s
THE B&TTALIOK.
an hour for dinner. A cadet’s time for
study is limited. Nearly all of the
morning is taken up in reciting, and the
afternoon is entirely taken up by prac
tice and drill, so that almost his only
time for study is at night. There are
also a large number of military duties
which, though necessary, curtail one’s
time, but are overlooked by the pro
fessors. The lower classes do not have
so very much to do and some of their
members go through with very little
study, but this is not the case with the
higher classes. The requirements for
admission are very low and in attempt
ing to bring the requirements for gradu
ation up to a sufficiently high standard,
and cover the ground necessary, the
professors put too much work on the
students. Moreover, those who have a
taste for literature, history and other
branches in which their course is de-
iicient, have no time for outside reading
or special study. The time between
5 and 6 o’clock is spent at drill.
One would hardly think in looking at
the squads or “fish” at the beginning of
the year, that their awkward movements
would be so toned down that within two
months their company drill would be
perfect. The change in the cadets them
selves is indeed wonderful. Neverthe
less a rainy day is always hailed with de
light, and there is nothing that is so
pleasing as “recall.” Supper comes about
f> o’clock and between supper and study
call there is a short interim which is the
most enjoyable time of the day. Some
in one room dancing, some in another
listening to music, some walking around
or paying a visit. It affords a pleas an
relaxation that fits him better for study
when study call is sounded at 7:30.
Tattoo sounds at 0:45 and taps at 10
o’clock. He is not required to go to b&l
at that time, but on account of the day’s
work and the early rising he generally
goes to sleep about that time. One by
one the lights go out, and as the sad
sweet notes of the beautiful taps come
stealing softly through the still night air,
let us hope that his sleep may be peace
ful and that in his dreams there may
come sweet visions of home and parents,
friends and sweetheart. Nemo.
The Present and Future.
We live in the past by a knowledge of
its history and in the future by a contem
plation of its events. A few short years
do not bound our existence nor does a
definite spot of the earth’s surface mark
our dwelling place. We are allied to
our ancestors and allied to our posterity.
The conquests of the past dazzle us with
sdlendor and we are lost in the imagina
tion of the future. We are proud of the
attainments of the present and theorize
upon the events of coming years. We
collect and concentrate present indica
tions to solve the difficult problems of
the twentieth century. Our strides of
advancement are imperceptible and their
termination invisible.
Our grand achievments suggest perfec
tion, yet our destiny may be fatal. We
live in an age of fashionable aristocracy,
and the social world is drifting on in
wild delusion. Wealth expended for
pleasure exceeds the income for honest
toil. The sparkle of diamonds and the'
rustle of silks lead captive their wayward
followers. Extravagance saps the foun
dation of our social system and tramples
under foot our fellow man. Avarice and
and' luxury undermine our social and
church government. Theaters and beer