Uncle Sam's Own School

T is not remarkable, considering the historical associations clinging about West Point, the splendid education given gratis, and the commissions in the United States army following graduation, that there are thousands or tens of thousands of American boys who wish to be educated there. But a very small portion of those who covet the appointment ever succeed in securing one. One desiring an appointment must apply to the congressraan representing the district in which he lives, unless he be the son of an army ofücer, in which case he may apply to the president of the United States, who hu the power of appointing ten cad'è 8É hft.ie from those whose fathers ha% ham in the regular army. The appointments used to be given to friends of the congressmen, but latterly they have usually been bestowed on the successf ui candidate at a competitivo examination. Application should be made to the congressman, who will furnish infonnation as to where and when the arnination will be held, and such other infoiination as he may deern necessary. The candidato passing the best examination will receive the appointment. The successful candidate is ordered to report at West Point on the lst of June of the year for which he is appointed. Upon arriving there he reports in person to the adjutant of the post and shows him his appointment from the secretary of war. The adjutant senda him to the hospital for a physical examination by the surgeon. He is stripped and inspected to see if he is physically sound. If the candidate has any defect, if his eyes, his teeth, any of his members, are not perfect, he is rejected. After undergoing this ordeal he Í3 eent to the cadet barracks and put in charge of old cadets, and in a day or two is brought up for his mental examination. This examination is thorough so far as it goes; but it only embraces common school branches- arithmetic, geography, grammar, reading, writing, spelling and history. The value of competitivo examinations has been demonstrated by a table, showing those examined during ten years, from 1877 to 1887. Of 503 cadets appointed by competition 806, or 61 per cent., were graduated. Of 688 appointed directly 280, or 44 per cent., were graduated. It is not intended that the entrance examination should be very severe, since it is regarded desirable that the cadets may have a chance to show their fitness, during half a year after they enter, and the final test takes place in the following January, when a severe examination weeds the corps of all but those who promise to be worth educating. Those who are not successful in the entrance examination are given mileage to their homes. Those who pass are marched to the commissary building and measured for clothes. Then begin the drilla of squads of "Plebs," as the new cadets are called. In June one may see a number of these squads inarching hither and thither, in preparation to enter the battalion in uniform. The pay of a cadet is $540 a year. Out ofthis he pays for his clothes, board, washing, fuel, lights and books. True, he doesn't see any of the money till he is graduated, but he has an account book ■which is balanced every two months, so that he can teil just how he stands, the accounts being kept by the treasuror of the academy. Four dollars a month are retained from his pay for the "equipment fund," and when graduated this accumulation is given him with which to f urnish his outfit as an officer. BeBides this a cadet may save somethiag like from $3 te 12 a month. At West Point reveille sounds at 6 o'clock the year round. Then the cadet stands in the ranks and answers to roll cali. Af ter t'his'he goes to nis room and puts it ia order f or morning inspection. At a quarter past 6 thesick cali is 6ounded, and at 6:20 comes inspection of barracks. At 6:25 the drum beats for breakfast, and the battalion marches tothe building ealled Grant hall. llre there are a number of tables whero the cadets tako ieats, and when the meal has been finislied the order is given to rise and retire, and each company marches out and back to barracks. There are two sets of officers at West Point - those vrho are ordered there to instruct cadets and cadet officers. The cadet officers consist of captains and lieutenants of companies, sergeant major, quartermaster sergeant, company sergeants, corporals. One of the cadet lieutenants acts as adjutant. The cadet officers do not wear shotilder straps of epaulettes, but chevrons of gold lace on the arm. For every day there is an officer of the day and an officer of the guard. The officer of the day wears hia sash over his right shoulder, and the officer of the guard wears his sash around his waist. They are quite military looking in their gray uniform and cock's feathers waving in their hats. The cadet uniform has been substantially the same ever since the academy was founded. The only officer of the army who appears with the cadets in their ceremonies is the commandant of cadets, who appears at dress parade. One of the prettiest ceremonies in the army is guard mounting. This, at West Point, occurs at 7 o'clock. The cadet officer of the day and adjutant are present ; the adjutant inspects the guard while the band plays. This over, he presents the guard to the officer of the day and it is marched past in review. After the guard has been mounted, a bugle sounds and the academie duties for the day commence. The morning is taken up principally with recitations and exercise in the gymnasium and the riding hall. At 1 o'clock the cadets are marched to dinner. Formerly the mess was very poor, but today the cadet has no reason to complain of his rations. Major William F. Spurgin is now in charge of the mess hall, and here is a sample of what he gives the cadet for one day: BREAKFAST. Oatmeal porridge, ham omelet, French fried potatoes, hot rolls, milk, coffea, bread, butter, sirup, etc. pmnnt, Scotch broth, cold slaw, assorted sauces, roast beef, new string beans with butter sauce, mashed potatoes, fariña cake, cream sauce. At 2 o'clock come moro recitations till 4, when the drills begin. At simset the battalion is marched out to dress parade, over which the commandant of the corps presides. After dress parade is supper, followed by a brief period of recreation. Then a bugle announces study houra till half past 9 o'clock, when "tattoo'" sounds, with "taps" or"lightsout" at 10. The cadets go through the course of study by classes, each class being divided into sections. There are four sections in all the studies. The best student, 6oon after entry, are put into the first section, the next best into the second, and so on down to the fourth, where are usually to be found those who are hovering between home and a commission. Cadets are continually passing from one section to another as they improve or retrograde. Besides the regular academie staff there are cadet professors who are distinguished from the other cadets by a slight change in the uniform they wear. After the June examinations the corps is marched into camp and for two months live the life of a soldier in the field, though the only enemy in front is the girls who skirmish about over the plain and tempt the cadet to incur demerits for the sake of joining them beyond "limits," or remaining away from camp beyond the time of leave. Th is year the examinations, as announced in an order by the superintendent, promulgated by the adjutant lieutenant, W. C. Brown, began on the lst of June, continuing till they are finished. The members of the first clasa wiH be graduated on June 12. The programme of military exercises is here given: ( Review, June 8. Infantry ■ School of the battalion. June B. ( Battalion skirmish drill, June 8. ( Mortar battery drill, June 1. Abtiixeky ■ Light battery drill. June 10. I Sea coast battery drill, June 6. ( School of the company and bat_ talion, Juue 4. Cavalrt ■ gcnooi Of the soldier mounted, [ June 7. Practical ( Spar bridge building. June 10. itry Engi-- Pontoon bridge building, June B. NKKBisa ( Military signaUng, June 11. ( Use of the sword and bayonst, Snux ABMS....-Í June 11. ( Military gymnasties, Jun 11. This order of exercises may bo'changed on account of the weather, or for other causes. When the cadet has passed his final exaniination and is ready for a commission in the army, he is reconimended by the academie board to the different corps of the service, according to his class standing, The first th'reo or four are recommended for any corps they may choose. They usually choose the engineers, but promotion has been so much more rapid in the cavalry of late years, owing to vacancies occurring from Indian fighting, that some select this arm of the service in preference to the higher ranking corps. The .fifteen or twenty standing nxt in order at merit ftre aj pointed, to the ar'tillery, or the lower branclies, as they may'eïect; thoso coming next, to the cavalry, and the balance to the infantry.