a freight clerk and chief of
police.
What the Records Show.