henry ossian flipper-第6章

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　　　　　　　　At　the　end　of　the　time　specified　every　article　was　arranged　and　the　cadet　corporal　returned　to　inspect。　He　walked　deliberately　to　the　clothes…press；　and；　informing　me　that　every　thing　was　arranged　wrong；　threw　every　article　upon　the　floor；　repeated　his　order；　and　withdrew。　And　thus　three　times　in　less　than　two　hours　did　I　arrange　and　he　disarrange　my　effects。　I　was　not　troubled　again　by　him　till　after　supper；　when　he　inspected　again；　merely　opening　the　door；　however；　and　looking　in。　He　told　me　I　could　not　go　to　sleep　till　〃tattoo。〃　Now　tattoo；　as　he　evidently　used　it；　referred　in　some　manner　to　time；　and　with　such　reference　I　had　not　the　remotest　idea　of　what　it　meant。　I　had　no　knowledge　whatever　of　military　terms　or　customs。　However；　as　I　was　also　told　that　I　could　do　any　thingwriting；　etc。I　might　wish　to　do；　I　found　sufficient　to　keep　me　awake　until　he　again　returned　and　told　me　it　was　then　tattoo；　that　I　could　retire　then　or　at　any　time　within　half　an　hour；　and　that　at　the　end　of　that　time　the　light　must　be　extinguished　and　I　must　be　in　bed。　I　instantly　extinguished　it　and　retired。

Thus　passed　my　first　half　day　at　West　Point；　and　thus　began　the　military　career　of　the　fifth　colored　cadet。　The　other　four　were　Smith　of　South　Carolina；　Napier　of　Tennessee；　Howard　of　Mississippi；　and　Gibbs　of　Florida。

What　I　had　seen　and　experienced　during　the　few　hours　from　my　arrival　till　tattoo　filled　me　with　fear　and　apprehension。　I　expected　every　moment　to　be　insulted　or　struck；　and　was　not　long　in　persuading　myself　that　the　various　reports　which　I　had　heard　concerning　Smith　were　trueI　had　not　seen　him　yet；　or；　if　I　had；　had　not　recognized　himand　that　my　life　there　was　to　be　all　torture　and　anguish。　I　was　uneasy　and　miserable；　ever　thinking　of　the　regulations；　verbal　or　written；　which　had　been　given　me。　　How　they　haunted　me！　I　kept　repeating　them　over　and　over；　fearful　lest　I　might　forget　and　violate　them；　and　be　dismissed。　If　I　wanted　any　thing　or　wished　to　go　anywhere；　I　must　get　permission　of　the　cadet　officers　on　duty　over　us。　To　get　such　permission　I　must　enter　their　office　cleanly　and　neatly　dressed；　and；　taking　my　place　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　must　salute；　report　my　entrance；　make　known　my　wants；　salute　again；　and　report　my　departure。*　At　the　instant　I　heard　the　sound　of　a　drum　I　must　turn　out　at　a　run　and　take　my　place　in　the　ranks。

*Somewhat　after　this　fashion：　〃Candidate　F；　United　States　Military　Academy；　reports　his　entrance　into　this　office；　sir。〃　〃Well；　sir；　what　do　you　want　in　this　office？〃　〃I　desire　permission；　sir；　to　walk　on　public　lands　till　retreat。〃　〃No；　sir；　you　can't　walk　on　public　lands　till　retreat。　　Get　out　of　my　sight。〃　〃Candidate　F；　United　States　Military　Academy；　reports　his　departure　from　this　office；　sir。〃

At　five　o'clock　the　next　morning　two　unusual　sounds　greeted　my　earsthe　reveille；　and　a　voice　in　the　hall　below　calling　out　in　a　loud　martial　tone：

〃Candidates；　turn　out　promptly！〃　In　an　astonishingly　short　time　I　had　dressed；　〃turned　out；〃　and　was　in　ranks。　We　stood　there　as　motionless　as　statues　till　the　fifers　and　drummers　had　marched　up　to　barracks；　the　rolls　of　the　companies　had　been　called；　and　they　themselves　dismissed。　We　were　then　dismissed；　our　roll　having　been　also　called。　We　withdrew　at　a　run　to　our　quarters　and　got　them　ready　for　inspection；　which；　we　were　informed；　would　take　place　at　the　expiration　of　half　an　hour。　At　the　end　of　this　time　our　quarters　were　inspected　by　a　corporal。　In　my　own　room　he　upset　my　bedding；　kicked　my　shoes　into　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　ordered　me　to　arrange　them　again　and　in　better　order。　This　order　was　obeyed　immediately。　And　this　upsetting　was　done　in　every　room；　as　I　learned　afterward　from　the　occupants；　who；　strange　to　say；　manifested　no　prejudice　then。　'Twas　not　long　ere　they　learned　that　they　were　prejudiced；　and　that　they　abhorred　even　the　sight　of　a　〃dd　nigger。〃

Just　before；　or　perhaps　just　after　breakfast；　our　quarters　were　again　inspected。　This　time　I　was　somewhat　surprised　to　hear　the　corporal　say；　〃Very　well；　Mr。　Flipper；　very　well；　sir。〃

And　this　with　other　things　shows　there　was　a　friendly　feeling　toward　me　from　the　first。　After　having　thus　expressed　himself；　he　directed　me　to　print　my　name　on　each　of　four　pieces　of　paper；　and　to　tack　them　up　in　certain　places　in　the　room；　which　he　indicated　to　me。　I　did　this　several　times　before　I　could　please　him；　but　at　last　succeeded。　Another　corporal　visited　me　during　the　day　and　declared　everything　out　of　order；　although　I　had　not　touched　a　single　thing　after　once　satisfying　the　first　corporal。　Of　course　I　had　to　rearrange　them　to　suit　him；　in　which　I　also　finally　succeeded。

