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　him。　If　he　had；　my　reply　to　him　would　have　been　sustained。　I　afterward　had　reason　to　believe　the　offer　was　made　merely　to　test　me；　as　I　received　from　strangers　expressions　of　confidence　in　me　and　in　my　doing　faithfully　all　that　might　devolve　upon　me　from　my　appointment。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　III。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　REPORTING。

MAY　20th；　1873！　Auspicious　day！　From　the　deck　of　the　little　ferry…boat　that　steamed　its　way　across　from　Garrison's　on　that　eventful　afternoon　I　viewed　the　hills　about　West　Point；　her　stone　structures　perched　thereon；　thus　rising　still　higher；　as　if　providing　access　to　the　very　pinnacle　of　fame；　and　shuddered。　With　my　mind　full　of　the　horrors　of　the　treatment　of　all　former　cadets　of　color；　and　the　dread　of　inevitable　ostracism；　I　approached　tremblingly　yet　confidently。

The　little　vessel　having　been　moored；　I　stepped　ashore　and　inquired　of　a　soldier　there　where　candidates　should　report。　He　very　kindly　gave　me　all　needed　information；　wished　me　much　success；　for　which　I　thanked　him；　and　set　out　for　the　designated　place。　I　soon　reached　it；　and　walked　directly　into　the　adjutant's　office。　He　received　me　kindly；　asked　for　my　certificate　of　appointment；　and　receiving　thator　assurance　that　I　had　it：　I　do　not　now　remember　whichdirected　me　to　write　in　a　book　there　for　the　purpose　the　name　and　occupation　of　my　father；　the　State；　Congressional　district；　county　and　city　of　his　residence；　my　own　full　name；　age；　State；　county；　and　place　of　my　birth；　and　my　occupation　when　at　home。　This　done　I　was　sent　in　charge　of　an　orderly　to　cadet　barracks；　where　my　〃plebe　quarters〃　were　assigned　me。

The　impression　made　upon　me　by　what　I　saw　while　going　from　the　adjutant's　office　to　barracks　was　certainly　not　very　encouraging。　The　rear　windows　were　crowded　with　cadets　watching　my　unpretending　passage　of　the　area　of　barracks　with　apparently　as　much　astonishment　and　interest　as　they　would；　perhaps；　have　watched　Hannibal　crossing　the　Alps。　Their　words；　jeers；　etc。；　were　most　insulting。

Having　reached　another　office；　I　was　shown　in　by　the　orderly。　I　walked　in；　hat　in　handnay；　rather　started　in　when　three　cadets；　who　were　seated　in　the　room；　simultaneously　sprang　to　their　feet；　and　welcomed　me　somewhat　after　this　fashion：

〃Well；　sir；　what　do　you　mean　by　coming　into　this　office　in　that　manner；　sir？　Get　out　of　here；　sir。〃

I　walked　out；　followed　by　one　of　them；　who；　in　a　similar　strain；　ordered　me　to　button　my　coat；　get　my　hands　around〃fins〃　he　saidheels　together；　and　head　up。

〃Now；　sir；〃　said　he；　leaving　me；　〃when　you　are　ready　to　come　in；　knock　at　that　door；〃　emphasizing　the　word　〃knock。〃

The　door　was　open。　I　knocked。　He　replied；　〃Come　in。〃　I　went　in。　I　took　my　position　in　front　of　and　facing　him；　my　heels　together；　head　up；　the　palms　of　my　hands　to　the　front；　and　my　little　fingers　on　the　seams　of　my　pantaloons；　in　which　position　we　habitually　carried　them。　After　correcting　my　position　and　making　it　sufficiently　military　to　suit　himself；　one　of　them；　in　a　much　milder　tone；　asked　what　I　desired　of　them。　I　told　him　I　had　been　sent　by　the　adjutant　to　report　there。　He　arose；　and　directing　me　to　follow　him；　conducted　me　to　the　bath…rooms。　Having　discharged　the　necessary　duty　there；　I　returned　and　was　again　put　in　charge　of　the　orderly；　who　carried　me　to　the　hospital。　There　I　was　subjected　to　a　rigid　physical　examination；　which　I　〃stood〃　with　the　greatest　ease。　I　was　given　a　certificate　of　ability　by　the　surgeon；　and　by　him　sent　again　to　the　adjutant；　who　in　turn　sent　me　to　the　treasurer。　　From　him　I　returned　alone　to　barracks。

