""rrmr t '"f xwrr-jr
THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE-WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 25, 1890.
WHERE UNCLE SAM
GETS HIS SOLDIERS
METHODS OF EDUCATION AT
WEST POINT.
Processes Through Which tho Raw
Cadot Is Passed in His Evolution
Into a Trainod Military Ofllcor.
From a Papor Contributed by tho
Lato Qoorgo E. Waring, Jr., to
"Tho Outlook."
The training of tho cadet at West
l'olnt Is only Incidentally the technical
training of the soldier; It Is. above
this and above all, the forming of char
acter, the Implanting of a high stand
ard of duty nnd tho Inciting of an am
bition for Ite unremitting performance.
It develops an Intelligent manliness,
which pursues the happiness of always
doing one's best. The opportunity for
education there offered Is open to all
classes. So far as the chances of se
curing a codetehip go, all are born
free and equal. No one Is Interested to
Increase or to restrict the number of
admissions. Each congressional dis
trict of the United States and each ter
ritory is entitled to have one pupil in
the academy. The president may ap
point ten from the country nt largo,
and one from the District of Columbia.
Political Influence seems to fall here of
the force It so often exerclnes over oth
er appointments. Sons of officers of
th" army and navy frequently (and
properly) find favor with the president.
Members of congress, ambitious that
their nominees should do them lasting
credit, and glad to evade local pressure,
often leave their selection to competi
tive tests among the graduates of
schools of their districts. The appoint
ment is for life, the appointee will al
ways be In a conspicuous position, and
ills career will be watched by the com
munity from which he comes. It is a
ruse where a mistake in selection must
be avoided, if possible.
KNTRANCB TESTS.
Admission Is based on only such at
tainments as are within tho jeueh of
all. Any young man between the ages
of 17 and 22, who is able to pass an ex
amination In reading, writing, arith
metic, geography. American history
anil Kngltah grammar, and who is of
sound body and mind, Is acceptable.
The purpose of the examination Is not
so much to find out what a young man
knows or remembers of what he has
learned on these subjects, us it is to test
the degree to which bin previous In
struction Iuih prepared him for 'the edu
cational work on which he Is about to
liter. Tho only motive for exclusion
is based on the Improbability of tho
success of the candidate in ills acad
emic course: that is, the only thing
ousldered Is the chance of his being
able to maintain his position among
his fellowrt and to repay the govern
ment for his cost by profiting from ills
advantages.
Admission is followed by a proba
tionary period of six months, when
those who have shown by their pro
ficiency that they have u good chance
of maintaining a fair standing In their
class are regularly installed, and enter
upon a course of education, of military
drill and training, and of physical de
velopment, lusting, with little Intermis
sion, for three and h half years.
ONE-THIHD EXCLUDED.
Simple though the requirements for
ndmlssion arc, fully one-third of the
candidates are excluded for Inadequate
preparation. Once admitted, the com
petition Is shurp and severe, and tn
imte mediocrity stands no chance.
More than one-half of those who enter
the military academy fall to keep up
tvith their classes, and many drop by
i he wayside because of inaulllcient
preparation, or of a luck of capacity,
a of the persistency and Industry need
ed to meet the exactions of the very
severe course of study and training.
Here, us elsewhere in life, "equality"
means only the equality of opportunity.
Wealth, social standing, influence, and
avorltism can secure no advantage.
The poor youth from a remote ngrlcul
iiiral region meets the son of the mil
lionaire of the city on an absolutely
equal footing, and they have through
out the coulee the same privileges and
opportunities. There Is a fair Held and
no favor, and the best man wins by his
own unaided effort. Those who have
money are not allowed to use it. Each
undldate admitted Is required to de
posit his private funds with the quar
termaster and commissary of the corps,
to be returned to him at the end of the
course. His pay Is $45 per month. Of
this $4 In retained for his ilnul equip
uent ns nn ofilcer after graduation, and
h further saving Is urged upon him to
pay Ills traveling expenses during vn
cotion. Each cadet keeps a pass or
check book, and is credited In it with
i he amount of pay due htm by law, and
s charged with all articles procured by
urn from the store room. He Is charged
" ith subsistence, clothing, bedding,
'ext-books, washing, gas, brooms,
buckets, brushes, policing barracks, use
f dictionary, soap, printing, and such
ither articles ni ure considered neees
lary for him to have. A strict super
. Islon Is kept over the account of each
adet, in order that he may not expend
' nil of the pay allowed him. More than
his he cannot spend, ajid he handles
io money: as a matter of fact, he has
io pockets.
