henry ossian flipper-第29章
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ring my second and third years I was the grateful recipient of several kindnesses at the hands of this same cadet； thus proving most conclusively that it was rather a cringing disposition； a dread of what others might say； or this dislike of the negro which I have mentioned； that caused him to utter those words； and not a prejudiced dislike of 〃them niggers；〃 for verily I had won his esteem。
Just after returning from this encampment to our winter quarters； I had another adventure with Smith； my chum； and Williams； which cost me dearly。
It was just after 〃evening call to quarters。〃 I knew Smith and Williams were in our room。 I had been out for some purpose； and was returning when it occurred to me to have some fun at their expense。 I accordingly walked up to the doorour 〃house〃 was at the head of the stairs and on the third floorand knocked； endeavoring to imitate as much as possible an officer inspecting。 They sprang to their feet instantly； assumed the position of the soldier； and quietly awaited my entrance。 I entered laughing。 They resumed their seats with a promise to repay me； and they did； for alas！ I was 〃hived。〃 Some cadet reported me for 〃imitating a tactical officer inspecting。〃 For this I was required to walk three tours of extra guard duty on three consecutive Saturdays； and to serve； besides； a week's confinement in my quarters。 The 〃laugh〃 was thus； of course； turned on me。
During the summer of '74； in my 〃yearling camp；〃 I made another effort at amusement； which was as complete a failure as the attempt with Smith and Williams。 I had been reported by an officer for some trifling offence。 It was most unexpected to me； and least of all from this particular officer。 I considered the report altogether uncalled for； but was careful to say nothing to that effect。 I received for the offence one or two demerits。 A short while afterwards； being on guard； I happened to be posted near his tent。 Determined on a bit of revenge； and fun too； at half…past eleven o'clock at night I placed myself near his tent； and called off in the loudest tone I could command； 〃No。half…past eleven o'clock； and all…l…l…l's well…l…l！〃 It woke him。 He arose； came to the front of his tent； and called me back to him。 I went； and he ordered me to call the corporal。 I did so。 When the corporal came he told him to 〃report the sentinel on No。for calling off improperly。〃 If I mistake not； I was also reported for not calling off at 12 P。M。 loud enough to be heard by the next sentinel。 Thus my bit of revenge recoiled twofold upon myself； and I soon discovered that I had been paying too dear for my whistle。
On another occasion during the same camp I heard a cadet say he would submit to no order or command of； nor permit himself to be marched anywhere by 〃the nigger；〃 meaning myself。 We were in the same company； and it so happened at one time that we were on guard the same day； and that I was the senior member of our company detail。 When we marched off the next day the officer of the guard formed the company details to the front； and directed the senior member of each fifteen to march it to its company street and dismiss it。 I instantly stepped to front and assumed command。 I marched it as far as the color line at 〃support arms；〃 brought them to a 〃carry〃 there and saluted the colors。 When we were in the company street； I commanded in loud and distinct tone； 〃Trail arms！ Break ranks！ March！〃 A cadet in a tent near by recognized my voice； and hurried out into the company street。 Meeting the cadet first mentioned above； he thus asked of him：
〃Did that nigger march you in？〃
〃Yes…es； the nigger marched us in；〃 speaking slowly and drawling it out as if he had quite lost the power of speech。
At the following semi…annual examination （January； '75）； the gentleman was put on the 〃retired list；〃 or rather on the list of 〃blasted hopes。〃 I took occasion to record the event in the following manner； changing of course the names：
FAILED。
SCENE。Hall of Cadet Barracks at West Point。 Characters： RANSOM and MARS； both Cadets。 RANSOM； who has been 〃found〃 at recent semiannual examination； meets his more successful chum； MARS； on the stoop。 After a moment's conversation； they enter the hall。
MARS （as they enter）。 Ah！ how！ what say？ Found！ Art going away？ Unfortunate rather！ 'm sorry！ but stay！ Who hadst thou？ How didst thou？ Badly； I'm sure。 Hadst done well they had not treated thee so。
RANSOM （sadly）。 Thou sayest aright。 I did do my best； Which was but poorly I can but confess。 The subject was hard。 I could no better Unless I'd memorized to the letter。
MARS。 Art unfortunate！ but tho' 'twere amiss Me half thinks e'en that were better than this。 Thou couldst have stood the trial； if no more Than to come out low。 That were better； 'm sure。
RANSOM。 But 'tis too late。 'Twas but an afterthought； Which now methinks at most is worth me naught； Le sort en est jetté； they say； you know； 'Twere idle to dream and still think of woe。
MARS。 Thou sayest well！ Yield not to one rebuff。 Thou'rt a man； show thyself of manly stuff。 The bugle calls！ I must away！ Adieu！ May Fortune grant； comrade； good luck to you！
They shake hands； MARS hurries out to answer the bugle call。 RANSOM prepares for immediate departure for home。）
