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ed。〃 I feared he would go to the cadet quartermaster； who had charge of the arrangement of seats； and have my seat changed without authority。 I reported to the officer in charge of the new cadets； and explained the whole affair to him。
〃You take the seat；〃 said he； 〃assigned you in the guard house〃the plan of the church； with names written on the pews； was kept here； so that cadets could consult it and know where their seats were 〃and if anybody wants you to change it tell them I ordered you to keep it。〃
The next Sabbath I took it。 I was ordered to change it。 I refused on the authority just given above。 The sergeant then went to the commandant of cadets； who by some means got the impression that I desired to change my seat。 He sent for me and emphatically ordered me to keep the seat which had by his order been assigned me。 Thus the effort to change my seat； made by the third…classman through the sergeant； but claimed to have been made by me； failed。 It was out of the question for it to be otherwise。 If the sergeant had wanted the seat himself he would in all probability have got it； because he was my senior in class and lineal rank。 But the third…classman was my junior in both； and therefore could not； by any military regulation； get possession of what I was entitled to by my superior rank。 And the effort to do so must be regarded a marvellous display of stupidity； or a belief on the part of the cadet that I could be imposed upon with impunity； simply because I was alone and had shown no disposition to quarrel or demand either real or imaginary rights。
While in New York during my furloughsummer of '75 I was introduced to one of her wealthy bankers。 We conversed quite a while on various topics； and finally resumed the subject on which we began； viz。； West Point。 He named a cadet； whom I shall call for convenience John； and asked if I knew him。 I replied in the affirmative。 After asking various other questions of him； his welfare； etc。； he volunteered the following bit of information：
〃Oh！ yes；〃 said he； 〃I've known John for several years。 He used to peddle newspapers around the bank here。 I was agreeably surprised when I heard he had been appointed to a cadetship at West Point。 The boys who come in almost every morning with their papers told me John was to sell me no more papers。 His mother has scrubbed out the office here； and cleaned up daily for a number of years。 John's a good fellow though； and I'm glad to know of his success。〃
This information was to me most startling。 There certainly was nothing dishonorable in that sort of labornay； even there was much in it that deserved our highest praise。 It was honest； humble work。 But who would imagine from the pompous bearing assumed by the gentleman that he ever peddled newspapers； or that his mother earned her daily bread by scrubbing on her knees office floors？ And how does this compare with the average negro？
It is not to me very pleasant to thus have another's private history revealed； but when it is done I can't help feeling myself better in one sense at least than my self…styled superiors。 I certainly am not really one thing and apparently another。 The distant haughtiness assumed by some of them； and the constant endeavor to avoid me； as if I were 〃a stick or a stone； the veriest poke of creation；〃 had no other effect than to make me feel as if I were really so； and to discourage and dishearten me。 I hardly know how I endured it all so long。 If I were asked to go over it all again； even with the experience I now have； I fear I should fail。 I mean of course the strain on my mind and sensitiveness would be so great I'd be unable to endure it。
There is that in every man； it has been said； either good or bad； which will manifest itself in his speech or acts。 Keeping this in mind while I constantly study those around me； I find myself at times driven to most extraordinary conclusions。 If some are as good as their speech； then； if I may be permitted to judge； they have most devoutly observed that blessed commandment； 〃Honor thy father and thy mother； that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee；〃 in that they have profited by their teaching both mentally and morally。
On the other hand； we hear from many the very worst possible language。 Some make pardonable errors； while others make blunders for which there can be no excuse save ignorance。 Judging their character by their speech； what a sad condition must be theirs； and more； what a need for missionary work！
This state of affairs gives way in the second； and often in the first year； to instruction and discipline。 West Point's greatest glory arises from her unparalleled success in polishing these rough specimens and sending them forth 〃officers and gentlemen。〃 No college in the country has such a 〃heterogeneous conglomeration〃to quote Dr。 Johnsonof classes。 The highest and lowest are represented。 The glory of free America； her recognition of equality of all men； is not so apparent anywhere else as at West Point。 And were prejudice entirely obliterated； then would America in truth be that Utopia of which so many have but dreamed。 It is rapidly giving way to better reason； and the day is not far distant when West Point will stand forth as the proud exponent of absolute social equality。 Prejudice weakens； and ere long will fail completely。 The advent of general education sounds its death knell。 And may the day be not afar off when America shall proclaim her emancipation from the basest of all servitudes； the subservience to prejudice！
After feeling reasonably sure of success； I have often thought that my good treatment was due in a measure to a sort of apprehension on the part of the cadets that； when I should come to exercise command over them； I would use my authority to retaliate for any ill…treatment I had suffered。 I have thought this the case with those especially who have been reared in the principles of prejudice； and often in none other； for 〃prejudices； it is well known； are the most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilized by education。 They grow there as firm as weeds among rocks。〃
When the time did come； and I proved by purely gentlemanly conduct that it was no harder； no more dishonorable； to be under me than under others； this reserve vanished to a very great extent。 I might mention instances in which this is evident。
At practical engineering； one day； three of us were making a gabion。 One was putting in the watling； another keeping it firmly down； while I was preparing it。 I had had some instruction on a previous day as to how it should be made； but the two others had not。 When they had put in the watling to within the proper distance of the top they began trimming off the twigs and butt ends of the withes。 I happened to turn toward the gabion and observed what they were doing。 In a tone of voice； and with a familiarity that surprised my own self； I exclaimed； 〃Oh； don't do that。 Don't you see if you cut those off before sewing； the whole thing will come to pieces？ Secure the ends first and then cut off the twigs。〃
They stopped working； listened attentively； and one of them replied； 〃Yes； that would be the m