UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT. 
587 
Appointment,” but before getting it they must sign an “ engagement 
paper,” and swear and subscribe to an “oath of allegiance.” The 
former is to serve eight years in the United States Army, including 
time spent at the Academy; the latter is to support the Constitution of 
the United States, bear true allegiance to the National Government, 
and obey the legal orders of superior officers and the articles govern¬ 
ing the armies of the United States. 
The Cadets. 
The cadets are smart, well set up, and well turned out; their age on 
joining is 17 to 22, and their minimum height 5 feet. Their uniform is 
very neat, the undress consists of dark blue kepi and shell jacket, and 
French grey trousers with broad stripe (Fig. 1.); it is understood that the 
Fig. 1. 
full dress is the same, except that the shako takes the place of the kepi. 
The rank and file cadets are armed with Springfield rifles (cadet pattern), 
•450 bore, with bayonets, and accoutred with white shoulder-belts, 
white waist-belts, and McKeevor cartridge boxes. Sergeant-cadets 
carry a second shoulder-belt and a straight sword; 1st Sergeant-cadets, 
besides all these things, have a sash. Officer-cadets wear swords, 
shoulder-belts and sashes. New cadets are called “ plebes ”—a more 
classical nickname than “ snooker !” The cadets have very little time 
for amusement, and it is not an exaggeration to say that they do not 
get more than half-an-hour to themselves the whole day. They are 
marched straight from study to drill, and from drill to study. At 
West Point the official term for drill is “ enforced recreation !” The 
result of this is that the cadets are unable to indulge in much “volun- 
