henry ossian flipper-第6部分

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d。　I　hastened　to　my　quarters；　and　a　short　while　after　was　turned　out　to　take　possession　of　my　baggage。　I　lugged　it　to　my　room；　was　shown　the　directions　on　the　back　of　the　door　for　arrangement　of　articles；　and　ordered　to　obey　them　within　half　an　hour。　The　parts　of　the　regulations　referred　to　are　the　following：

　　　　　　　　　SPECIAL　REGULATIONS　FOR　BARRACKS。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ORDERLIES　OF　ROOMS。

The　particular　attention　of　Orderlies　is　directed　to　those　paragraphs　of　the　Regulations　for　the　U。　S。　Military　Academy　specifying　their　duties。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CADETS。

The　hours　of　Recitation　of　each　Cadet　will　be　posted　on　the　back　of　the　door　of　his　room。　When　a　room　is　being　washed　out　by　the　policeman；　on　reporting　to　the　Officer　of　the　Day；　and　stating　to　him　the　number　of　some　room　in　his　own　Division　he　wishes　to　visit；　a　Cadet　will　be　permitted　to　visit　that　particular　room　until　his　own　can　be　occupied。　The　uniform　coat　will　be　worn　from　8　till　10　A。M。；　at　Inspection　before　10　A。M。　the　coat　will　be　buttoned　throughout；　at　Sunday　Morning　Inspection　gloves　and　side…arms　will　also　be　worn。　After　10　A。M。　any　uniform　garment　or　dressing…gown　may　be　worn　in　their　own　rooms；　but　at　no　time　will　Cadets　be　in　their　shirt…　sleeves　unnecessarily。　During　the　〃Call　to　Quarters；〃　between　〃Inspection　Call〃　in　the　morning　and　〃Tattoo；〃　the　following　Arrangement　of　Furniture；　etc。；　will　be　required：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ACCOUTREMENTS。

Dress　CapOn　gun…rack　shelf。

Cartridge　Boxes；　Waist　Belts；　Sabres；　Forage　Caps　Hung　on　pegs　near　gun…rack　shelf。

MusketsIn　gunrack；　Bayonets　in　the　scabbards。

SpursHung　on　peg　with　Sabres。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BEDSTEADS　AND　BEDDING。

BedsteadsIn　alcove；　against　side　wall　of　the　room；　the　head　against　the　back　wall。

BeddingMattress　to　be　folded　once；　Blankets　and　Comforters；　each　one　to　be　neatly　and　separately　folded；　so　that　the　folds　shall　be　of　the　width　of　an　ordinary　pillow；　and　piled　at　the　head　of　the　BEDSTEAD　in　the　following　order；　viz。：　MATTRESS；　SHEETS；　PILLOWS；　BLANKETS；　and　COMFORTERS；　the　front　edge　of　sheets；　pillows；　etc。；　to　be　vertical。　On　Sunday　afternoons　the　BEDS　may　be　made　down　and　used。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CLOTHES…PRESS。

BooksOn　the　top　of　the　Press；　against　the　wall；　and　with　the　backs　to　the　front。　BRUSHES　（tooth　and　hair）；　COMBS；　SHAVING　IMPLEMENTS　and　MATERIALS；　such　small　boxes　as　may　be　allowed；　vials；　etc。；　to　be　neatly　arranged　on　the　upper　shelf。　BELTS；　COLLARS；　GLOVES；　HANDKERCHIEFS；　SOCKS；　etc。；　to　be　neatly　arranged　on　the　second　shelf　from　the　top。　SHEETS；　PILLOW…CASES；　SHIRTS；　DRAWERS；　WHITE　PANTS；　etc。；　to　be　neatly　arranged　on　the　other　shelves；　the　heaviest　articles　on　the　lower　shelves。

ArrangementAll　articles　of　the　same　kind　are　to　be　carefully　and　neatly　placed　in　separate　piles。　The　folded　edges　of　these　articles　to　be　to　the　front；　and　even　with　the　front　edge　of　the　shelf。　Nothing　will　be　allowed　between　these　piles　of　clothing　and　the　back　of　the　press；　unless　the　want　of　room　on　the　front　edge　renders　it　necessary。

Dirty　ClothesTo　be　kept　in　clothes…bag。

Shoes　and　Over…ShoesTo　be　kept　clean；　dusted；　and　arranged　in　a　line　where　they　can　be　seen　by　the　Inspector；　either　at　the　foot　of　the　bedstead　or　at　the　side　near　the　foot。

Woollen　Clothing；　Dressing…Gown；　and　Clothes…Bag　To　be　hung　on　the　pegs　in　alcove　in　the　following　general　order；　from　the　front　of　the　alcove　to　the　back：　Over…Coat；　Dressing…Gown；　Uniform　Coats；　Jackets；　Pants；　Clothes…Bag。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FURNITURE。

BroomTo　be　kept　behind　the　door。　TIN　BOX　for　CLEANING　MATERIALSTo　be　kept　clean　and　in　the　fire…place。　　SPITTOON　To　be　kept　on　one　side　of　the　hearth　near　mantel…piece。　CHAIRS　and　TABLES　On　no　occasion　to　be　in　alcoves；　the　chairs；　when　not　in　use；　to　be　against　the　owners'　tables。　LOOKING…GLASSAt　the　centre　of　the　mantel…piece。　WASH…STANDTo　be　kept　clean；　in　front　and　against　alcove　partition。　WASH…BASINTo　be　kept　clean；　and　inverted　on　the　top　of　the　Wash…stand。　WATER…BUCKET　To　be　kept　on　shelf　of　wash…stand。　SLOP…BUCKET　To　be　kept　near　to　and　on　side　of　Wash…stand；　opposite　door。　Baskets；　Pictures；　Clocks；　Statues；　Trunks；　and　large　Boxes　will　NOT　be　allowed　in　quarters。

CurtainsWINDOW…CURTAINSOnly　uniform　allowed；　and　to　be　kept　drawn　back　during　the　day。　　ALCOVE　CURTAINSOnly　uniform　allowed；　and　to　be　kept　drawn；　except　between　〃Tattoo〃　and　〃Reveille〃　and　when　dressing。　CURTAINS　OF　CLOTHES…PRESSTo　be　kept　drawn；　except　when　policing　room。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FLOOR。

To　be　kept　clean；　and　free　from　grease…spots　and　stains。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WALLS　AND　WOOD…WORK。

To　be　kept　free　from　cobwebs；　and　not　to　be　injured　by　nails　or　otherwise。

　　　　　　　　　　　HEATING　APPARATUS；　SCREEN　AND　TOP。

To　be　kept　clean；　and　not　to　be　scratched　or　defaced。

These　Regulations　will　be　strictly　obeyed　and　enforced。

By　order　of　LIEUT。…COLONEL　UPTON；　GEORGE　L。　TURNER；　Cadet　Lieut。　and　Adjutant。

HEADQUARTERS；　CORPS　OF　CADETS；　West　Point；　N。　Y。；　Sept。　4；　1873。

　　　　　　　　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　ad