At　eleven　o'clock　the　mail　came。　I　received　a　letter；　and　to　my　astonishment　its　postmark　was　〃West　Point；　N。　Y。；　May　21st。〃　Of　course　I　was　at　a　loss　to　know　who　the　writer　was。　I　turned　it　over　and　over；　looked　at　it；　studied　the　postmark；　finally　opened　it　and　read　it。*

*This　letter　by　some　means　has　been　misplaced；　and　all　efforts　to　find　it；　or　to　discover　what　its　exact　contents　were；　have　failed。　However；　it　was　from　James　Webster　Smith；　the　first　and　then　only　cadet　of　color　at　West　Point。　It　reassured　me　very　much；　telling　me　not　to　fear　either　blows　or　insults；　and　advising　me　to　avoid　any　forward　conduct　if　I　wished　also　to　avoid　certain　consequences；　〃which；〃　said　the　writer；　〃I　have　learned　from　sad　experience；〃　would　be　otherwise　inevitable。　It　was　a　sad　letter。　I　don't　think　any　thing　has　so　affected　me　or　so　influenced　my　conduct　at　West　Point　as　its　melancholy　tone。　That　〃sad　experience〃　gave　me　a　world　of　warning。　I　looked　upon　it　as　implying　the　confession　of　some　great　error　made　by　him　at　some　previous　time；　and　of　its　sadder　consequences。

This　was　another　surprisea　welcome　surprise；　however。　I　read　it　over　several　times。　It　showed　me　plainly　that　Smith　had　not　been　dismissed；　as　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。

I　went　into　the　office　one　day；　and　standing　uncovered　at　about　the　middle　of　the　room；　in　the　position　of　the　soldier；　saluted　and　thus　addressed　a　cadet　officer　present：

〃Candidate　Flipper；　United　States　Military　Academy；　reports　his　entrance　into　this　office；　sir。〃

〃Well；　what　do　you　want？〃　was　the　rather　gruff　reply。

〃I　desire　permission　to　visit　Smith；　sir；〃　answered　I；　thoughtlessly　saying　〃Smith；〃　instead　of　〃Mr〃　or　〃Cadet　Smith。〃

He　instantly　sprang　from　his　seat　into　rather　close　proximity　to　my　person　and　angrily　yelled：

〃Well；　sir；　I　want　to　hear　you　say　'Mr。　Smith。'　I　want　you　to　understand；　sir；　he　is　a　cadet　and　you're　a　'plebe；'　and　I　don't　want　to　see　such　familiarity　on　your　part　again；　sir；〃　putting　particular　emphasis　on　〃Mr。〃

Having　thus　delivered　himself　he　resumed　his　seat；　leaving　me；　I　imagine；　more　scared　than　otherwise。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　asked　he　again；　after　a　pause　of　a　moment　or　so。

〃Permission　to　visit　Mr。　Smith。〃

Without　condescending　to　notice　for　the　time　my　request　he　gave　the　interview　a　rather　ludicrous　turn；　I　thought；　by　questioning　me　somewhat　after　this　manner：

〃Can　you　dance；　Mr。　Flipper？〃

Having　answered　this　to　his　entire　satisfaction；　he　further　asked：

〃Expect　to　attend　the　hops　this　summer？〃

〃Oh　no；　sir；〃　replied　I；　smiling；　as　he　also　was；　for　I　had　just　discovered　the　drift　of　his　questions。　After　mischievously　studying　my　countenance　for　a　moment；　he　returned　to　the　original　subject　and　queried；　〃Where　do　you　want　to　go？〃

I　told　him。

〃Well；　get　out　of　my　sight。〃

I　considered　the　permission　granted；　and　hastily　withdrew　to　take　advantage　of　it。

　　　　　　　　Between　breakfast　and　supper　those　of　us　who　had　been　there　at　least　a　day　had　quite　a　pleasant　time。　We　were　not　troubled　with　incessant　inspections　or　otherwise。　We　either　studied　for　examination　or　walked　around　the　grounds。　At　or　near　seven　o'clock；　the　time　of　retreat　parade；　we　were　formed　near　our　barracks　and　inspected。　Our　ranks　were　opened　and　the　cadet　lieutenant　inspected　our　clothing　and　appearance　generally。　A　not　infrequent　occurrence　on　these　occasions　was：

〃Well；　mister；　what　did　you　shave　witha　shoehorn？〃

At　this　we　would　smile；　when　the　lieutenant；　sergeant；　or　corporal　would　jump　at　us　and　yell：

〃Wipe　that　smile　off　your　face；　sir！　What　do　you　mean；　sir；　by　laughing　in　ranks？〃

If　any　one　attempted　to　reply　he　was　instantly　silenced　with

〃Well；　sir；　don't　reply　to　me　in　ranks。〃

The　inspection　would　be　continued。　Some　one；　unable　to　restrain　himselfthe　whole　affair　was　so　ridiculous　would　laugh　right　out　in　ranks。　He　was　a　doomed　man。

〃What　do　you　mean；　sir；　by　laughing　in　ranks；　sir？〃

Having　been　once　directed　not　to　reply　in　ranks；　the　poor　〃plebe〃　would　stand　mute。

〃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　〃Delinquency　Book：〃

　　　　　　　　　　　DELINQUENCIES；　TUESDAY；　OCT。　12。

　　　　　ADAMS。Late　at　reveille　roll…call。　　　　　　BEJAY。Sentinel　not　coming　to　〃Arms；　Port；〃　when　addressed　by　the　officer　of　the　day。