The　reception　given　to　〃plebes〃　upon　reporting　is　often　very　much　more　severe　than　that　given　me。　Even　members　of　my　own　class　can　testify　to　this。　This　reception　has；　however；　I　think；　been　best　described　in　an　anonymous　work；　where　it　is　thus　set　forth：

〃How　dare　you　come　into　the　presence　of　your　superior　officer　in　that　grossly　careless　and　unmilitary　manner？　I'll　have　you　imprisoned。　Stand；　attention；　sir！〃　（Even　louder　than　before。）　〃Heels…together…and…on…　the…same…line；　toes…equally　…turned…out；　little…fingers…on…the…seams…of…your…　pantaloons；　button…your…coat；　draw…in…your…chin；　throw…out…your…chest；　cast…your…eyes…fifteen…paces　…to…the…front；　don't…let…me…see…you…wearing…standing…　collars…again。　Stand…steady；　sir。　You've　evidently　mistaken　your　profession；　sir。　In　any　other　service；　or　at　the　seat　of　war；　sir；　you　would　have　been　shot；　sir；　without　trial；　sir；　for　such　conduct；　sir。〃

The　effect　of　such　words　can　be　easily　imagined。　A　〃plebe〃　will　at　once　recognize　the　necessity　for　absolute　obedience；　even　if　he　does　know　all　this　is　hazing；　and　that　it　is　doubtless　forbidden。　Still　〃plebes〃　almost　invariably　tremble　while　it　lasts；　and　when　in　their　own　quarters　laugh　over　it；　and　even　practise　it　upon　each　other　for　mutual　amusement。

On　the　way　to　barracks　I　met　the　squad　of　〃beasts〃　marching　to　dinner。　I　was　ordered　to　fall　in；　did　so；　marched　to　the　mess　hall；　and　ate　my　first　dinner　at　West　Point。　After　dinner　we　were　marched　again　to　barracks　and　dismissed。　I　hastened　to　my　quarters；　and　a　short　while　after　was　turned　out　to　take　possession　of　my　baggage。　I　lugged　it　to　my　room；　was　shown　the　directions　on　the　back　of　the　door　for　arrangement　of　articles；　and　ordered　to　obey　them　within　half　an　hour。　The　parts　of　the　regulations　referred　to　are　the　following：

　　　　　　　　　SPECIAL　REGULATIONS　FOR　BARRACKS。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ORDERLIES　OF　ROOMS。

The　particular　attention　of　Orderlies　is　directed　to　those　paragraphs　of　the　Regulations　for　the　U。　S。　Military　Academy　specifying　their　duties。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CADETS。

The　hours　of　Recitation　of　each　Cadet　will　be　posted　on　the　back　of　the　door　of　his　room。　When　a　room　is　being　washed　out　by　the　policeman；　on　reporting　to　the　Officer　of　the　Day；　and　stating　to　him　the　number　of　some　room　in　his　own　Division　he　wishes　to　visit；　a　Cadet　will　be　permitted　to　visit　that　particular　room　until　his　own　can　be　occupied。　The　uniform　coat　will　be　worn　from　8　till　10　A。M。；　at　Inspection　before　10　A。M。　the　coat　will　be　buttoned　throughout；　at　Sunday　Morning　Inspection　gloves　and　side…arms　will　also　be　worn。　After　10　A。M。　any　uniform　garment　or　dressing…gown　may　be　worn　in　their　own　rooms；　but　at　no　time　will　Cadets　be　in　their　shirt…　sleeves　unnecessarily。　During　the　〃Call　to　Quarters；〃　between　〃Inspection　Call〃　in　the　morning　and　〃Tattoo；〃　the　following　Arrangement　of　Furniture；　etc。；　will　be　required：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ACCOUTREMENTS。

