A “permit” is a document that grants certain privileges to the cadet named in it. A map of “Cadet Limits” is posted where all may see it, and when a cadet desires to visit friends at the hotel or at an Officer’s quarters, or go to the Dutch Woman’s, i. e., the confectioner’s, or to the dentist’s, he must write an official letter to the Commandant of Cadets (or to the Adjutant of the Military Academy, as the case may be), setting forth what duty, if any, he wishes to be excused from, and the exact time he wishes. This letter will be returned with an endorsement granting all, a part or none of his request, and the cadet must govern himself accordingly.
From now on we had to make out a list of such articles as we wanted or were instructed to get from the Commissary. An account is kept by the Treasurer with each cadet, who is credited with his deposit, and also with his pay,[20] and he is charged for everything furnished him, such as board, washing, wearing apparel, bedding, books, gas, policing barracks, polishing shoes, etc. At his option a cadet is also charged for boats, hops, etc., and when out of debt with such luxuries as new clothes, hop gloves, hop shoes, or $2.00 per month for confectioneries at the “Dutch Woman’s.”
As time wore away we felt less fatigue from drill, and found more pleasure in life, and letters borne were quite cheerful.
Note 1. At present the new 5th classman is received by cadet officers under the immediate supervision of an officer of the Tactical Department and his reception is strictly in accordance with the requirements of military discipline and courtesy. The discipline is, of course, of the strictest and is rigidly enforced, but the life of the newcomer is so hedged about by orders and is so carefully guarded by those who have him in charge, that it is doubtful if a young man entering any school or college in the country would be subjected to less annoyance or embarrassment than would fall to his lot at the Military Academy.
Note 2. At present each table seats 10 cadets, and the cadets are about equally divided among the different classes. One first classman sits at the head of each table; he is officially designated “The Commandant of Table,” and is responsible for order at his table.
Note 3. The mail is now received and distributed by company in the Cadet Guard House, and at a signal on the trumpet a cadet private from each division of barracks, detailed for a week at a time, reports at the Guard House, gets the mail for his division, and distributes it to the proper rooms.
Note 4. In addition to demerits cadets receive other punishments for certain classes of offenses; these consist of confinement to room during release from quarters for a certain number of days, or, of walking (equipped as a sentinel) for a certain number of hours on certain days in the area of barracks.
