"Well, sir, don't you intend to answer me?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, sir, step it out. What were you grinning at?"

"Nothing, sir."

"Nothing! Well, sir, you're a pretty thing to be
grinning at nothing. Get in ranks."

The inspection would, after many such interruptions,
be continued. Ranks would at length be closed and the
command, "In place, rest!" given. The battalion would
march in from parade at double time and form in the
area to our rear. The delinquencies of the day previous
would then be published by the cadet adjutant.

What most strikes a "plebe" is this same publication.
He hasn't the remotest idea of what it is. Not a word
uttered by the adjutant is understood by him. He stands
and wonders what it is. A perfect jargon of words,
unintelligible and meaningless to him! I remember
distinctly how I used to wonder, and how I was laughed
at when I asked for information concerning it. We
"plebes" used to speak of it often, and wonder if it
was not French. When we were better acquainted with
the rules and customs of the Academy we learned what
it was. It was something of this nature, read from the