Dress　CapOn　gun…rack　shelf。

Cartridge　Boxes；　Waist　Belts；　Sabres；　Forage　Caps　Hung　on　pegs　near　gun…rack　shelf。

MusketsIn　gunrack；　Bayonets　in　the　scabbards。

SpursHung　on　peg　with　Sabres。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BEDSTEADS　AND　BEDDING。

BedsteadsIn　alcove；　against　side　wall　of　the　room；　the　head　against　the　back　wall。

BeddingMattress　to　be　folded　once；　Blankets　and　Comforters；　each　one　to　be　neatly　and　separately　folded；　so　that　the　folds　shall　be　of　the　width　of　an　ordinary　pillow；　and　piled　at　the　head　of　the　BEDSTEAD　in　the　following　order；　viz。：　MATTRESS；　SHEETS；　PILLOWS；　BLANKETS；　and　COMFORTERS；　the　front　edge　of　sheets；　pillows；　etc。；　to　be　vertical。　On　Sunday　afternoons　the　BEDS　may　be　made　down　and　used。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CLOTHES…PRESS。

BooksOn　the　top　of　the　Press；　against　the　wall；　and　with　the　backs　to　the　front。　BRUSHES　（tooth　and　hair）；　COMBS；　SHAVING　IMPLEMENTS　and　MATERIALS；　such　small　boxes　as　may　be　allowed；　vials；　etc。；　to　be　neatly　arranged　on　the　upper　shelf。　BELTS；　COLLARS；　GLOVES；　HANDKERCHIEFS；　SOCKS；　etc。；　to　be　neatly　arranged　on　the　second　shelf　from　the　top。　SHEETS；　PILLOW…CASES；　SHIRTS；　DRAWERS；　WHITE　PANTS；　etc。；　to　be　neatly　arranged　on　the　other　shelves；　the　heaviest　articles　on　the　lower　shelves。

ArrangementAll　articles　of　the　same　kind　are　to　be　carefully　and　neatly　placed　in　separate　piles。　The　folded　edges　of　these　articles　to　be　to　the　front；　and　even　with　the　front　edge　of　the　shelf。　Nothing　will　be　allowed　between　these　piles　of　clothing　and　the　back　of　the　press；　unless　the　want　of　room　on　the　front　edge　renders　it　necessary。

Dirty　ClothesTo　be　kept　in　clothes…bag。

Shoes　and　Over…ShoesTo　be　kept　clean；　dusted；　and　arranged　in　a　line　where　they　can　be　seen　by　the　Inspector；　either　at　the　foot　of　the　bedstead　or　at　the　side　near　the　foot。

Woollen　Clothing；　Dressing…Gown；　and　Clothes…Bag　To　be　hung　on　the　pegs　in　alcove　in　the　following　general　order；　from　the　front　of　the　alcove　to　the　back：　Over…Coat；　Dressing…Gown；　Uniform　Coats；　Jackets；　Pants；　Clothes…Bag。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FURNITURE。

BroomTo　be　kept　behind　the　door。　TIN　BOX　for　CLEANING　MATERIALSTo　be　kept　clean　and　in　the　fire…place。　　SPITTOON　To　be　kept　on　one　side　of　the　hearth　near　mantel…piece。　CHAIRS　and　TABLES　On　no　occasion　to　be　in　alcoves；　the　chairs；　when　not　in　use；　to　be　against　the　owners'　tables。　LOOKING…GLASSAt　the　centre　of　the　mantel…piece。　WASH…STANDTo　be　kept　clean；　in　front　and　against　alcove　partition。　WASH…BASINTo　be　kept　clean；　and　inverted　on　the　top　of　the　Wash…stand。　WATER…BUCKET　To　be　kept　on　shelf　of　wash…stand。　SLOP…BUCKET　To　be　kept　near　to　and　on　side　of　Wash…stand；　opposite　door。　Baskets；　Pictures；　Clocks；　Statues；　Trunks；　and　large