SEIUOUS BUSINESS.
Education at West Point Is far more
lerlous buslnessHhun education in civil
Ife. Tho four years' hard work Is In
errupted only by n vacation of two
months in the second year and two
nonths' relief from study while In sum
mer encampment during the other
'eurs. Even during tho camp period
nilltury instruction and drill are rigor
ously prosecuted. Thoroughness, rath
er than extension of attainments, is
he principle controlling education here.
To learn a few things and learn them
oll" Is the rule of the academy, and
lofessor Mlchlo seln this forth as n
food rule in the Instruction of youth
tenerally. Ho says that normally no
adet has "mora than two distinct
ttudleB per day in which he will have
o prepare himself for recitation, re
julrlng six hours of severe mentul pre
paration and two and one-half hours In
he recitation, to exhibit his efficiency
hereon. Of tho remainder of the six
pen houru which constitute the ofll
dal duy, three hours are allotted to
neals and recreation, and four nnd
jnc-half hours to drill, parade and
guard duty. He Is allowed no cuts or
other like Indulgence. A steady pace
kept up, and woe betide the unfortu
lato one who lingers by the way. Jus
Ice and Judgment nru served out Im
partially ut tho coming examination.
I'hc steady goer, tne patient plodder,
he Indefatigable student, Is certain of
luucess; but the fitful worker, the care-
lew trlllcr, or tho Indifferent scholar
soon finds that his military career Is
ended. The thing of most valuo that
ho acquires at West Point Is tho knowl
edge of the cxlstenco of his rational
faculty, and how to innke uso of It. He
who learns this well will, In tho present
age, always be certain of success In the
vocations of peace or the operations of
war."
COURSE OF STUDY.
The course of study covers civil nnd
military engineering (theoretical and
practical), natural and experimental
philosophy, mathematics, drawing,
chemistry, mineralogy nnd geology, tho
French and Spanish languages, law
history, and ordnance, gunnery, and
tactics.
Tho cadets study In their quarters,
two rooming together. The rooms nre
simple, simply furnished, without pic
tures or other decoration, and the ca
dets take turn, week nnd week about,
In "policing" the quarters. Visiting In
quarters Is not allowed. There Is no
occasion to watch them while nt study,
for the requirements are so severe that
there is no time for Idling. The mili
tary spirit and method are maintained
In every detail of the work. For ex
ample: The class Is divided Into sec
tions of not more than twelve cadets
each. The section rooms ure well ven
tlluted, and furnished with Individual
desks and scats. Blackboards line two
walls of the room. Tho Instructor slto
on a raised platform, and is In his
place before the section enters the
room. The 8 o'clock assembly having
been sounded In tho area of the bar
racks by the trumpeter, and the sec
tions duly formed, euch Is marched by
its section marcher to tho proper room
In the academy building, where ranks
are broken, caps hung on hooks In tho
hall outside the door, and the memuers
enter the section room. The last to en
ter Is tho section marcher, who stands
In the open door until the members of
the section have passed to their desks,
where each stands at "attention." Ho
then closes the uoor, faces the instruc
tor, salutes, and reports, "All are pres
ent, sir," or "Cadet Blank Is absent,
sir," as the case may be. The section
is then seated. The lesson for the next
day Is announced, It having been pre-,
vlously recorded on the blackboard be
hind the Instructor's desk; the ques
tion is then put, "Are there any ques
tions on the lesson of the day?" The
utmost freedom is permitted for every
member of the section to make known
now every dltllculty he has experienced
in studying his lesson. The instructor
who Is accomplished In his art will, by
a Judicious explanation or a helpful
suggestion, Feek to lesson the step by
which the student may be able to pass
from what he comprehends to that
which was before obscure, the aim be
ing to make the student feel that the
elucidation has in the main been ac
complished by himself. By this means
the self-reliant faculty is cultivated.
After nil the difficulties have been sat
isfactorily removed, the Instructor pro
ceeds to portion out the lesson of the
day and of the previous day among ten
members of the section, reserving the
remaining two for a searching exami
nation by questions. The ten are sent
to blackboards, where first they are re
quired to write their names in the up
per right-hand corner, and then put
their work down In a neat and orderly
manner, and in logical sequence, o
that the Instructor can, by a glance,
note their progress nnd proficiency.
