SE —
By ELMO SCOTT WATSON
NE does not usually think of the
United States Military academy at
West Poin? as other than a man's
world, yet there have been several
women who have had such a part
in its history as to make their
names a part of the “West Point
tradition.” The first of these was
the woman known to fame as
“Captain Molly.”
In the cemetery at West Point stands a monu-
ment bearing a bronze tablet which shows In
bas-relief a stalwart woman standing behind a
cannon, ramrod and portfire In hand, and below
it is this Inscription: “In Memory of Margaret
Corbin, a Heroine of the Revolution known as
‘Captain Mollie; 1751-1800. Who at the Battle
of Fort Washington, New York. when her hus
band, John Corbin, was killed, kept his field
piece in action until severely wounded and there
after by act of congress received half the pay
and allowance of ‘A Soldier In the Service. She
lived, died and was buried on the Hudson river-
bank near the village now called Highland Falls.
In appreciation of her deeds for the canse of
liberty and that ber heroism may not be forgot-
ten, her dust was moved to this spot and the
memorial erected by the National Society of the
Daughters of the American Revolution in New
York State, 1026."
Such is the brief story which the tablet tells
but there are other details worth recording. Un-
til her death in 1800 she lived In a private home
near West Point, supplies for her being sent di-
rect from the secretary of war.
An interesting sidelight on that part of her
career was revealed recently when Capt. Walter
H. Wells, iptelligence and publicity officer at
West Point, In digging through some of the old
files at the academy, came across the manuscript
letters written by Maj. George Fleming. com-
mander of the arsenal and ordnance and mill
tary storekeeper at \West Point. to “The Hon-
orable Maj. Gen. Knox, Secretary of War.”
On October 7, 1786, Fleming wrote to Knox®
“I have sent another account of Mrs. Swim's for
taking care of Captain Molly up to the 27th
of September and have removed her to another
place, as 1 thought she was not so well treated
as she ought to be”
On July 8, 1787, there was another letter which
does not paint a very flattering portrait of the
Revolutionary heroine. It sald: “I have drawn
three orders on you, for the maintalnance of
Captain Molly, In favor of Mr. Denniston: one
is from January 19 to April 12, the other from
April 18 to July 5 1786. inclusive, which ac-
counts were lodged in the war office last fall
and are Mrs. Swim's. The other ig from Septem-
ber 28 to July 5, 1786, inclusive, and will be de-
livered by Mr. Denniston for Mrs. Randall, As
Molly is such a disagreeable object to take care
of, and 1 promised to pay them every quarter,
I have been obliged to borrow the money to pay
the people; If It can possibly be replaced, 1
should be very glad.”
On April 21, 1787, there was another letter
with a curious touch of an eternal feminine prob-
lem—something to wear! On that date Fleming
writes: “I am informed by the woman that takes
care of Captain Molly, that she is much in want
of Shifts. If you think proper to order three or
four, I should be glad” Two months later, on
June 12, he wrote again to Kngx “If the Shifts
which you Informed me should be made for
Captain Molly are done, 1 should be glad to have
them sent, as she complains much for want of
them.” Whether or not Captain Molly ever got
her “Shifts” is unknown, for there is no further
reference to the matter nor does her name again
appear MW the records after 1780,
In contrast to the militant spirit of “Captain
Molly,” both in war and In peace, was the spirit
of another woman whose name is written high
in the annals of West Point. She was Miss
Susan Warner, the daughter of a New York
city attorney, who upon retiring from practice
in the metropolis made his home on Constitution
island in the Hudson river opposite West Point.
He was accompanied there by his two daugh-
ters, Anna and Susan, and every Sunday after.
noon for years Miss Susan conducted a Bible
class for the cadets at the military academy.
Had she lived she would have found among the
names of the general officers in the World war
many who had attended her classes. A frail,
small woman who still clung to the poke bonnet
and the silk dress of the Civil war period, she
was rowed across from her Island home and
carried In a military conveyance to the hall set
apart for her In one of the academic bulldings.
She eame to be regarded as almost a part of
Retin corps of the Institution and on her
%
i
1~Mrs. Louise Regan, maker of chevrons for
West Point cadet uniforms for 50 years.
2~Letter to General Knox, secretary of war,
from the military storekeeper at West Point re.
ferring to an “Account for Mrs. Randall taking
care of Captain Molly twenty-four weeks, being
from June 7 to November 21, 1787, inclusive.”
3.~Miss Anna Warner, sister of Susan War.
ner, author of “The Wide, Wide World” and
Sunday school teacher for West Point cadets.
4~—~The monument to “Captain Molly” in the
cemetery at West Point.
