north america-1-第54章
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o other aptitudes。 At that age the education cannot be commenced anew； and； moreover； at that age the disgrace of failure is very injurious。 The period of education used to be five years； but has now been reduced to four。 This was done in order that a double class might be graduated in 1861 to supply the wants of the war。 I believe it is considered that but for such necessity as that； the fifth year of education can be ill spared。 The discipline； to our English ideas； is very strict。 In the first place no kind of beer； wine； or spirits is allowed at West Point。 The law upon this point may be said to be very vehement； for it debars even the visitors at the hotel from the solace of a glass of beer。 The hotel is within the bounds of the college； and as the lads might become purchasers at the bar； there is no bar allowed。 Any breach of this law leads to instant expulsion； or； I should say rather； any detection of such breach。 The officer who showed us over the college assured me that the presence of a glass of wine in a young man's room would secure his exclusion； even though there should be no evidence that he had tasted it。 He was very firm as to this； but a little bird of West Point； whose information； though not official or probably accurate in words； seemed to me to be worthy of reliance in general； told me that eyes were wont to wink when such glasses of wine made themselves unnecessarily visible。 Let us fancy an English mess of young men from seventeen to twenty… one； at which a mug of beer would be felony and a glass of wine high treason！ But the whole management of the young with the Americans differs much from that in vogue with us。 We do not require so much at so early an age； either in knowledge； in morals； or even in manliness。 In America； if a lad be under control； as at West Point； he is called upon for an amount of labor and a degree of conduct which would be considered quite transcendental and out of the question in England。 But if he be not under control； if at the age of eighteen he be living at home； or be from his circumstances exempt from professorial power； he is a full…fledged man； with his pipe apparatus and his bar acquaintances。 And then I was told； at West Point； how needful and yet how painful it was that all should be removed who were in any way deficient in credit to the establishment。 〃Our rules are very exact；〃 my informant told me； 〃but the carrying out of our rules is a task not always very easy。〃 As to this also I had already heard something from that little bird of West Point； but of course I wisely assented to my informant； remarking that discipline in such an establishment was essentially necessary。 The little bird had told me that discipline at West Point had been rendered terribly difficult by political interference。 〃A young man will be dismissed by the unanimous voice of the board； and will be sent away。 And then； after a week or two； he will be sent back； with an order from Washington that another trial shall be given him。 The lad will march back into the college with all the honors of a victory； and will be conscious of a triumph over the superintendent and his officers。〃 〃And is that common？〃 I asked。 〃Not at the present moment；〃 I was told。 〃But it was common before the war。 While Mr。 Buchanan； and Mr。 Pierce； and Mr。 Polk were Presidents； no officer or board of officers then at West Point was able to dismiss a lad whose father was a Southerner； and who had friends among the government。〃 Not only was this true of West Point； but the same allegation is true as to all matters of patronage throughout the United States。 During the three or four last presidencies； and I believe back to the time of Jackson； there has been an organized system of dishonesty in the management of all beneficial places under the control of the government。 I doubt whether any despotic court of Europe has been so corrupt in the distribution of placesthat is； in the selection of public officersas has been the assemblage of statesmen at Washington。 And this is the evil which the country is now expiating with its blood and treasure。 It has allowed its knaves to stand in the high places； and now it finds that knavish works have brought about evil results。 But of this I shall be constrained to say something further hereafter。 We went into all the schools of the college； and made ourselves fully aware that the amount of learning imparted was far above our comprehension。 It always occurs to me； in looking through the new schools of the present day； that I ought to be thankful to persons who know so much for condescending to speak to me at all in plain English。 I said a word to the gentleman who was with me about horses； seeing a lot of lads going to their riding lesson。 But he was down upon me； and crushed me instantly beneath the weight of my own ignorance。 He walked me up to the image of a horse； which he took to pieces； bit by bit； taking off skin； muscle； flesh； nerves； and bones； till the animal was a heap of atoms； and assured me that the anatomy of the horse throughout was one of the necessary studies of the place。 We afterward went to see the riding。 The horses themselves were poor enough。 This was accounted for by the fact that such of them as had been found fit for military service had been taken for the use of the army。 There is a gallery in the college in which are hung sketches and pictures by former students。 I was greatly struck with the merit of many of these。 There were some copies from well…known works of art of very high excellence； when the age is taken into account of those by whom they were done。 I don't know how far the art of drawing； as taught generally； and with no special tendency to military instruction； may be necessary for military training； but if it be necessary I should imagine that more is done in that direction at West Point than at Sandhurst。 I found； however； that much of that in the gallery； which was good； had been done by lads who had not obtained their degree； and who had shown an aptitude for drawing； but had not shown any aptitude for other pursuits necessary to their intended career。 And then we were taken to the chapel； and there saw； displayed as trophies； two of our own dear old English flags。 I have seen many a banner hung up in token of past victory； and many a flag taken on the field of battle mouldering by degrees into dust on some chapel's wallbut they have not been the flags of England。 Till this day I had never seen our own colors in any position but one of self…assertion and independent power。 From the tone used by the gentleman who showed them to me； I could gather that he would have passed them by； had he not foreseen that he could not do so without my notice。 〃I don't know that we are right to put them there；〃 he said。 〃Quite right；〃 was my reply； 〃as long as the world does such things。〃 In private life it is vulgar to triumph over one's friends； and malicious to triumph over one's enemies。 We have not got so far yet in public life； but I hope we are advancing toward it。 In the mean time I did not begrudge the Americans our two flags。 If we keep flags and cannons taken from our enemies； and show them about as signs of our own prowess after those enemies have become friends； why should not others do so as regards us？ It clearly would not be well for the world that we should always beat other nations and never be beaten。 I did not begrudge that chapel our two flags。 But； nevertheless； the sight of them made me sick in the stomach and uncomfortable。 As an Englishman I do not want to be ascendant over any one。 But it makes me very ill when any one tries to be ascendant over me。 I wish we could send back with our compliments all the trophies that we hold； carriage paid； and get back in return those two flags； and any other flag or two of our own that may be doing similar duty about the world。 I take it that the parcel sent away would be somewhat more bulky than that which would reach us in return。 The discipline at West Point seemed； as I have said； to be very severe； but it seemed also that that severity could not in all cases be maintained。 The hours of study also were long； being nearly continuous throughout the day。 〃En