When the cadet Is ready to recite, ho
takes up a pointer, faces the Instructor,
and assumes the position of a soldier.
This Is the general rule, which, how
over, is departed from when a portion
of the section room time Is to be em
ployed In working out practical ex
amples or In using the apparatus upon
the experimental table; in such cases
he Is permitted to leave his blackboard
after his work Is made ready for recita
tion, and when his turn comes to be
called on he resumes his pluce and po
sition. SECTION ROOM MANNERS.
The manners of the section room are
polite, formal and soldierly. The In
structor opens with, "Are you ready,
Mr. Blank?" then, "Proceed, sir." The
cadot then begins, "I am required to
demonstrate the" (here follows the pro
position given him). Ho then proceeds
in a logical manner to point out the
data he may assume, the successive
steps in his reasoning, and the conclu
sions which legitimately follow. If he
be perfect, he will meet the cross-examination
of his Instructor at every
point, and will be entitled to the maxi
mum mark on the lesson of the day.
The marks are recorded in a section
book kept by the instructor, and at the
end of the week are transferred to a
weekly report made out by him and
submitted to the superintendent of the
academy through tho head of the de
partment. These reports are open to
the Inspection of the cadets on tho fol
lowing Saturday, and they can then
compare their standing with thnt of
their comrades In the same section and
in different sections.
In nsslgning subjects for recitation,
the general practice followed Is to give
them out In such a way as to impress
the cadets that strict Impartiality is
the rule, and that each shall have ubout
the same task, the main thing being to
secure from each the full time for
study upon the lesson of the day, and
to make the penalty of negligence so
severe as to be almost prohibitory. In
delineations upon the blackboard col
ored chalks are used, so that the draw
ing will exhibit neatness as well as an
intimate knowledge of tho subject. The
head of each department employs the
three hours during which the recita
tions continue In visiting the different
sections, so that he may thoroughly
examine at least twice a week every
man In the class. His purpose Is to
keep himself well informed of each
man's progress, to study the students'
characters, to encourage the modest,
and to temper the choleric and pre
suming. He consults freely with his
assistants upon the proper transfers
from one section to another, and In
case of non-agreement defers action
until further evidence brings concord
of opinion. When the trumpet sounds
recall In the aendemy building, tho In
structor dismisses tho section as tho
last note ceases. It Is then formed In
the hall by the section marcher, and
marched by him to tho area of tho
barracks, whero It Is finally dismissed.
PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION.
The more practical instruction In
drill, field and camp duties, infantry,
cavalry, and artillery tactics, pontoon
and spar bridge building, Is as thor
oughly carried on as Is the theoretical
Instruction already described. The
limits of space make It necessary to
confine tho account of this department
to tho following extracts from tho re
port of Lieutenant Colonel Mills, com
mandant of cadets (1890):
"The present courso designs to give
to the cadet the elements of u military
education, as comprehended In the drill
regulation of tho three arms of the ser
vice and In the other manuals and lee
tures referred to In the theoretical
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course; and in the practical work to
Impress upon him a thorough knowl
edge and appreciation of discipline and
of military police, both In barracks and
In camp; to educate him In the Impor
tant qualtles of attention to detail and
of promptness In all his work: to give
him the physical training necessary for
the work and hurdshli) ho may be
called upon to endure; nnd, In conjunc
tion with the other departments, to
instill Into his mind during his four
years at the academy a proper spirit of
subordination and obedience to author
ity, and to develop his confidence and
capacity for command.
"The physical training, so far as it
relates to the work of the gymnasium,
aims nt the following results:
"First To counteract by Judicious
and well regulated exercise the Im
mense mental strain which the suc
cessful mastery of the academic course
makes necessary.
"Second To improve the physical
and general carriage, develop strength,
health, and endurance, and
"Third To develop agility, activity,
and grace; ulso self-reliance, self-control,
precision, and accuracy.
SUMMERS IN CAMP.
"Each class spends three of the four
summers in camp, a total of about 210
days. The remainder of the four years,
with the exception of two and one-half
months on furlough nt the end of the
second year, is spent in barracks.
The companies have separate quarters
in barracks, separate tents and com
pany streets in camp, und separate
tables at meals.
