henry ossian flipper-第30章
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would be destroyed。 There would be crowding and opening out of the ranks； and it would all originate in my immediate vicinity。 The file…closers； never over…scrupulous when I was concerned； and especially when they could forward their own 〃popularity…boning〃 interests； would report me for these disorders in the company。 I would get demerits and punishment for what the plebes next to me were really responsible for。 The plebes would not be reported； because if they were their inexperience would plead strongly in their favor； and any reasonable explanation of an offence would suffice to insure its removal。 I was never overfond of demerits or punishments； and therefore strenuously opposed any thing that might give me either； for instance； having plebes put next to me in ranks。
Toward the end of the year the plebes； having learned more about me and the way the corps looked upon me； became as eager to avoid me as the others。 Not； however； all the plebes； for there were some who； when they saw others trying to avoid falling in next to me； would deliberately come and take their places there。 These plebes； or rather yearlings now； were better disciplined； and； of course； my own scruples vanished。
During the last few months of the year no distinction was made； save by one or two high…toned ones。
When the next class of plebes were put in the battalion； the old cadets began to thrust them into the front rank next to me。 At first I was indignant； but upon second thought I determined to tolerate it until I should be reported for some offence which was really an offence of the plebes。 I intended to then explain the case； à priori； in my written explanation to the commandant。 I knew such a course would cause a discontinuance of the practice； which was plainly malicious and contrary to regulations。 Fortunately； however； for all concerned； the affair was noticed by an officer； and by him summarily discontinued。 I was glad of this； for the other course would have made the cadets more unfriendly； and would have made my condition even worse than it was。 Thereafter I had no further trouble with the plebes。
One day； during my yearling camp； when I happened to be on guard； a photographer； wishing a view of the guard； obtained permission to make the necessary negative。 As the officer of the day desired to be 〃took〃 with the guard； he came down to the guard tents； and the guard was 〃turned out〃 for him by the sentinel。 He did not wish it then； and accordingly so indicated by saluting。 I was sitting on a camp…stool in the shade reading。 A few minutes after the officer of the day came。 I heard the corporal call out； 〃Fall in the guard。〃 I hurried for my gun； and passing near and behind the officer of the day； I heard him say to the corporal：
〃Say； can't you get rid of that nigger？ We don't want him in the picture。〃
The corporal immediately ordered me to fetch a pail of water。 As he had a perfect right to thus order me； being for the time my senior officer； I proceeded to obey。 While taking the pail the officer of the day approached me and most politely asked： 〃Going for water； Mr。 Flipper？〃
I told him I was。
〃That's right；〃 continued he； 〃do hurry。 I'm nearly dead of thirst。〃
It is simply astonishing to see how these young men can stoop when they want any thing。 A cadet of the second classwhen I was in the third classwas once arrested for a certain offence； and； from the nature of the charge； was likely to be court…martialed。 His friends made preparation for his defence。 As I was not ten feet from him at the time specified in the charge； my evidence would be required in the event of a trial。 I was therefore visited by one of his friends。 He brought paper and pencil and made a memorandum of what I had to say。 The cadet himself had the limits of his arrest extended and then visited me in person。 We conversed quite a while on the subject； and； as my evidence would be in his favor； I promised to give it in case he was tried。 He thanked me very cordially； asked how I was getting along in my studies； expressed much regret at my being ostracized； wished me all sorts of success； and again thanking me took his leave。
There is an article in the academic regulations which provides or declares that no citizen who has been a cadet at the Military Academy can receive a commission in the regular army before the class of which he was a member graduates； unless he can get the written consent of his former classmates。
A classmate of mine resigned in the summer of '75； and about a year after endeavored to get a commission。 A friend and former classmate drew up the approval； and invited the class to his 〃house〃 to sign it。 When half a dozen or more had signed it； it was sent to the guard… house； and the corporal of the guard came and notified me it was there for my consideration。 I went to the guard… house at once。 A number of cadets were sitting or standing around in the room。 As soon as I entered they became silent and remained so； expecting； no doubt； I'd refuse to sign it； because of the treatment I had received at their hands。 They certainly had little cause to expect that I would add my signature。 Nevertheless I read the paper over and signed it without hesitation。 Their anxiety was raised to the highest possible pitch； and scarcely had I left the room ere they seized the paper as if they would devour it。 I heard some one who came in as I went out ask； 〃Did he sign it？〃
