United States Military Academy West Point - Howitzer Yearbook (West Point, NY)

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3333333 33 3l3333333 3f333l3 3333.Wll - A CCQRDTNG to the long standing custom, so old that the memory of man runneth not to the contrary, a preface to a book usually takes the form of an apology for its existence. This is certainly the conclusion we have come to after carefully reading during four years the numerous specially prepared volumes of balderdash passing incognito as text-books. .For this reason we have finally decided on a new -departure, in presenting a book which would be '4 'X able to stand on its own legs, as it were, without the support of 'H a quibbling, apologetic preface. Still 'this book has a purpose-a purpose which to many of us now is perhaps not even superficially apparent. Four years ago we made our appearance here on the eve of a great revolution. Everything was hanging in suspense, even the clock in the guard house stood still, waiting for a move which was sure to come. There were rumors, mutterings, vibrations, everything was a-quiver., Suddenly the storm broke-and-1904 was caught in the deluge. Of -those days much has been written, more spoken, but only 1904 knows the quantity of gray matter that was expended in thought. We were the victims both before and after. VV e were the ones who' were charged year after year by each graduating class to keep up the old spirit in the corps. Now we stand alone, our work.is about finished. And you ask the question: Have we suc- fl-'fi Ei-59 S, Q p ceeded ?', Your answer is in the corps right now. The corridors of time are always open to the doubting. The comparison in some cases may be odious but surely convincing. To keep alive in our memory' those days of restraint and transition is the purpose of this book.' To some of us it will bring pleasant reminiscences made mellow by the magic touch of time-to others only grim reminders of toil and labor whose sting has been softened because they are part of the past. Our future is not a cloudless sky, but even if cloudy, we have the balm in knowing that at least a few of those fleecy clouds in that chimerical azure blue beyond must have a silver lining. Vvfe leave, hoping that the good-will and friendship existing between the different classes isras ripe and sincere as it has been pleasant to us. A ' II