mp　and　furlough。
  But　it　is　not　thus　with　all　first…classmen。　Many；　indeed　the　majority；　are　cadets　till　they　graduate。　They　see　every　thing　as　a　cadet；　enjoy　every　thing　as　a　cadet；　and　find　the　duties；　etc。；　of　first…class　camp　as　irksome　as　those　of　plebe　or　yearling　camp。　Of　course　such　men　see　no　similarity　between　first…　class　camp　and　furlough。　It　is　their　misfortune。　We　should　enjoy　as　many　things　as　we　can；　and　not　sorrow　over　them。　We　should　not　make　our　life　one　of　sorrow　when　it　could　as　well　be　one　of　comfort　and　pleasure。　I　don't　mean　comfort　and　pleasure　in　an　epicurean　sense；　but　in　a　moral　one。　Still　first…classmen　do　have　many　duties　to　perform；　but　there　is　withal　one　consolation　at　least；　there　are　no　upper　classmen　to　keep　the　plebe　or　yearling　in　his　place。　There　is　no　feeling　of　humbleness　because　of　junior　rank；　for　the　first　class　is　the　first　in　rank；　and　therefore　need　humble　itself　to　none　other　than　the　proper　authorities。
  Again；　their　honor；　as　〃cadets　and　gentlemen；〃　is　relied　upon　as　surety　for　obedience　and　regard　for　regulations。　They　are　not　subject　to　constant　watching　as　plebes　are。　The　rigor　of　discipline　is　not　so　severe　upon　them　as　upon　others。　It　was　expended　upon　them　during　their　earlier　years　at　the　Academy；　and；　as　a　natural　consequence；　any　violation　of　regulations；　etc。；　by　a　first…classman；　merits　and　receives　a　severer　punishment　than　would　be　visited　upon　a　junior　classman　for　a　like　infringement　on　his　part。
  The　duties　of　first…classmen　in　first…class　camp　are　as　follows：　The　officer　of　the　day　and　two　officers　of　the　guard　are　detailed　each　day　from　the　class。　Their　duties　are　precisely　those　of　similar　officers　in　the　regular　army。　The　junior　officer　of　the　guard　daily　reports　to　the　observatory　to　find　the　error　of　the　tower　clock。　Also　each　day　are　detailed　the　necessary　assistants　for　the　several　light　batteries；　who　are　on　foot　or　mounted；　as　the　case　may　require。　The　remainder　of　the　class　receive　instructions　in　the　service　of　the　siege　and　sea…coast　artillery。　These　drills　come　in　the　early　forenoon。　After　them　come　ordnance　and　engineering。
  The　entire　class　is　divided　as　equally　as　may　be　into　two　parts；　which　alternate　in　attendance　at　ordnance　and　engineering。
  In　ordnance　the　instructions　are　on　the　preparation　of　military　fireworks；　fixing　of　ammunition　and　packing　it；　the　battery　wagon　and　forge。　This　instruction　is　thoroughly　practical。　The　cadets　make　the　cases　for　rockets；　paper　shells；　etc。；　and　fill　them；　leaving　them　ready　for　immediate　use。　The　stands　of　fixed　ammunition　prepared　are　the　grape　and　canister；　and　shell　and　shot；　with　their　sabots。
  The　battery　wagon　and　forge　are　packed　as　prescribed　in　the　〃Ordnance　Manual。〃
  The　instructions　in　engineering　are　also　practical　and　military。　They　are　in　the　modes　of　throwing　and　dismantling　pontoon　bridges；　construction　of　fascines；　gabions；　hurdles；　etc。；　and　revetting　batteries　with　them。　Sometimes　also　during　camp；　more　often　after；　foot　reconnoissances　are　made。　A　morning　and　night　detail　is　made　daily　from　the　class　to　receive　practical　instruction　in　astronomy　in　the　field　observatory。
  Night　signalling　with　torches；　and　telegraphy　by　day；　form　other　sources　of　instruction　for　the　first　class。
  Telegraphy；　or　train　drill；　as　the　drill　is　called；　consists　in　erecting　the　telegraph　line　and　opening　communication　between　two　stations；　and　when　this　is　done；　in　communicating　so　as　to　acquire　a　practical　knowledge　of　the　instruments　and　their　use。
  These　various　drillsall　of　them　occurring　daily；　Sunday　of　course　excepted；　and　for　part　of　them　Saturday　alsocomplete　the　course　of　instruction　given　the　first　class　only　during　their　first…class　camp。　It　will　be　observed　that　they　all　of　them　are　of　a　military　nature　and　of　the　greatest　importance。　The　instruction　is　thorough　accordingly。
  I　have　sufficiently　described；　I　think；　a　cadet's　first…class　camp。　I　shall；　therefore；　close　the　chapter　here。
  CHAPTER　IX。
  OUR　FUTURE　HEROES。
  THE　WEST　POINT　CADETS'　VACATION。
  Ten　Days　of　Centennial　Sport　for　Prospective　Warriors　The　Miseries　of　three　hundred　Young　Gentlemen　who　are　limited　to　Ten　Pairs　of　White　Trousers　each。
