The next morning we took our bundles, buckets, and brooms to barracks, and upon returning to camp we unfastened the tent cords and held up the canvas by the poles, and, at the tap of the drum at 12 o’clock, every tent was lowered to the ground, and “Camp McPherson” was no more. We then “fell in,” and to the tune of “The Girl I Left Behind Me” marched to barracks, leaving the summer visitors standing under the trees near where the guard tents had been. There were rooms enough so that every two cadets could have one together. Roommates having been chosen and rooms selected (according to rank, of course,) each cadet went to his own room, and there he found two single iron bedsteads and a double clothes-press. The old cadets got the balance of their effects (such as cadets are permitted to have in their rooms) from the trunk rooms, while the plebes got the articles they had there, and the balance, such as mattresses and tables, they went to the Commissary for, and carried them across the plain. Every one obtained at the Commissary the text-books he needed before Christmas, and by night all rooms were in order. The return to barracks is a great day for plebes, for then they quit carrying palms to the front. The “Seps” arrived about this time, and those who were admitted were assigned to rooms, and they at once became a part of the fourth class. “Seps” are candidates, who, for some good reason, did not report in June. (See appendix.) They began recitations with the rest of the plebes, but for weeks they attended drill in squads by themselves. Notwithstanding the fact that Seps escape the many trials and tribulations of plebe camp, in escaping it, they miss one of the most valuable parts of cadet life, as it is an experience which most old graduates look back upon with pleasure. After having been through the course of deviling,[26] or hazing, as practiced in my day, I am a believer in the system, because I believe it makes young men manly and self-reliant. I never saw bodily injury inflicted upon a plebe, but I do not call bodily injury deviling. I call that cruelty, and cruelty should be severely punished. But times have changed at the Academy since I left it. Now after candidates have reported at the Adjutant’s office they are sent to the Army Officer in charge of new cadets. And it is his duty to personally instruct them respecting their rights and duties in their relations to old cadets and to the cadets on duty over them. He causes to be read to them the present regulations pertaining to new cadets and explains to them what is meant by “Cadet Limits.” Candidates are also informed that they must not submit to hazing, and that they must promptly report to the Commandant or to the Army Officer over them any attempt at hazing on the part of old cadets. But they must be respectful to all and perfectly subordinate and obedient to the cadets on duty over them.