henry ossian flipper-第44章
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ad they left the vertical ere their bodies collided； and they were each hurled impetuously； by the inevitable reaction in opposite directions； over a distance of several feet。
Their bodies being in an inclined position when struck； and the blow being of great force； they were necessarily forced still further from the erect attitude； and were with much difficulty able to keep themselves from falling outright on the floor。 Of course all present； save those concerned； enjoyed it immensely。 Indeed it was enjoyable。 Even the plebes themselves had a hearty laugh over it when they were dismissed。
Again a cadet lieutenant； who was on duty at the time over the 〃Seps；〃 ordered a number of them to report at his 〃house〃 at a given hour。 They had been unusually gross； and he intended to punish them by keeping them standing in his quarters。 They reported； and were put in position to serve their punishment。 For some reason the lieutenant left the room； when one of the 〃Seps〃 faced to the others and thus spoke to them：
〃Say； boys； let's kick up the devil。 Phas gone out。〃
Now it so happened that P's chum was present； but in his alcove； and this was not known to the Seps。 When the Sep had finished speaking； this chum came forth and 〃went for〃 him。 He made the Sep assume the soldier's position； and then commanded； 〃Second； exercise！〃 which command the Sep proceeded to obey。
Another cadet coming in found him vigorously at it； and queried； 〃Well； mister； what's all that for？〃
〃Eccentricity of Mr。 M； sir；〃 he promptly replied。
The word eccentricity was not interpreted by the cadet； of course； as the Sep meant it should be； but in the sense we use it when we speak of the eccentricity of an orbit for instance。
Hence it was that Mr。 Masked； 〃Well； sir； what's the expression for my eccentricity？〃
There is another incident remotely connected with my first tour of guard duty which may be mentioned here。
At about eleven o'clock A。M。； in obedience to a then recent order； my junior reported at the observatory to make the necessary observations for finding the error of the Tower clock。 After an elaborate explanation by an officer then present upon the graduation of the vernier and the manner of reading it； the cadet set the finders so as to read the north polar distance of the sun for that day at West Point apparent noon。 When it was about time for the sun's limb to begin its transit of the wires； the cadet took position to observe it。 The instructor was standing ready to record the times of transit over each wire。 Time was rapidly passing； and not yet had the cadet called out 〃Ready。〃 The anxious instructor cautiously queried：
〃Do you see any light； Mr。 P？；〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Can you see the wires？〃
〃No； sir； not yet。〃
〃Any light yet； Mr。 P？〃
〃Yes； sir； it is getting brighter。〃
〃Can you see the wires at all？〃
〃No； Sir； it keeps getting brighter； but I can't see the wires yet。〃
Fearing he might be unable to make his observations that day unless the difficulty was speedily removed； the instructor himself took position at the transit； and made the ridiculous discovery that the cap had not been removed from the farther end of the telescope； and yet it kept getting brighter。
One day in the early summer of 1875； a cadet was showing a young lady the various sights and wonders at West Point； when they came across an old French cannon bearing this inscription； viz。； 〃Charles de Bourbon； Compte d'Eu； ultima ratio regum。〃
She was the first to notice it； and astonished the cadet with the following rendition of it：
〃I suppose that means Charles Bourbon made the gun； and the Spanish （？） that the artilleryman must have his rations。〃
What innocence！ Or shall I say； what ignorance？
〃The authorities of West Point have entered an interdict against the cadets loaning their sashes and other military adornments to young ladies； and great is the force of feminine indignation。〃 Summer of 1873。
COME KISS ME； LOVE。
A young lieutenant at the Academy and his fiancée were seen by an old maid at the hotel to kiss each other。 At the first opportunity she reproved the fair damsel for； to her； such unmaidenly conduct。 With righteous indignation she repelled the reproof as follows：
〃Not let Skiss me！ Why； I should die！〃 Then lovingly；
〃Come kiss me； love； list not what they say； Their passions are cold； wasted away。 They know not how two hearts like ours are Long to mingle i' the sweetness o' the kiss； That like the soft light of a heavenly star； As it wanders from its world to this； Diffuses itself through ev'ry vein And meets on the lips to melt again。〃
CHAPTER XV。
GRADUATIONIN THE ARMY。
〃Patience is bitter； but its fruit is sweet。〃
MY four years were drawing to a close。 They had been years of patient endurance and hard and persistent work； interspersed with bright oases of happiness and gladness and joy； as well as weary barren wastes of loneliness； isolation； unhappiness； and melancholy。 I believe I have dischargedI know I have tried to do soevery duty faithfully and conscientiously。 It had been a sort of bittersweet experience； this experimental life of mine at West Point。 It was almost over； and whatever of pure sweetness； whatever of happiness； or whatever reward fortune had in store for me； was soon to become known。
〃Speaking of the Military Academy； we understand that the only colored cadet now at West Point will not only graduate at the coming June commencement； but that his character； acquirements； and standing on the merit roll are such as will insure his graduation among the highest of his class。〃Harper's Weekly； April 28th； 1877。
All recitations of the graduating class were discontinued on the last scholar day of May。 On June 1st examination began。 The class was first examined in mineralogy and geology。 In this particular subject I 〃maxed it；〃 made a thorough recitation。 I was required to discuss the subject of 〃Mesozoic Time。〃 After I had been examined in this subject Bishop Quintard； of Tennessee； a member of the Board of Visitors； sent for me； and personally congratulated me on my recitation of that day； as well as for my conduct during the whole four years。 My hopes never were higher； I knew I would graduate。 I felt it； and I made one last effort for rank。 I wanted to graduate as high up as possible。 I was not without success； as will subsequently appear。 The New York Herald was pleased to speak as follows of my recitation in mineralogy and geology：
〃To…day the examination of the first class in mineralogy and geology was completed； and the first section was partially examined in engineering。 In the former studies the class acquitted themselves in a highly creditable manner； and several members have shown themselves possessed of abilities far above the average。 The class has in its ranks a son of General B。 F。 Butler； Hon。 John Bigelow's son； and sons of two ex…Confederate officers。 Flipper； the colored cadet； was examined to…day； and produced a highly favorable impression upon the board not less by his ready and intelligent recitation than by his modest； unassuming； and gentlemanly manner。 There is no doubt that he will pass； and he is said to have already ordered a cavalry uniform； showing that he has a predilection for that branch of the service。〃
The class was next examined in law。 In this； also； I exceeded my most sanguine expectations； again 〃maxing it〃 on a thorough recitation。 My subject was 〃Domicile。〃 Senator Maxey； of the Board of Visitors； questioned me closely。 The Bishop of Tennessee left his seat in the board； came outside when the section was dismissed； and shook my hand in hearty congratulation。 These were the proudest moments of my life。 Even some of my own classmates congratulated me on this recitation。 All that loneliness； dreariness； and melancholy of the four years gone was forgotten。 I lived only in the time being and was happy。 I was succeeding； and was meeting with that success which humble effort never fails to attain。
The New York Tribune joins in with its good words as follows：
LIEUTENANT FLIPPER； THE COLORED GRADUATE OF WEST POI
