New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-03

1nod RIrhsnisor. ir'. captain. I'd Cs,,iy. L. 3
\. late assistant professor Of Enshsn, I. -
VI A. $40 I'd ~ a5i @. I. Punams s1s'
This volume is published more or
less as a companion piece to Rear Ad-
miral Earle's Life at the L. S. Naval
Academy" reviewed some months ago in
these columns. Captain Richardson de-
scribes most clearly and vividly the
training which is impressed at West
Point on candidates for commissions
in the regular army. Only an insider
there. a cadet first and an instructor
afterward. could enter so keenly into
the spirit Of the Military Academy and
exhibit so genuine and romantic an
attachment TO its cherished traditions.
The public knows little about the
real life of the cadet body, however
familiar it may be with the outer
aspects of the Point and its general
history. No student body anywhere
else in this country is kept SO Tree
from contact with the rest OF the
world. The atmosphere is clustered;
the training is intensive. SO there
has grown up an exceptionally power
full esprit de corps, enforced Win
tenacity not easily understood by the
students of other American colleges
where life is more responsive 10 OUT
side influences.
The college man of to-day is puzzled
by the fact that hazing- re-
garded as one of the stupidities OF the
distant past-has so long survived at
West Point Captain Richardson's
book. unconsciously rather than con-
sciously, solves the riddle. Hazmg IS
only a somewhat violent manifestation
of an attitude toward the "ple5e' new
conner which West Point regularizes.
Notwithstanding all official assurances
TO the contrary, IL will not be alto-
eether stamped out until that attitude
changes. "a.
The author says confidently: LAS a
matter of fact, hazing no longer EXISTS
at the Military Academy" But only
a few DAYS ago more cases OF haZihg
were reported.
This book is a thorough and ad-
mirable study of life as it is inside
the academy. Il may be regretted tina:
!. does not touch on the problem OF
West Points future, which has become
acute with our entry into the war. The
academy can supply now only very
tinv fraction of the officers the coun-
nv needs. II never was able TO meet
fuiIy the demands of the old army,
even when the latter was at us loWesI
cbb in numbers. Will there not have TO
be. after the war, many west POINTS,
instead Of one? And VIII not tue
course in these elementary. miiitary
schools have TO be curtailed, leaving
their graduates to complete their miil-
tarv education in advanced and more
technical service colleges? These are
questions which are now Weighing oil
the minds of those for whom west
Point. with it's splendid history, ma;
been an institution apart-the real
focus of our system of military educa-
ton.
CAPTAIN Richardson reminds US that
Edgar Allan Poe and James Abbott Nc.
Neill Whistler were both West POINT
cadets. Poe was dismissed in 1851,
after a stay of eight months, for re-
heated misconduct, including drinking
He applied subsequently to the super
intendent for letter of recommends
ton. to be used in seeking. through the
MARQUIS de la Fayette, commission,
Gin the Polish army He soon dropped
that idea. 49,,
Whistler was discharged in 1854,
when in the third year OF his course
for a deficiency in chemistry. lie was
called up in an examination IN chemis-
try. including mineralogy, and was
asked 20 discuss silicon.
"Silicon is a gas" he began. .,
THAT will do. Mr.. Whistler" said
the professor.
whistler was also short on history.
lie fell down in the classroom when
asked the date Of the battle OF buena
Vista. Said the instructor:
What! You do not know the GATE
Of the battle of Buena Vista? Suppose
YOU were to go to dinner and the COM
pany began to talk of the Mexican war:
and YOU, a West Point man. were asked
the date of this battle? What would
you do?' .,,,. =,
"Do ~ answered Whistler. why. !!
should refuse TO associate with people
who would talk about such things at
dinner"