Eastern High School - Punch and Judy Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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22 tions of the United States Army might prove an interesting little volume. At- tention to detail is of paramount import- ance The order for issuing the new style rifle to military academies and schools has been rescinded by the War Depart- ment, This new rifle, which the regular army is employing, is a very valuable firearm. The cadets were greatly disap- pointed when it was discovered that the supply of rifles was not sufficient to carry out the order. No hardship is entailed, however, as the style rifle at present used by the cadets is a capable weapon em- ployed by the United States Marine Corps. : Company F is at present progressing very favorably and the other companies feel that they have a very worthy rival in our Eastern organization. The necessity of indoor drills caused by unfavorable weather should and has to a great extent called forth the best efforts of the boys. Individual competitive drills, an annual feature of the season’s work, have marked several recent drill days. In the first of these events on December 9, 1900, Cadets Lowe, Hawley, Smith and Keith finished in the order named; in the sec- ond, on December 13, 1909, Cadets Whitman, Manning and Beck, while in the third, on January 3, 1910, Cadets Baldwin, Taylor and Weaver were suc cessful in the order named. All these boys should be congratulated on their work and urged to greater efforts. The quality of these drills has been such as to warrant the praise of several of the regimental officers. It is important that each cadet do his part because, as has been mentioned before, the finest cap- tain in the world cannot win the drill without every man in the ranks really earning his red ribbon. Several changes in the personnel of the regiment haye occurred since our last edition. Cadets Newbold and Spillman have been appointed first lieutenants and assigned as adjutant and quartermaster, Tespectively, on the staff of the Major The Easterner of the First Battalion. Of more interest to Easterners will be the commissioning of Cadet Roper as first lieutenant, and his assignment to the vacancy in the quartermastership on the staff of the Major of the Second Battalion. To fill the vacancy made by the promotion of Cadet Roper, James Defandorf has been made First Sergeant of Company F. The other sergeants now are: Second, Fred Sanderson; Third, William Frost; Fourth, Stirling Wilson; Fifth, Ray- mond Simpson. Peyton Torbert was made corporal to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of Cadet Simpson. All these young. men deserve the heartiest congratulations. That the faculty and the school are supporting Company I was evidenced on the evening of Friday, December 17. Due to the kind interest of members of the faculty and some of the boys and girls, an inviting repast followed a vau- deville program, featured by several novel numbers. The boys also had the pleasure of hearing remarks suitable to the occasion from Dr. Small, ex-Captain Ransom and Cadet Weaver, to whom the medal was awarded for being the best drilled cadet, to be held for a definite period. Cadet Weaver deserves great credit for his achievement. The re- mainder of the evening was spent in dancing and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Beside the officers and ca- dets of the Eastern School, Colonel Schreiber, of the Regimental Staff, and Captain Covell, of Company A, were present. The heartiest thanks are ex- tended to the faculty and the school. The annual dance, given under the au- spices of the Regimental Staff, was held on Thursday, December 30, during the Christmas holidays. The ball room of the Arlington Hotel was the scene of this most important social affair of the school year and the brilliant scene pre- sented is one that will long be remem- bered. The Regimental dance of the year 1909-10 was a distinct success, both socially and financially.

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MILITARY NOTES The stage of the raw recruit has passed. The cadet organization is slow- ly rounding into that state of excellence which characterizes the name of the Washington High School Cadets throughout the country. The very fact that our regiment has such a reputation makes it imperative that each cadet, whether colonel, captain or private, should exercise the greatest care lest any indiscretion on his part may cast reflec- tion on his fellow cadets. Although it may appear trivial in itself to see a cadet walking down the street with his hat on the back of his head, consideration of the fact that a West Point cadet, the acknowledged model of the Washington High School cadet, would not commit stich an offense, should prompt a fellow to refrain from such an action. If the High School cadets are to be still superior to other military organizations of their kind, can we afford to commit such breaches of discipline and thus expose ourselves to criticism? It is the duty of every cadet to pride and respect that uni- form, which fellows like Linthicum, Lib- rand and Barnes saw fit to revere. Discipline, that quality without which an army is like a ship without a rudder, again demands our attention. Steadi- ness, that requisite of every winning company, is not as strongly noticeable in some of our companies as it might be. Che tendency of some cadets to giggle and grin over nothing must be suppressed if a company has those treasured ribbons as its goal. The twiddling of one’s fingers may not seem important enough for an officer's correction according to the private’s point of view, but the judge on the drill field deems it worthy of his attention. The statue-like set-up, the un- ruffled steadiness and the famous disci- pline of the West Pointer, should be al- ways kept in mind, When a company has discipline, the excellence of the drill is immediately evi- dent. Conformity to discipline leaves the attention for consideration of the details of the drill. The arm swing, the length of the step, the cadence, the position of the eyes, the angle of the piece and num- erous other matters of detail suffer neg- lect unless the attention of the cadet is properly concentrated. More than half of the cadets do not know the difference in length between full step, half step, side step and back step due to lack of attention to drill caused by laxity of dis- cipline. If anyone would care to learn these details, the Infantry Drill Regula-

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The Kasterner The annual dance given by the officers of Company F will be held at Mes Dyer's, 1517 R Street, Northwest, Fue day, February 11. The medal for the best drilled cadet to be held for a period of three weeks, was awarded to Cadet Taylor. , Sorrows of a Soldier Tt was a handsome Senior, Who stopped me on the street; I was quite proud to talk to him, He looked so very neat. But, though he wore a martial air, J knew he was in woe, And, giving me his confidence, He said in accents low: “T do not mind the drilling ; I love the uniform; The girls all think its killing ; I take their hearts by storm. “But while I drill the company, Though I receive respect, As soon as they’re dismissed from ranks, They start this song direct: “Oh, it’s stand erect upon your feet, And face the proper way; I'll teach ye how to soldier, If I keep you here all day.’” I gave him of my sympathy ; His frown became a smile; He tipped his hat and left me In true military style. And while it may be simply pride That makes it so appear, I feel that Eastern’s company Is far the best this year. To our Captain of Company F, 1909-10. Unpine Bascock, 3C. Johnny—Paw, what is the rest of the quotation, “Truth is mighty”? Father—Scarce, I reckon. 23 The Perfidy of Dr. Cook Ba SO) upon a summer day, a aoe a Doctor Cook and say, ii a He had found what men had sought, he Pole, where only cold was caught. And straightway all i i d y all the world did s ais man, who did so boldly raise sate Jur flag, and fling it to the breeze, At this, the top of earth and seas. And then, upon another day, So close as quite to take away One's breath, Lieutenant Peary came, The same discovery to claim. Tt was as if into a crowd A bomb were thrown, so fast and loud The tumult rose. And not a soul But asked which man had reached the goal. And then, from Copenhagen came Reports, which made Cook hide with : shame ; For never since the world began Had such a fraud been known to man. W. J. Mencert, 3B Ye sing of the days of heroes, When vikings ploughed the main; Of pirates bold in Southern seas— But ye utter these songs in vain. For they're gone and past recalling, And the present holds full sway ; And songs of a daring poleward dash Ring in our ears to-day. Into the frigid arctic zone; Into the cold ‘neath Northern Lights, Braving the things that strong men dread Through those silent e‘ernal nights. Doomed by self to this arduous search, Friend to none but the polar bear And midget men of alien race, These are the things explorers dare. All honor, then, to these brave men; The zenith rend with your praise, For they have dared and they have won, So sing not your ancient lays. W. Bascock, 3C.