Another case of condescension on the part of an upper classman occurred in the early part of my third year at the Academy； and this time in the mess hall。 We were then seated at the tables by classes。 Each table had a commandant； who was a cadet captain； lieutenant or sergeant； and in a few instances a corporal。 At each table there was also a carver； who was generally a corporal； occasionally a sergeant or private。 The other seats were occupied by privates； and usually in this order： first…classmen had first and second seats； second…classmen second and third seats； third… classmen third and fourth seats； and fourth…classmen fourth and fifth seats； which were at the foot of the table。 I had a first seat； although a second…classman。 For some reason a first…classman； who had a first seat at another table； desired to change seats with me。 He accordingly sent a cadet for me。 I went over to his room。 I agreed to make the change； provided he himself obtained permission of the proper authorities。 It was distinctly understood that he was to take my seat； a first seat； and I was to take his seat； also a first seat。 He obtained permission of the superintendent of the mess hall； and also a written permit from the commandant。 The change was made； but lo and behold！ Instead of a first seat I got a third。 The agreement was thus violated by him； my superior （？）； and I was dissatisfied。 The whole affair was explained to the commandant； not； however； by myself； but by my consent； the permit revoked； and I gained my former first seat。 A tactical officer asked me； 〃Why did you exchange with him？ Has he ever done any thing for you？〃
I told him he had not； and that I did it merely to oblige him。 It was immaterial to me at what table I sat； provided I had a seat consistent with the dignity of my class。
The baseness of character displayed by the gentleman； the reflection on myself and class would have evoked a complaint from me had not a classmate anticipated me by doing so himself。
This gentleman （？） was practically 〃cut〃 by the whole corps。 He was spoken to； and that was about all that made his status in the corps better than mine。
Just after the semiannual examination following this adventure； another； more ridiculous still； occurred； of which I was the innocent cause。 The dismissal of a number of deficient plebes and others made necessary a rearrangement of seats。 The commandant saw fit to have it made according to class rank。 It changed completely the former arrangement； and gave me a third seat。 A classmate； who was senior to me； had the second seat。 He did not choose to take it； and for two or more weeks refused to do so。 I had the second seat during all this time； while he was fed in his quarters by his chum。 He had a set of miniature cooking utensils in his own room； and frequently cooked there； using the gas as a source of heat。 These were at last 〃hived；〃 and he was ordered to 〃 turn them in。 He went to dinner one day when I was absent on guard。 At supper he appeared again。 Some one asked him how it was he was there； glancing at the same time at me。 He laughedit was plainly forced and replied； 〃I forgot to fall out。〃
He came to his meals the next day； the next； and every succeeding day regularly。 Thus were his scruples overcome。 His refusing to go to his meals because he had to sit next to me was strongly disapproved by the corps for two reasons； viz。； that he ought to be man enough not to thrust on others what he himself disliked； and that as others for two years had had seats by me； he ought not to complain because it now fell to his lot to have one there too。
Just after my return； in September； 1875； from a furlough of two months； an incident occurred which； explained； will give some idea of the low； unprincipled manner in which some of the cadets have acted toward me。 It was at cavalry drill。 I was riding a horse that was by no means a favorite with us。 He happened to fall to my lot that day； and I rather liked him。 His greatest faults were a propensity for kicking and slight inequality in the length of his legs。 We were marching in a column of fours； and at a slow walk。 I turned my head for some purpose； and almost simultaneously my horse plunged headlong into the fours in front of me。 It was with difficulty that I retained my seat。 I supposed that when I turned my head I had accidentally spurred him； thus causing him to plunge forward。 I regained my proper place in ranks。
None of this was seen by the instructor； who was riding at the head of the column。 Shortly after this I noticed that those near me were laughing。 I turned my head to observe the cause and caught the trooper on my left in the act of spurring my horse。 I looked at him long and fiercely； while he desisted and hung his head。 Not long afterwards the same thing was repeated； and this time was seen by the instructor； who happened to wheel about as my horse rushed forward。 He immediately halted the column； and； approaching； asked me； 〃What is the matter with that horse； Mr。 F。？〃 To which I replied； 〃The trooper on my left persists in kicking and spurring him； so that I can do nothing with him。〃
He then caused another trooper in another set of fours to change places with me； and thereafter all went well。
Notwithstanding the secrecy of hazing； and the great care which those who practised it took to prevent being 〃hived；〃 they sometimes overreached themselves and were severely punished。 Cases have occurred where cadets have been dismissed for hazing； while others have been less severely punished。
Sometimes； also； the joke； if I may so call it； has been turned upon the perpetrators to their utter discomfort。 I will cite an instance。
Quite often in camp two robust plebes are selected and ordered to report at a specified tent just after the battalion returns from supper。 When they report each is provided w