"The tents used lu camp are the
regulation wall-tents with files. Two
cadets live In each tent, except mem
bers of the fourth class, most of whom
live three in tent. Two cadets live In
a room in barrncks. Cadets aro al
lowed in camp only the minimum of
bedding, clothing, etc., needed for the
climate and season, nnd consists with
a neat and soldiery nppearance nt all
times. The commandant of cadets nnd
the four ussistunt instruetois of tac
tics with an ussistant surgeon, live in
camp.
"All regular drills in camp are fin
ished before 1 p. m. During the acad
emic term tho practical work In tho
department is done between the hours
of i and C p. m with the exception of
a portion of tho cavalry exercises and
tho military gymnastics. Two drees
parades aro held daily in camp, at
troop and retreat, except on Saturday,
when it Is replaced by nn Inspection at
2 p. m. A complete guard Is maintained
nt all times in camp, and tho instruc
tion In this duty Is most thorough.
During the term In barracks a guard Is
posted in the divisions of barracks dur
ing study hour in the evening only to
preserve quiet and to prevent cadets
from visiting or from leaving the bar
racks without authority.
LEARNING BY PRACTICE.
"The method of instruction, broadly
stated, may be said to be based upon
the principle of requiring each cadet to
learn by actually performing them all
the duties of a private soldier In the
different arms of the service, beginning
with tho drill of the recruit, and there
after the duties of the different grades
of non-commlssloned ofilcer and of an
ofilcer, in so far as the conditions sur
rounding tho course will permit.
"Each cadet has at some time dur
ing the courso the opportunity of exer
cising command in all the grades of
non-commlssloned and commissioned
officer, up to and Including that of a
captain of a company. The method
is progressive, and fonows the logical
principle of assigning to a cudet super
vision and command In any drill or ex
ercise as soon as practicable after ho
has himself become prollcient in It.
"Tho olllcers of the department ure
assembled dally by the commundant to
receive any Instructions he may deslro
to give them upon the drills and duties
of the day; to hear reports und obser
vations of the previous day; to point
out und correct errors, if any have been
made; to Interpret tactical and other
doubtful points, and to adopt absolute
ly uniform teaching und practice, so
that all cadets, though tho battlllon be
divided for purpose of administration
Into four companies, shall receive the
same and unirorm and instruction
throughout, so for ns It is practicable.
. . . It Is thus, by constantly and
unceasingly, patiently, and enrnestly
pluclng beforo tho cadet his obligations
to duty and Impressing upon him tho
qualities of mind and character that
constitute tho high-minded, truthful,
and conscientious ofilcer, that tho com
mandant of cadets, In my Judgment,
fulfills tho most Important part of his
many responsible duties."
IN THE GYM.
The admirably equipped gymnasium
Is built In connection with a lurgo
swimming-pool, tho wholo under tho
control of a competent Instructor. It
was the writer's good fortune to watch
tho working of the swimming-school,
A certain portion of the newly admit
ted cadets "know how to swim," but
they find hero that their knowledge Is
very primitive, They aro swung with
a belt and cord, and are made to learn
over again under careful teacher, su
pervised by the Instructor, until they
become regular and uniform In nil their
movements. They aro then allowed to
swim Independently, and their exercise
is kept up, week after week, until they
can swim strongly nnd at full speed
for ten mlntutcs at a stretch. Here, as
In all else, the perfection of attainment
Is limited only by the capacity of tho
Individual. Every man Is mado as
good as he Is capable of becoming.
It may bo by somo questioned
whether or not It Is necessary, in order
that a young man may become a good
officer, that he should know ns much or
be able to do ns much as he Is made to
do and Is taught at West Point; but
thnt It Is, for other reasons, a great
thing for tho country at Its own ex
pense to maintain one young man from
each congressional district throughout
the land subject to such comploto train
ing and development, no one can ques
tion. Were the graduates of tho Acad
emy to make no other return to tho
country than to go back among their
own people as an example of what may
be done by proper Intellectual and
physical education, the maintenance of
the West Point Academy wbuld still bo
Justified.
THE VALUE OF IT.