〃O dear！ it is hawid to have this cullud cadet perfectly dre'fful。 I should die to see my Geawge standing next to him。〃 Thus did one of your models of womankind； one of the negro's superiors； who annually visit West Point to flirt； give vent to her opinion of the 〃cullud cadet；〃 an opinion thought out doubtless with her eyes； and for which she could assign no reason other than that some of her acquaintances； manifestly cadets； concurred in it； having perhaps so stated to her。 And the cadets； with their accustomed gallantry； have ever striven to evade 〃standing next to him。〃 No little amusement for such it was to mehas been afforded me by the many ruses they have adopted to prevent it。 Some of them have been extremely ridiculous； and in many cases highly unbecoming a cadet and a gentleman。
While I was a plebe； I invariably fell in in the rear rank along with the other plebes。 This is a necessary and established custom。 As soon as I became a third…classman； and had a right to fall in in the front rank whenever necessary or convenient； they became uneasy； and began their plans for keeping me from that rank。 The first sergeant of my company did me the honor of visiting me at my quarters and politely requested menot order me； for he had no possible authority for such an actto fall in invariably on the right of the rear rank。 To keep down trouble and to avoid any show of presumption or forwardness on my part； as I had been advised by an officer； I did as he requested； taking my place on the right of the rear rank at every formation of the company for another whole year。 But with all this condescension on my part I was still the object of solicitous care。 My falling in there did not preclude the possibility of my own classmates； now also risen to the dignity of third…classmen； falling in next to me。 To perfect his plan； then； the first sergeant had the senior plebe in the company call at his 〃house；〃 and take from the roster an alphabetical list of all the plebes in the company。 With this he （the senior plebe） was to keep a special roster； detailing one of his own classmates to fall in next to me。 Each one detailed for such duty was to serve one weekfrom Sunday morning breakfast to Sunday morning breakfast。 The keeper of the roster was not of course to be detailed。
It is astonishing how little care was taken to conceal this fact from me。 The plan； etc。； was formed in my hearing； and there seems to have been no effort or even desire to hide it from me。 Returning from supper one evening； I distinctly heard this plebe tell the sergeant that 〃Mr。 refused to serve。〃 〃You tell him；〃 said the sergeant； 〃I want to see him at my 'house' after supper。 If he doesn't serve I'll make it so hot for him he'll wish he'd never heard of West Point。〃
Is it not strange how these models of mankind； these our superiors； strive to thrust upon each other what they do not want themselves？ It is a meanness； a baseness； an unworthiness from which I should shrink。 It would be equally astonishing that men ever submit to it； were it not that they are plebes； and therefore thus easily imposed upon。 The plebe in this case at length submitted。
When I became a second…classman； no difference was made by the cadets in their manner of falling in； whether because their scruples were overcome or because no fitting means presented themselves for avoiding it； I know not。 If they happened to be near me when it was time to fall in； they fell in next to me。
In the spring of '76； our then first sergeant ordered us to fall in at all formations as nearly according to size as possible。 As soon as this order was given； for some unknown reason； the old régime was readopted。 If I happened to fall in next to a first…classman； and he discovered it； or if a first…classman fell in next to me； and afterward found it out； he would fall out and go to the rear。 The second and third…classmen； for no other reason than that first…classmen did it； 〃got upon their dignity； and refused to stand next to me。 We see here a good illustration of that cringing； 〃bone… popularity〃 spirit which I have mentioned elsewhere。
The means of prevention adopted now were somewhat different from those of a year before。 A file…closer would watch and follow me closely； and when I fell in would put a plebe on each side of me。 It was really amusing sometimes to see his eagerness； and quite as amusing； I may add； to see his dismay when I would deliberately leave the place thus hemmed in by plebes and fall in elsewhere。
We see here again that cringing disposition to which I believe the whole of the ill…treatment of colored cadets has been due。 The file…closers are usually second…class sergeants and third…class corporals。 By way of 〃boning popularity〃 with the upper classmen； they stoop to almost any thing。 In this case they hedged me in between the two plebes to prevent upper classmen from falling in next to me。
But it may be asked why I objected to having plebes next to me。 I would answer； for several reasons。 Under existing circumstances of prejudice； it was of the utmost importance to me to keep them away from me。 Firstand by no means the least important reasonto put them in the front rank was violating a necessary and established custom。 The plebes are put in the rear rank because of their inexperience and general ignorance of the principles of marching； dressing； etc。 If they are in the front rank； it would simply be absurd to expect good marching of them。 A second reason； and by far the most important； results directly from this one。 Being between two plebes； who would not； could not keep dressed； it would be impossible for me to do so。 The general alignment of the company would be destroyed。 There would be crowding and opening out of the ranks； and it would all originate
