had been reported to me at home. I at once formed
a better opinion of West Point than I before had,
and from that day my fears gradually wore away.

The candidates now reported rapidly, and we, who
had reported the day previous, were comparatively
undisturbed. At four o'clock I visited Smith at
his quarters by permission. My visit was necessarily
a short one, as he was then preparing for drill. It
sufficed, however, for us to become acquainted, and
for me to receive some valuable advice. An hour and
place were designated for us to meet next day, and I
took my leave of him. The "plebes" turned out en
masse, walked around the grounds and witnessed the
drilling of the battalion. We enjoyed it immensely.
They were that day skirmishing and using blank
cartridges. We thought the drill superb. I was asked
by a fellow-"plebe," "Think you'll like that?"

"Oh yes," said I, "when I can do it as easily as
they do."

We had quite a lengthy conversation about the fine
appearance of the cadets, their forms, so straight
and manly, evoking our greatest admiration. This,
alas! was our only conversation on any subject. The
gentleman discovered ere long that he too was
prejudiced, and thus one by one they "cut" me,
whether for prudential reasons or not I can not
presume to say.