Year: 1867

Hood has thrown a poetic interest
around shirts, which has, if possible,
elevated the ordinary character of that
most useful under garment but to me
the very mention of the article recalls
some incidents which are the most anus
ing in my short life.


I was entered at the West Point
Military Academy, as cadet, In the
year lS5-, and, although very young
and charmingly modest at the COM
mencement of my career, l grieve to
record it, Benny Havens' and Cold
Spring received an undue share Of my
thoughts and time.


The military authorities have drawn
a charmed circle around West Point,
and any careless young gentleman de~
tected in crossing the magic line is Ger
tain to receive permission to return to
bis paternal mansion.


In summer there are certain places
designated on the Hudson where alone
the cadets are allowed to bathe, and
where an estimable old gentleman,
known by the ferocious title of 'The
Pirate supplied us, sub rosa, with to-
bacco and occasionally strong drink.


One extremely warm August atter'
noon we stole out Of camp, and, elud
ing the guard, commenced bathing at
secluded spot on the river. We had
been padlling about the shore for some
time, when, to our extreme disgust,
we deserted the tall form of Captain


-, coming down the path,


This sight caused us to Immediately
swim out, and we had scarcely done
so when we had the pleasure of seeing
the officer approach the place where
as we fondIy thought, our clothes were
concealed, and call to an orler'y, who,
selzing our habllaments, marched with
them up the hill


SO soon as we recovered from the
panic incident to this raid, we had an
aquatic debate as to the propriety of re-
turning to the shore, demanding our
clothes from the Captain and thus bra
wing the consequent arrest and trial, or
remaining in the water until the officer
had LETT the scene Of his exploit, when
we could trust to fortune to get back
undiscovered to the two.mile distant
encampment.


The latter plan of action was adopt
ed, and we remained on the bosom of
Father Hudson until the intense chill
indicated the danger of cramps. Our
return to the shore was followed by
search, which disclosed the mclancoly
fact that but one shirt and a solitary
necktie comprised the wardrobe of our
party, who, like the Muses., formed
magic nine.


One gentleman of our torlorn as
semhlage 0his warrior has since distin,
guished himself as a Confederate Gen.
eraD decorated his person with the
cravat, while my form was enveloped
in the shirt end with US leading the
advance, as became two well .dressei
individuals, we paraded IN a mournful
way toward camp


The unique appearance of the process
sion astonished ard scandalized even the
birds, who screamed their disgust at our
unseemly invasion Of their domain, and,
after. wandering about in disconsolate
manner, it was finally concluded to call
at the lodge Of a Mr.-(a New Yorker
known to all of uS and procure from
him sufficient number of necessar,
garments,


The plan of advance was as follows
The hero OF the cravau and myself, as
the most clothing, were depued to open
the parley, and, with many mlsgivinss
we took our positions behind couple
trees in front of the gate and commence
ed shouting tor the keeper of the lodge,


In u short time, after we had almost
exhausted our voices, an old lady made
her appearance at window.


'What do you want with all that air
noise 2


Were cadets and somebody has
stolen our clothes Tell Mr.--to come
here, was our response and my compan'
ion in his eagerness to assure her of the
truth unfortunately exhibited his cravat-
ed figure, which Immediately caused the
venerable dame to express 1t to be her
opinion that not only were we exhllerated
by spirituous potations, but that we
were behaving 'scandalous ard wuss
than Ingins.


She did not remain to favor us with
her reasons for believing that we resem.
bled in our condition tho aboriglnes Of
this country, but put off at full speed for
the house, where we atterward learned