  〃ALMOST　at　the　foot　of　George's　Hill；　and　not　far　to　the　westward　of　Machinery　Hall；　is　the　camp　of　the　West　Point　cadets。　From　morning　till　night　the　domestic　economy　of　the　three　hundred　young　gentlemen　who　compose　the　corps　is　closely　watched；　and　their　guard　mountings　and　dress　parades　attract　throngs　of　spectators。　It　would　be　hard　to　find　anywhere　a　body　of　young　men　so　manly　in　appearance；　so　perfect　in　discipline；　and　so　soldier…like　and　intelligent。　The　system　of　competitive　examination　for　admission；　so　largely　adopted　within　the　past　few　years　in　many　of　our　large　cities；　has　resulted　in　recruiting　the　corps　with　lads　of　bright　intellect　and　more　than　ordinary　attainments；　while　the　strict　physical　examination　has　rigorously　excluded　all　but　those　of　good　form　and　perfect　health。　The　competitive　system　has　also　given　to　the　Academy　students　who　want　to　learn；　instead　of　lads　who　are　content　to　scramble　through　the　prescribed　course　as　best　they　can；　escaping　the　disgrace　of　being　〃found〃　（a　cadet　term　equivalent　to　the　old　college　word　〃plucked〃）　by　nearly　a　hair's…breadth。
  〃The　camp。The　camp　is　laid　out　in　regulation　style；　and　has　four　company　streets。　Near　the　western　limit　of　the　Centennial　grounds　are　the　tents　of　the　commandant　and　the　cadet　captains　and　lieutenants。　Below；　on　a　gentle　incline；　are　the　wall　tents；　occupied　by　the　cadets。　Each　of　these　has　a　board　floor；　and　it　is　so　arranged　that　when　desired　it　may　be　thrown　open　on　all　sides。　From　two　to　four　narrow　iron　cots；　a　bucket　for　water；　an　occasional　chair；　and　now　and　then　a　mirror；　comprise　the　furniture。　But　scanty　as　it　is；　every　article　of　this　little　outfit　has　a　place；　and　must　be　kept　in　it；　or　woe　to　the　unlucky　wight　upon　whom　the　duty　of　housekeeping　devolves　for　the　day。　The　bucket　must　stand　on　the　left…hand　side　of　the　tent；　in　front；　the　beds　must　be　made　at　a　certain　hour　and　in　a　certain　stylefor　the　coming　heroes　of　America　have　to　be　their　own　chambermaids；　while　valises　and　other　baggage　must　be　stowed　away　in　as　orderly　a　way　as　possible。　Every　morning　the　tents　are　inspected；　and　any　lack　of　neatness　or　order　insures　for　the　chambermaid　of　the　day　a　misconduct　mark。　It　may　be　easily　conceived　that　under　a　regime　so　strict　as　this　the　cadets　are　particularly　careful　as　to　their　quarters；　inasmuch　as　one　hundred　of　these　marks　mean　dismissal　from　the　Academy。
  〃At　daybreak　the　reveille　sounds；　and　the　cadets　turn　out　for　roll…call。　Then　come　breakfast；　guard　mounting；　and　camp　and　general　police　duty；　which　consume　the　time　until　8。30　A。M。；　from　which　hour　those　who　are　not　on　guard　have　the　freedom　of　the　Centennial　grounds。　At　5　P。M。　they　must　fall　in　for　dress　parade；　at　9　they　answer　to　'tattoo'　roll…call；　and　a　few　minutes　later　'taps'　or　'lights　out'　consigns　them　to　darkness　and　quiet。
  〃West　Point　Aristocracy。Small　as　is　this　corps；　it　is　still　patent　that　the　distinction　of　caste　is　very　strong。　A　first…classmancadet　officers　are　selected　from　this　classlooks　down　upon　lower　grade　men；　while　second…class　cadets　view　their　juniors　with　something　nearly　allied　to　contempt；　and　third…class　men　are　amusingly　patronizing　in　their　treatment　of　'plebes'　or　new…comers。　For　the　first　year　of　their　Academy　life　the　'plebes'　have　rather　a　hard　time　of　it；　but　no　sooner　do　they　emerge　from　their　chrysalis　state　than　they　are　as　hard　upon　their　unfortunate　successors　as　the　third…class　men　of　the　year　before　were　upon　them。
  〃The　cadets　are　delighted　with　their　reception　and　kind　treatment　in　Philadelphia；　and　look　upon　their　ten　days'　visit　to　the　Centennial　as　a　most　pleasant　break　in　the　monotony　of　Academy　life。　That　they　maintain　the　reputation　of　the　Academy　for　gallantry　and　devotion　to　the　fair　sex　is　evidenced　by　the　presence　of　numbers　of　beautiful　young　ladies　in　their　camp　after　dress　parade　every　evening。　Given；　a　pretty　girl；　the　twilight　of　a　summer　evening；　and　a　youth　in　uniform；　and　the　result　is　easily　guessed。
  〃The　Cadet　Corps　is　to　return　to　West　Point　to…morrow　morning。　There　the　cadets　are　to　go　into　camp　until　September。　　General　Sherman　at　one　time　purposed　to　have　them　march　from　this　city　to　the　Academy；　but　it　was　finally　decided　that　the　march　would　consume　time　which　might　be　more　profitably　devoted　to　drill。
  〃One　of　the　complaints　of　the　cadets　is　that　in　the　arrangements　for　their　visit；　the　Quartermaster's　Department　was　stricken　with　a　spasm　of　economy　as　regarded　transportation；　and　each　of　the　future　heroes　was　limited　to　the　miserably　insufficient　allowance　of　ten　pairs　of　white　trousers。
  〃The　cadets　speak　in　warmly　eulogistic　terms　of　the　Seventh　New　York；　to　whose　kindly　attentions；　they　say；　much　of　their　pleasure　is　due。〃
  Of　this　article；　which　was　taken　from　the　Philadelphia　Times；　I　need　only　say；　those　〃two　or　four　narrow　iron　cots〃　and　that　〃occasional　chair〃　existed　solely　in　the　imagination　of　the　reporter；　as　they　were　nowhere　visible　within　the　limits　of　our　e