New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-16
Te-klos IT. Ea~sr:While.0W0Dus/.'
The First and Second Glasses and the "Yearlings'
Have Opportunities for Fun and Social Activities
Mingled with Their Work, and the "Cubs" Catch
1t from Every Direction and at All Hours.

in the general parade and the upper class
men and their friends occupy seats In the
vicinity, while the entertainers give rare
exhibitions of their skill. In the course OF
the evening bits OF song relating to officers
and cadets, sarcastic and otherwise, arc
aptly rendered. Some OF these have good
effects. For instance. in the summer OF
1908, there was an officer named Willie
Pickles" whose disciplinary methods wers
especially odious TO those under him. The
following short verse was composed and
sung for his benefit one Sunday night:
Who is that behind the tank.
Holding his sword so that 1t wont ciank|
Dollars to nickels
It's Willie Pickles.
The Tactical crank.
The desired effect was produced. for the
officer never again was seen to perpetrate
the trick accredited to him.
Camp continues without a break until
about August 10 On this date the men,
hers of the first class quit camp and, by
special orders, proceed to Fort Hancock,
where they spend a week practising on
and firing the big guns there. On the night
before their departure camp illumination
the main event of the summer-takes place.
This Is one Of the oldest institutions OF
cadet life The first illumination was given
at West Point 120 years ago. in honor OF
the birth of the Dauphin of France. George
Washington was present at the time. and
from then to now this custom has been
followed in some form or another. II Is an
event looked forward to for half the year
and looked back to for the other half. The
whole affair Is sanctioned by the author-
ties and they take as much interest in IL
as do the cadets. The first class has charge
of the decoration of camp. which is dressed
up so as 10 resemble some foreign carnival.
All kinds OF shows are given, Wild
West" being the most In evidence. on this
night of all others, the plebes are free 10
wander around camp and enjoy the fun.
On all sides refreshments are served. and
each company vies with the others In
making ''brew'-a sub rosa mixture OF
water. sugar, ice. lemons and grapejuice.
The plebe brewers" test their skill on this
night TO please the visitors. and the fun
continues until late into the night. The
next morning. after packing their belong
ings, the class leaves for Fort Hancock and
the yearlings assume the temporary va
canCiCS. flTSl CLASS camp 10 ONtls anu 'hC
next big move will be graduation, to which
now all their eyes turn.
II there is one thing that the plebe
hates worse than death itself. that thing
is a yearllng and especially the yearling
corporal, whose pride in his new chew
rons is so great that he thinks IL Is sac
religious for a plebe even to gaze on them.
Camp to the yearling is little short or
heaven, for 1t is his first freedom or
speech for the last year. lie is now on
equal terms socially with the other upper
class men, and he can look around with
out meeting snarls at every turn. II he
is lucky enough to have been made cor
poral he is all the more happy. for he IL
free from the "yearlinG buck guard
tours" which rack and torture the year
ling so fearfully.