Many may still ask, What is tho uso
of such terrible severity, formality,
and rigidity of requirement of such
education? The use must be measured
by the result. The writer was a mem
ber of the Board of Visitors to tho Mil
itary Academy some years ago, and, as
its secretary, prepared the report of the
Hoard to tho Secretary of War. The
following answer was there given to
this question:
Wo have caicfully watched the various
examinations and exhibitions, and, not
speaking of tho members of the class In
higher standing, but considering only
tho3o of averugo grade, wo have seen
young men vho four years ago camo ho:a
from country schools und from rural oc
cupations, cdiii atert barely well enough
to bo admitted, far from erect In their
bearing, often Mouchy nnd dellcato In
physique, and Incapable of enduring fa
tigue or of continued physical activity
we have seen these young men, erect,
bright, cleun-cut, nnd intelligent, stand
ing square upon both feet for ten or Ut
teen minutes while giving an Intelligent
demonstration of ul-stiuse scientific prob
lems, or passing examinations in other
branches most oictlltably; going through
tho ovolutionr of dress parade as well as
sodlcrs who have no other duty and no
other training; handling a light battery in
lictlvo drill evidently without fatigiui
and without hesitation; performing equal
ly well In cavalry drill, at target prac
tice with siege-guns and seuco.ast guns
nnd mortars, at pontoon and spar bridge
building, and in every brancli of tho d Ity
of a soldier acquitting themselves with
tho bklll of voter. n. nnd with the intelli
gence of educated men.
Their exercise in the gymnasium and
fencing schonl Is excellent. In the riding
school tho exhibition was nn astonish
ment to all who raw it for the first time.
A near npnroiAi-li to perfection in such
horsemanship as in indispensable to n
well-trained cr.ulry soldier was to be
expected, but tho bareback tiding, mount
ing with one bund, vaulting Into the sad
dle and over I e l.csc. mounting and dis
mounting at a gallop, taking the belt
wltlvsnbrr and revolver from ht ground
when In motion, performed by the whole
class present thev. und other exorcises,
when qonsldcrcd In connection with nil
else that a cadet mtit learn to do with
his head and with hi.-- body, were more
than rt nmrkaule.
PRACTICAL TESTS.
As this development of the individual
bus Its primary purpose the creation
of tho ofilcer, the "use" of it must find
its final demonstration In war, where
the efficiency of tho whole army Is put
to the supreme test, and whero the in
terest of the Nation, If not its very life,
depends upon its meeting that test
triumphantly. The two military pro
verbs, "A good colonel makes a good
regiment." and "Tho captain is the
mother of the company," nre demon
strated to bo true In every war, es
pecially here where the volunteer force
Is such a pre-eminent factor.
It was shown in the AVar of the Re
bellion that leglmcnts largely oillcerod
by men who had been trained to the
proper care of their commands, espec
ially in tho matter of food, clothing,
Hhelter, sanitary regulations, and dis
cipline, could bo depended upon to turn
out eighty-five or ninety per cent, of
their full force as effective for duty,
while a regiment olllcered mainly by
men from civil life especially with a
colonel of no special trflnlng for his
duties would, after a few months, sel
dom exceed sixty-five per cent, of ef
fectives. Furthermore, tho Ignorunce
and inefficiency that put on tho sick
and absent list thirty-five men out of
each hundred showed Itself In the con
dition of the remaining sixty-five,
whose lack of vitality, vigor, and dls
cli line greatly lowered their value in
war. Regiments so officered and in
such condition were by far the greater
source of our enormous pension list,
for comparatively few of the names on
this list are those of men who were
wounded in action, nor were any very
large proportion of those disabled by
disease members of regiments intelli
gently and properly cared for by com
petent olllcers. The relatlvo economy
in the matter of clothing and transpor
tation was even greater.
As a matter of fact, it Is not more
important that an officer should know
how to lend his men In battle than that
he should know how to take care of
them In camp and on the march. At
West Point the latter is ns thoroughly
taught as In the former, the necessity
for maintaining an effective force ns
well as for using that force effectively.
Tho cadet Is a soldier; he Is not only
taught, ho Is trained In nnd inured
to every duty of the enlisted man;
when he is given chargo of enlisted
men, he not only knows how he should
control them nnd care for them, but
he knows how they want him to care
for them. Ho knows how to save their
lives up to tho moment when they
must needs risk them, and ho knows
how then to make that risk heroic and
effective.
Tho effect of the education at West
Point Is precisely the same as that of
the education at Annapolis. The same
training Is given, as tho alphabet of the
course, to all military and naval ca
dets, and It Is never forgotten. Tho
product of both lnsttutlons, tho prod
uct of such education as theirs, tho
world over, Is a man who thoroughly
"realizes tho exlstenco of his rational
faculty and how to make use of It."
nnd whoso mind and body have both
been trained to the prompt und deft
handling of tho tnaterlal avnlhjblo to
meet every situation, no matter how
(suddenly Its condition may bo pre
sented. DEVELOPING CHARACTER.
