The Holbrook news., 1912-05-31

est in developing the perfect
 type of the American man
 " West Point Is Uncle Sam's
 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. It 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 officers in the army of the United States the result Is worth all the trouble that it cost.
 Uncle Sam is not experimenting any more, says writer in the New York Evening World. He knows the best way to turn out men that are perfect physically and mentally. And so a comparison of Uncle Sam's methods with the free and easy athletic life of our college and club athletes is of some interest.
 In the first place boy must be strong and healthy and able to pass strict physical and mental examina- dons 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 him
 The moment youngster enters the academy every moment of his time is mapped out by his superiors and he is moved about like a pawn on chess board, with no volition of his, own. He has certain kinds of work to do. If he does it well he goes on smooth ly until his graduation. If he can't or will not do the work laid out for him and keep strictly to the regula- tions he is dropped and that's the end of it. 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 a study of the system by which the United States rears men to command it's armies I felt proud that I was an born and bred.
 In all the castled cities of Europe there is no more magnificent scene than West Point presents, perched on B hill, marvellous in the grandeur of It's massive architecture, looking down upon the broad sweep of a river be side which the Rhine is a mere mill stream On the reservation every thing was busy. Everywhere candi- dates were doing sentry duty, pacing up and down and paying little atten- lion to the storm or the cold sleet that was driven into their faces, as ane looking a lot of youngsters as any one could find anywhere in the world.
 An officer met me and we began a rip into a strange land as full of unexpected things as a visit to the 1oles-
 Uncle Sam is a strict guardian. One ,f his wards would find it hard to get | nto mischief. In the first place, the | .adet is not allowed a days leave. | His family might live a mile from the For two years he could lot go to make them 8 visit. The 'ule, like all of Uncle Sam's rules for is cadets, is as infexible as cast ron.
 People advocate the simple life" or those who want health and trength. No one who has never wis ted West Point knows what the sim ,le life is. West Point is the only lace I've even seen where the simple lie is enforced to the last letter t's a complex nfe-so complex that | ntricacies.
 Has No Pocket Money.
 While in West Point he is not al- owed to have money in his possession. Ie pays his clothing and his mess" n a credit system out of his govern aent allowance. On the door of each oom in the barracks was a printed Ingram showing what must be exact 7 the position of each article in the pom. Everything Is done absolutely ? rule. To get 8 new pair of socks. F to have a torn garment mended, 1e cadet must apply for permission l writing, and wait until his request onlcially approved. On the table l each room was a thick book of reg lations. The breaking of even the iKhtest of these meant demerit marks -106 demerit marks during six lonths, immediate expulsion from the A cadet might have 10l de Ierit marks. Enough dust on the top . 1elf of his closet to mark an inspect e of1ceTs white gloves-and out he pes.
 And the daily routine is ironclad. Ach cadet is checked up" nineteen ! mes c day. To be absent or even . Iomont late on one of these nineteen ( seastDng would mean dsmefat marks.