S.~Inscription on the “Captain Molly” monu-
ment telling of her heroism in a Revolutionary
war battle,
6.—Picture of Cadet Henry Moore Harrington
framed in Indian beadwork,
&
9 ®
death she was buried with military honors be
side the cadet monument in the West Point
cemetery. Her sister, Anna, following her wishes,
gave Constitution island to the United States gov-
ernment, and fheir home there is preserved as
a memorial
jut Miss Susan's connection with West Point
was not her only claim to fame. Under the pen
name of Elizabeth Wetherell, she wrote two
books, “The Wide, Wide World,” published in
1851, and "“Queechy,” published In 1852. which
attained a wide popularity. Of “The Wide, Wide
World™ it has been sald that “it was the most
popular novel ever written by an American with
the single exception of Mre Stowe's famous
story, ‘Uncle Tom's Cabin." It attracted as much
attention in Epgland as in America and It was
transiated into French, German and Swedish,
However, Miss Susan was indifferent to this
fame for it is recorded that she “never liked”
her book, “The Wide. Wide World.” Perhaps
she unconsciously anticipated the criticism that
followed its publication, A French critic mary
eled at America’s reception of a three-volume
novel devoted “to the history of the moral prog-
regs of a girl of thirteen™ An American critic
described it as having little story, not a semb.
lance of melodrama, and declared that its sue.
cess was “purely artistic,” It Is one of the liter.
ary traditions of New York that, after the read.
erg for George P, Putnam had advised against
it, he was persuaded by his mother, who read
the manuscript, to publish it,
Long before Miss Susan became the Sunday
school teacher for the cadets there was another
woman who had an Important place In cadet
life at the academy. She was Miss Blanche
Berard, who was postmaster there for half a
century. Appointed by President Polk in 1847,
Miss Berard held her position there until 1897
and few of the cadets, perhaps, realized that
back of her pleasant smile, as she passed out
their mail to them, there was the bitter memory
of a tragedy In ber life. As a young girl Miss
Berard was engaged to an officer attached to the
acndemy. One afternoon this officer rode his
#pirited horse, of which he was very proud, to
the post office to demonstrate its good points,
But the horse became frightened suddenly and
threw the officer off, killing him. So the woman
postmaster remained “Miss” Berard to the end
of her days, true to the memory of her first and
only love. But one big thrill came to her In
her later life. While on leave of absence from
her duties at West Point, which she spent In Eu.
rope, Miss Berard had the honor of being pre
It Is an interesting colncidence that the pres
ent postmaster at West Point Is a grandniece of
Miss Berard and that there has also been trag.
edy In her life. For she is Miss Grace Alleen
Harrington and she is the rughter of Lient
enth cavalry who perished with Gen. George A
June 25, 1876, and who was one of the three of.
ficers whose bodies were never for
not Identified after the battle
Not only is the ignorance of her fat
one of the tragic incidents In the life of the
ind, at least,
her's fate
woman who {8 postmaster at West
so many of Custer's officers were one adel
but there is another tragic
has carried through life-—g 1 NEmary of her moth
er. who suddenly disappeared se
the Custer hattle y
nowadays” Miss Harrington saves. “but at that
time It was ascribed to grief and the nneertain
8
imes we heard from Indians that a |}
In black had been seen on the
reports came from Indian territory. We invest!
years we found her in Texas where a severe at
she was never able to give any account
wanderings while she was gone or why she was
there”
As Miss Harrington stands behind her desk
in the post office amid the busy turmoil of mall
distribution for the 1.260 cadets at the academy
and an equal number of officers and regular sol
diers, she can look up to twa pletures on the
wall which serve as a link between the blood
stained bamiefield of the Little Big Horn In far
off Montana and the peaceful banks of the Hud.
son. One of them is a picture of her father In
the regimentals of the Seventh cavalry, the uni.
form which he wore on that fatal day In June
more than half a century ago. The other ls a
picture of Cadet Henry Moore Harrington, It is
enclosed In a frame made of beads and ‘hese
beads were obtained by her mother from Indians
in Dakota-perhaps members of the very same
tribe who overwhelmed Custer and Harrington
and all the other gallant officers and troopers of
the Old Seventh.
of perfection In attire and one of the require
ments for that perfection is perfectly aligned
and perfectly sewn chevrons worn as the In.
signia by the officers and non-commissioned of-
ficers In the corps of cadets. Those ornate chey-
rons of gold lace, black braid and broadcloth
are very difficult to make, since they require
great skill and experience in the making. but
there I= a woman who has proved herself capable
of the job.
For more than fifty years without a brea:
Mrs. Louise Regan of Highland Falls, N. Y.. has
made every chevron, gold or gray. worn by the
straightstanding West Pointers. She really start-
ed sewing them when shé was ten years old
but her uninterrupted service with the cadet
store of the academy began when she was eight.
een and since 1870 all the corporals’ stripes and
insignia from sergeants up to regimental eom-
manders have come from her hands, She Is
past seventy years of age now and she has made
stripes for many cadets who are generals in the
army today.
