Tom Taylor at West Point

by Frank V. Webster

The room of Tom and his chum was plainly, even severely, furnished. It was as unlike the average college student’s room as is possible to imagine. Not a sofa cushion was allowed, nothing but hard-bottomed chairs, and even the clock on the mantel, where must also be kept the official blue book of regulations, must not cost above a certain sum. There were no decorations, no pictures—nothing but bare, cheerless walls. It was military, and that was the best that could be said of it.

Tom and Sam had to take turns in keeping the room in order, each being held responsible on alternate weeks. They must do their sweeping, their dusting and the carrying of water. The Biblical injunction to hew wood did not apply in their case.

There were two inspections to be provided for, one in the morning and one in the evening, and everything in the room, needless to say, must be spick and span in anticipation of this. There was a difference between Sunday and week-day inspections.

On the latter the cadets might be absent at drill or recitations when their rooms were looked at. In this case they did not see the inspector. But if they happened to be in when he made his round they could be in fatigue uniform, or if the inspection did not take place until after eleven o’clock in the morning, it was permitted to wear a dressing gown.

But the Sunday inspections are the critical ones. The cadets have to be in their rooms then, attired in their best dress coats and gloves without a speck. The slightest article out of place, or the least deviation from the regulations, causes the tactical officer to make an adverse report or “skin.” The cadet captain is also present at these Sunday inspections.

There was a slight change in the routine after the return to barracks. Recitations began early in September, and the time of rising was put back a half hour, being at six o’clock. Breakfast was a half hour later, guard mounting at seven-ten and recitations, after the call to quarters, began at eight o’clock.

There were four recitation periods up to nearly one o’clock and the classes were so divided that while one section recited another studied.

Tom found it rather strange at first, to be under absolutely no set rules or requirements in regard to study. The cadets were allowed to fix their own standards in this respect. All that was required of them was that they be perfect in recitation.

Military discipline, of course, was insisted on. The instructors were all West Point graduates, the strictest of the strict, and not only must the cadets be perfect in their lessons, but in their manner, deportment and dress. Woe betide he whose shoes were not polished to just the proper degree of brilliancy, or who came in with a speck on his otherwise immaculate collar.

But Tom and his chums managed to worry through, somehow or other. They were not the most brilliant students, neither were they the lowest. In fact, they were a good average, and they were fairly well satisfied with themselves.