The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-10-06


OF the court martial and congress re
fused to reverse It. 1t was pathetic
scene when the seven took their ..las1
supper" in Grant hall. Although dis
graced. they were among the mos1
popular cadets in the institution. Now
for one act Of boyish folly they were
to go forth under a cloud, denied theil
chosen career and perhaps handi
capped for life.
No demonstration occurred at the
tables or after. Handclasps and low
spoken words alone marked the last
act of the tragedy-for it was a trag
edy to the whole student body. Sutton
included. To be expelled from West
Point is as much Of blow to the ca
Diet as stripping off his epaulets anG
breaking his sword is to an officer.
Rather high price to pay for mid
night frolic: Yet an army without
discipline would be like a government
without laws. 1t would fall apart like
a rope Of sand.
In the old days-and the old DAYS
were not as good as the present ones
whatever sentimentalists. fossils an(
pessimists may say to the contrary
in the old days hazing was much more
prevalent at West Point than now
For "plebe,' more fondly and fire.
Quently called "beast," his first yea,
answered literally to General Sher
mans definition of war. The uppe,
class men went on the theory that II
was necessary to knock off the new
comer's rough edges, and they did II
with a thoroughness that was positive
~ raw.
Torturing Schemes Numerous.
Among the most ordinary forms Of
hazing was "eagling," which consisted
in standing on ones toes, extending
the arms like wings and by bending
the knees and hips squatting success
sively-oh, say, hundred times.
Another favorite form was the
wooden willie," consisting Of an in.
finite number of difficult evolutions
with a gun, such as holding it out
straight at arms length and doing
other fearful and wonderful stunts
which would make ones muscles ache
even to think about. This was kept
up until the upper class men were sat.
1sfed or the victim fell exhausted.
Among the more unusual methods
of torment was that Of gathering ants,
say 100, accounting for all Of them,
then placing them in the victims lock
er. Usually the plebe's cap was the
first receptacle Of the ants, and, while
it was not stipulated that the cap
must be worn, cadets are not suppos-
ed to go about the parade grounds, at
West Point bareheaded. This little
item Of ant gathering was brought out
in an inquiry in 1908 when eight haz-
ers were dismissed from the academy,
only to be reinstated later by President
Roosevelt
There are two sides to the story,
however, as is usually the case with
things human. Many good men IA
miliar with army life and with the
Military academy have defended haz-
ing at West Point on the theory that
1t made men out Of the new students.
Among the stunts imposed by the up
per class men were various forms of
bracing and exercising which were
really beneficial, giving the beast" a
more erect carriage, hardening his
muscles. teaching him to obey orders
and generally licking him into shape.
Good For Swelled Craniums.
Another good effect of the hazing
system was to reduce any bump Of
conceit that might have developed in
the ''beast's" head. For example, if
he were Ibis fathers son." being the
offspring Of senator, a general. a
governor or a somebody. he might
have imbibed an, undue idea Of his
own Importance from the parental
greatness. Just about two weeks Of
West Point takes that out Of the high
est born. If at the end of the period
the plebe does not look upon himself
as worm it is not the fault Of the
upper class men.
A member Of the West Point class
of 1870 now an officer Of high rank in
active service tells this story about
the first day in plebe camp of Freder-
ick Dent Grant, son Of Ulysses.
An upper classman bent on nothing
else than having some fun with the
son Of the famous general asked him
on his advent into camp, while he was
still wearing the clothes of civil life,
(Which do you think Is the greater
man, General George Washington or
General Ulysses s. Grant?''