It is difficult, says Harris P. Scott, manager
of the cadet store, to turn the straight rolled
gold lace into the curves necessary to make
those long V's turned up without drawing or
wrinkling the material, Five yards of gold lace
are required to make a pair of chevrons for a
regimental adjutant of the corps of cadets,
There is also the background of broadcloth with
the silk striping between the gold lace. This
lace in of real gold and is imported from France,
It is all hand labor and the material must be
worked In cool weather as hand perspiration
deadens it. Bhe works from January to June
each year making chevrons for the cadet officers
to-be in June after graduation,
Mrs, Regan is a widow and without children.
8he was born In Highland Falls, moving to
Yonkers upon her marriage and then returned
to her birthplace. The cadet store has sent
her the work wherever she was, Her health is
splendid and though the work is hard on the
eyes she hopes to continue as the only maker
of the splendid gold and gray and black chev
rons that grace the uniformed sleeve of the
A MEATIER MEAL
He was a thin, ragged urchin and
he had crawled In under the circus
tent. The manager nabbed him. “Do
sou? be thundered “We make meat
of them for the lions, Here, Carl,
throw him into the long cage.”
The youngster looked up st him
and said, “Oh, mister, Ie! me see the
show for nothing and I'll have the
fattest boys in the place crawling un
der tne tent tomorrow." Boston Ex
ning Transcript.
Right and Wrong
“Now Arthur,” sald the primary
teacher, “If 1 put 11 plums In your
will you have?”
“Eleven,” sald Arthur.
eaten four? Think again”
“I'd have 11.” said the boy,
inside and seven outside.”
Equal to Emergency
Capin Now, suppose you are on
duty one dark night. Suddenly a
person appears from beliind and
wraps two arms round you so that
you sony?
Cndet—Let go, honey.— Edmonton
julletin,
Eid Below Value
Young Man—Tommy, 1]
your sister thinks of me and I'll give
you a nickel
Tommy—Aint a good inugl
more than that?
Eagle,
It Didn't Work
Family Paper—If not convenient
to move househo
piece of furniture
We tried his and the wife mn
us come back — Doston Evening
I'ranscript.
and then bent it
Thanks
“An author's life must be 8 thank
iese task.”
“Not at all
back with many thanks”
PROOF
The lecturer was getting warmed
“And, friends,” he sald impressive.
¥., “1 tell you once again, medicine
never did anyone any good.”
“That's not true” came a voice
from the back of the hall,
“Not true?” echoed the lecturer
“What do you mean?”
“Medicine did my family a lot of
good,” went on the heckler.
“But, my friend,” sald the lecturer
“you have no way of proving that
statement.”
“Oh, yes, | have,” replied the heck.
ler, “my father owns a drug store”
Practically Minded
“Daughter,” sald her mother, “has
that young mag you are going with
ever mentioned the subject of mar
ring re 7"
“Oh, yes!” yawned dayghter, “but
1 told him dad was so hard up he
afford tires for the car,
let alone a husband for me.”
MUTUAL HOPE
Jill—1 trust,
riage will not
ther's will
Jack—1 hope not, too
thty hard
nge it
Those Americans
“How long bas America been dis
covered?
“About 400 yenrs.”
“There you are, and yet | read In
1.000-year-old giant
trees of Americn—you can't believe
»”
anything these Americans say."
No Danger
Back-sent Drive wr-—Johin, be care
ful, There's a car behind you.
John (patientiyv)—But, my dear,
I've never hit anything behind me
yet
34
6 |7 |B
14
51
Horizontal,
1--Vast plains of 8 A.
6In a vessel
11—Original manuscript
12--A measure of weight (abbr)
{4 Negative
16eixint
18-~Title for adult male (abbr.)
1TeEvargreen tree
1fuiCoin
12-Tool for cutting weeds
23Entreaty
26Capsules of legumes
26—Prefix meaning away
27Makes holy
$8. Prefix meaning out
$9-~A king of Bashan
10-Severe toll
f1—Prefix meaning from
33-—8mall dogs
$5-—8peck
$7-=A leguminous plant
$8 Bluish-green gem
40 Mental obscurity
$1-Alternative conjunction
42 Preposition
43like
45-~Back, a prefix
48-—Elevation
$0-~A weasel like animal
fleeCommands
Vertical,
1=Coral animals
2-=Mother
8-=Verbal quibble
¢-Minute particle
Thue
6—dleasure of area
J-Infant
8-To open
$Expressing surprise
10-Hardship
13~Beslege
16-One who restraing
18-—Personal pronoun
20--Work
21i-Rapture
22-—A command to halt
24-—Encourages
25~-8acred pong
28Contradict
32Produces
34~Bouthern state (abdr)
238A preposition
38--Gift
25-—Bed of 8 wild beast
42 Prefix meaning three
44-~Turt
46Afternoon (abbr)
47-—Personal pronoun
43-—Preposition
49Point of compass