But tlio best yet remains to bo told.
This school Is tho nucleus for a com
pleteness of training and development
of character, and for an eneourogoment
of n delicate sense of honor nnd of
fidelity to trusts of which the moral in-
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and Cashmere; 40-in. fine Check Novelties
and all wool Cheviots, worth from 39c to 59c.
yard for new styles in all wool Drap d'Ete,
yOC Coverts and other fabrics, worth $1.00 and
$1.25 yard.
yard for your choice of a magnificent as
59C sortment of Taffetas all pure silk and posi
tively worth 75c yard.
THE AVENUE CORNER
Jonas
fluencc on the community at large
must bo out of all proportion to the
cost and cure of Its maintenance. There
Is driven into the souls of these young
men a conviction that an ofilcer cannot
He, cannot steal, cannot prevaricate,
cannot mislead, cannot do anything not
becoming a dutiful oilicer and an hon
est gentleman. Tho conviction remains
with them for life, and Impoaes Its re
straints on them after they leave tho
service, bb ! exerts Its Influence on
others with whom they come In con
tact wherever they may be. The value
of this leaven diffused, even In very
small proportion, among all the people
of all parts of tho land cannot be over
estimated. It Is no argument to say
that army olllcers are BomettmeB con
victed of dishonesty, for we muet re
gard the proportion of defection. It is
enough to say that the cases In which
graduates of AVest Point have been so
convicted make barely two per cent, of
the whole number of graduates.
TIIK MORAL, TONI3.
The moral tone of tho Military Acad
emy Is established, and It Is self-perpetuating.
It, and Its propagation, r.re
Inherent In the esprtt-de-corps of the
body of cadets. The olllccre, the pro
fessors, and the instructors aro natu
rally not negligent in tho inculcation of
a high sense of honor and duty, nor
in punishing obvIouB infractions of the
moral code. Very much, however, is
left to the body of the cadets, and it is
a rule never to question the truth of a
cadet's statement, without clear proof
that it l false. II Is left to his own
sense of shame and to the discipline
of his comrades. One cannot be a liar
without being found out by his fellows,
sooner or later. When he In found out,
ho Is sent to Coventry, with a sudden
ness and a persistency that open to
him a new view of tho obligations of
cadet life. For example, during study
hours the cadets are under guard in
their quarters. Tho guard on post has
the power to restrain them. When one
has a need to go out, he salutes tho
guard and says, "It is all right, sir,"
and. ho Is allowed to pass. A newcomer
may think it a amart device thus to get
l 9 i Satisfaction
Jonas Longs Sons. &
so these extraordinary prices confront
you today. Such prices on good Carpets
FINE AXMINSTERS Exquisite patterns; $1.50
grade at 1.10
FINE AXMINSTERS Exquisite patterns; $1.35
grade at 85c
BODY BRUSSELS in nobby patterns for parlor,
hall or stairs; the $1.25 grade. To go at 80c
WILTON VELVETS One of the most durable
fabrics and richest furnishings on the market. 40
beautiful styles ; the $1.25- grade 79c
TAPESTRY BRUSSELS Good quality, large
line of colorings ; the 75c grade. Now 45c
ALL WOOL INGRAINS Rich in color and
designs; excellent quality. To go at 55c and 45c
THIRD FLOOR.
Linens
i yard for best quality of
2tC Kid Cambric, worth 4c.
yard for the best quality of
OC Plain Crinoline, worth 7c.
i vard for a lot ot Silicias and
J2C Percalines, worth iaKc.
yard for our 10c quality of
DC line Dress Ginghams.
i yard for good quality un-
32C bleached Canton Flannel.
for line all-wool Skirt Pat
59C tern, worth 75c.
new
and
Long's
relief from restraint and to go for a
stroll. He has only given his own In
terpretation to "all right." In the lan
guage of tho guard it means only one
thing, and in the code of the corps the
cadet has lied to the sentinel. No fuss
Is made about It, and no ofllclal dis
cipline may be applied; but the atmos
phere about that young man changes.
