New Britain herald., 1928-07-28
military ACADEMY
PLEbES GROW UP
Pass Term Of Probation and Are
Officially Recognized

OF trials and become yearlings, and
! their places as the lowest things on
earth have been taken by new
group of Mr. Dumbguards.
The day upon which the plebes at
the military scademy round out the
first year of their stay is known as
"Recognition Day." for then and only
then do they become fit companions
i for the upper classmen, as a group.
The upper classmen do not even no.
| tce the existence of plebes other
| than those few whom they may
| choose to recognize so that no
plebe has established friendly rela-
tons with more than a limited num-
Der of his bctters until Recognition
Day.
On that day, according to custom,
as the companies march through the
sally port into the barracks areaway,
each plebe gives the upper classman
in front of him a rousing good kick
and raises him off the ground if he
can. Then the company is brought
into company front, the front rank
about faces, and the members of the
higher and lowest classes shake
hands, call each other by first names.
and enter into real fraternal rela-
,icns.
Kicked Into Recognition
This year the custom was broken
by the desire of the two classes to
secure recognition without SO much
al
ed through the sally port the tradi-
tional kicks were administered with
the usual yigor. but then. immedi-
ately. the upper classmen turned and
were pushed around and shook
hands in a sudden spontaneous burst
OF friendliness. The plebes. with two
New Britain cadets among them,
We're yearlings at last.
A surprise awaited the new third
class (second year, men, for they
discovered that the yearlngs who
had subjected them to the worst
gruellings were now their best
friends. This is customary. any sort
ton, constant admonitions to lift
your chest or the strict disciplining
which takes the place OF hazlng, is
really mark of favor. The trouble |
is that for the whole year the plebe !!
does not realize it.
The upper classes are now in sum-
mcr camp, while the new plebes are |
housed in the regular barracks.
Fourth Of July was celebrated by |
the "kay-dets," but in a novel way. |
The new yearlings had been given !
previous instructions, and when a
bngle sounded early on the morning |
of the Fourth, one man from each |
tent dashed madly out to particu-
lar spot. where first classmen re-
directed them to the stores for the |
issuance of flrecrackers. Soon |
long line was waiting for these to |
be issued, but the army man in
charge appeared and told them
smilingly that there were mo fire.
crackers" Then the first year men
burst into a howl of laughter and
the yearllngs realized that they had
been tricked.
"Draggcrs" Get Busy
This put the yearlings in a venge-
ful mood. and clearly something had
- be done to assuage their feelings.
"Dragging" squads were according
ly organized in each company and
the morning was spent in rough
housing. Dragging consists OF COW
cring a cadets body with shoe polish
and the pomade used for cleaning
brass and of rubbing things into his
hair. The dragging squad is COM
posed of about five or six men. VINO
fall upon members of their class VINO
have done things to make themselves
more or less unpopular. And so 1t
happened that much Of the morning
was spent in supposedly secret drag
cling in the tents, while officers walk
I'd by. heads averted. with firm in
,cntions of not hearing or seeing
anything that was going on.
One OF the manifold angles of the
West Point honor system is brought
out during the camping season.
Guards are posted about the camp at
all times, but the cadets come and
20 quite freely As they leave camp,
however, they are challenged by the
nearest guard and reply with a curt
'all right" On their return the
same formula is repeated.
This formula frequently puzzles
visitors who hear it, but it Is easily
explained by the absolute reliance
The academy authorities place upon
4 cadets word. The AL right upon
camp means that the cadet,
v lille away from the guarded en-
closure will not do anything which
he is not supposed to do, while that
on the return signifies that he has
not violated any rules
('la sified Ad user in the Her