Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1912-04-29

est In developing the perlecl
type of the American man.
~ West Point is Uncle Sans
principal factory. and there
men are developed under conditions
as rigorous as those that made the
warrior OF ancient Sparta the greatest
fighters OF their time. 1t Is no boys
play to take a course at West Point, but
when the four years OF hard work Is
over and the cadets become ofhcers
| in the army of the United States the
result is worth all the trouble that II
cost
Uncle Sam is not experimenting any
more. says a writer In the New YORK
Evening World He knows the best
way to turn out men that are perfect
physically and mentally. And so
comparison of Uncle Sans methods
with the free and easy athletic life OF
our college and club athletes is OF
some interest.
In the first place a boy must be
strong and healthy and able to pass
strict physical and mental examina-
lions before he can get into west
Point. But on entering he is only
good raw material. The four-year
grind brings out the best that is IN
i him.
The moment youngster enters the
academy every moment OF his time is
mapped out by his superiors and he is
rmoved about like a pawn on a cness
board, with no volition OF his own.
He has certain kinds Of work to do.
If he does 1t well he goes on smooth
ly until his graduation. II he can
or will not do the work laid out Tor
him and keep strictly to the reguia-
lions he is dropped and that's the
end of 1t. Uncle Sam has no time to
waste puttering around with unsatis-
factory material-and there Is always
plenty Of good material at the gates.
stirring Scenes at West Point.
On arriving at West Point to make
study Of the system by which the
United States rears men to command
its armies felt proud that | was an
American, born and bred.
In all the castled cities OF Europe
there is no more magnificent scene
than West Point presents, perched on
hill, marvellous in the grandeur OF
It's massive architecture, looking down
upon the broad sweep of river be
side which the Rhine is mere mill
stream. On the reservation every
thing was busy. Everywhere candi-
dates were doing sentry duty, pacing
I'D and down and paying little atten;
ton to the storm or the cold sleet
that was driven into their faces, as
fine looking a lot of youngsters as any
one could find anywhere In the
world.
An officer met me and We began a
trip into strange land as full OF
unexpected things as a visit to the
poles.
Uncle Sam is strict guardian. One
of his wards would find 1t hard to get
into mischief In the first place. the
cadet is not allowed a days leave,
His family might live mile from the
reservation. For two years he could
not 90 to make them a visit. The
rule. like all of Uncle Sans rules for
his cadets, is as inflexible as cast
iron.
/ People advocate the Simple life
for those who want health and
strength. No one who has never Wis
! tied West Point knows what the sim
pie life Is. West Point is the only
, place I've even seen where the simple
! life Is enforced to the last letter
it's a complex life-so complex that
it's a wonder any boy can master its
intricacies.
Has No Pocket Money.
While In West Point he Is not al
lowed to have money in his possession
He pays his clothing and his mess
on credit system out of his govern
ment allowance. On the door Of each
room in the barracks was printed
diagram showing what must be exact
ly the position of each article In the
room Everything is done absolutely
by rule. To get a new pair of socks
or to have torn garment mended
the cadet must apply for permission
In writing. and wait until his request
Is officially approved. On the table
In each room was a thick book of reg
ulations. The breaking of even the
slightest of these meant demerit marks
LOG demerit marks during six
months. immediate expulsion from the
! academy A cadet might have l04 de-
~ merit marks. Enough dust on the top
kaelf Of his closet to mark an inspect
sRcer's white gloves-and out he
niaily routine is ironclad
kchecked up" nineteen
= absent or even a
N these nineteen
merit marks