It turns somber and chill; first-clans
men, and whose favor is one of his
highest ambitions, salute him stlflly
and look on him coldly; the clouds
thicken about him; Ills friends find it
not wise to be too conspicuously Inti
mate with him. When he finally em
erges from hid isolation, he knows
what It means to violate the standard
set up for their own guidance by thoso
who valuo the honor of their corps as
the very apple of their eye. Men who
are not amenable to such influences
sooner or later meet their fate at the
hands of a court martial, and the army
Is purged of them.
ATHLETICS.
"Athletics" of the usual university
gate-money order have never been per
mitted at West Point. Thcro Is a good
foot ball team, and there Is much en
thusiasm about It. It has and It needs
no "training," for the men aro kept
as hard as nails by their dally military
exercise. The team works for about
twenty minutes twice a day in recrea
tion time, and for an hour or two on
Saturday afternoon. Tho olllcers and
the cadets subscribe to a fund which Is
sufllclent for the actual outlay, includ
ing tho payment of the expense of
teams Invited to play nt the Point. The
cadets are not permitted to play else
where, nor is the team allowed to neg.
lect Its studies and drill tit any way
because of ! Interest In the game.
It has a very u od record for Its play
ing, nevertheless.
iHK COST.
An attempt has been mado to show
that education at West Point is cheap.
It is not. Like all good things, It is
costly; like all exceptionally good
education, It Is enormously costly.
Nearly four thousand cadets have been
Styles and qualities
Linens
lor heavy bleached and one
half bleached Table Damask
worth 67c.
vard for the 7c quality ot
line bleached Toweling.
each for large size hemmed
Muck Towels, worth 15c
yard for our 8c Furnituro
and Drapery Prints.
48c
44C
lie
5c
. tor full size Bed Comtorts
45 C that arc worth fully 69c.
f OC coz' ,or a""''nen bleached
1 2iO napkins, dinner size,
worth $2.00.
Kitchen yy00d
vcL,P Things
"Down Stairs" was a great place'all last
week and it will be even more wonderful
during this week.
STEP LADDERS Very strongly made;
always sell at 12c foot this week, per foot.. 7C
CLOTHES BARS The strongest kind
made; always sold at 59c; this week JLoC
CARPET BEATERS They are the
springy kind that always sell for 10c; this week 5C
TOILET PAPER Large size packages
that sell for 5c; this week 3 for 1(JC
TOWEL ROLLERS-To hold anv size
towel; always sold at 9c, this wee, oC
READY MIXED PAINTS-In all colors; Q
always sold at 1 sc per can ; this week oC
CHAMPAGNE GLASSES-Claret. Punch and
Wine Glasses, ol finest Hint; always . $1.91 t t n
dozen ; this week 1 . 1 U
IN THE BASEMENT
Sons
graduated since the opening of the
Academy in 1S0J. There is a way In
which the accounts may be made to in
dicate u cost of less than $4,000 for tlv
four years' couiw of earh cadet, but a
fair computation of the value of tin
magnificent plant tyid permanent facili
ties, the interest on the cost of theso
and the cost of their maintenance, thn
services of officers and attendants, and
the maintenance of the Academy as a
military post, muy fairly be estimated
to bring the cost well up to J3.000 per
year, or $20,000 for the four years' de
velopment of each cadet. This l per
haps the most expensKo education in
the world; and In many ways, es
pecially for its important public pur
pose, It is said to bo far the best.
West Point keeps alive the spirit nnd
develops the capacity of organization,
no lefert than it teaches the technical
rudiments of the military art among
those on whom we must mainly de
pend on rare but always possible oc
casions of need to bring our citizen sol
diery quickly to the front, under cir
cumstances which will guard thein
against the deplorable effects of in
competency from which our volunteer
force has suffered eo gravely within
the past few months.
Modest Man.
"Do you Know anything about palm
istry, Hubert?" sho asked.
"Oh, not much," he answered, wltn
tho air of modesty which Is not Intended
to bo Implicitly believed in. "Not .-i
great deal. Although I had an experience
last night which might he considered a
remarkable, example of tho art you alludo
to."
'you don't mean it!"
"Yes. I huppened to glance at tho hand
of a friend uf mine and I Immediately
predicted that ho would presently become
the ncssosscr -if a considerable sum of
money. Ilefore ho left tho room he had
$50 to JC0 handed to him."
"And you told It Just from his hand?"
"Yes. It had four aces in it." New
Ycftt Herald.
The Lucky Liar.
A woman will still believe in a man
.hen nil tho men know ho' so crooKcd
he cun't He on his back New York Press.