Year: 1879

The drill for Tuesday was the school
the soldier, mounted, which took


!siace in the great riding hall. As the
ts3e indicates, the drill is an exhibition of
idividual skill and horsemanFhip. Il is


ssid to be great favorite with the boys,


bpt the severity OF the training they have


to undergo before attaining the degree


of skill deemed necessary for an officer


is something they never forget. The


record of broken arms, strained wrists,
| dislocated shoulders, fractured legs and


days spent in the hospital by reason Of
limbs rubbed raw, attests the fact that
| there is no child's play in the teaching


OF West Point. They don't do things
here for fun, aud little sympathy is


wasted on the unfortunate youth who in
Lis early efforts in the saddle comes to


grief with broken bone. He is more
Ekely to get reprimanded for his awk-
wardness than to be condoled with.
3


hall when the drill began, too large, in.
deed, to find places in the small galleries


of the place; so, when these were full of


ladies, the more agile among the male


spectators climbed up on the window
siIls and the like places. while other


crowds besieged each OF the four large


doors Of the building. This is the one
| occasion which the observer might be


Justified in supposing that the work
! done was good deal for show, because


here it is that the excited spectators APP


plaGd every boy who goes through well.
Let him take every head and he is sure


of round of applause. The comments


OF the spectators are very often amusing.
When the boys commenced to use their
reyolvers, some one in the gallery anx-
iously inquired if they had ''real bullets"
in them, and seemed rather relieved


when assured that they did not, and


there was consequently no danger Of any
stray lead finding its way upward. When
the order was given to dismount and
mouut at speed the area of the hall was
Instantly q scene Of galloping horses,
riders jumping off others jumping on,
some down in the tan bark, others cling
ing to the name and bride desperately
struggling to get astride, horses rearing
and plnnging and generally a remarkable
lively time for all; then the women began


to utter little screams, which increased


to general shout when one of the boys
(tllere was no saddIes) went clear over


and plowed up the bark in the middle of


r1lsh of galloping beasts to the imminent


danger of his brains. "Why, this is
quite dangerous - exclaimed an individ


as.in the gallery, indignant at the idea


risks. The good gentleman seemed to


suppose that the services were merely
for show. 1t is needless to say that the
boys did well; they always do: but while
none fall below certain level, there are
vast differences between them above that
level. Some of the boys take wonder
fully well to the work, and feel as much


at home cutting and slashing about on
bare backed horse as in a rocking chair,
while to others it never comes easy.
They do the work, but ii is hard. The


actual movements of the drill with sabre
and pistol are few. The soldier is start
ed from the company to make the circuit
Of the hall. Putting his horse to gal


Iop, and he begins by firing at the head
of a pos, returns his pistol to the holster,
draws his sabre, and, at full speed, makes


thrust at an other post, then a cut at


one lying on the ground, then jumps


hurdle, and in jumping slashes a head


from post beside it, or thrusts at sus-
pending ring on level with his own


head; and lastly, makes a right thrust at


another head on post. To go through


this performance ON horse without q


saddle, and big pair of spurs ones heels


is not an easy task, and if anyone thinks


it is, he had better try it in the nearest


riding school. The different cuts and


thrusts are, Of course as against infantry


and cavalry.