A salute of seventeen guns was fired by a detail of cadets in honor of the arrival of the Board of Visitors. There was much of interest now at the Point for the Board and others to see. Beginning with guard-mount now after parade, then oral examinations from 9 to 4 followed infantry, artillery or cavalry drill, and the day closing with dress parade at sunset. The rear view of the cadets marching at double time, to or from dress parade, out on the grassy plain is a beautiful sight, especially when white pants are worn, for then the wavy motion of the handsome uniforms with the black shoes alternating against the white pants and the green grass once seen is a sight never forgotten. In the evening the cadets, except those in confinement, and their friends could be together for an hour or two at the hotel or at some of the officers’ quarters, provided, of course, that the cadets had “permits.” Not to speak of a handsome display of fireworks on one evening and the graduating hop on another. During all these festivities, which lasted about three weeks, the cadets and candidates were undergoing rigid examinations,[42] and at which many failed. Lists of the successful ones were announced, the graduates and furloughmen left and the others went into camp. Some of the “found” were turned back to join the next class, while the others were discharged. On the morning after we had fired the gun in the area Colonel Black sent for me, showed me one of my own slippers and told me that it had been picked up that morning on the walk in front of the barracks, and as it had my name in it he wanted me to explain how the slipper got out of my room. I told him that I didn’t know, as the last time I had worn or seen it was on the previous evening before taps. He did not ask me if I had taken part in the “disgraceful” affair. All of his questioning could get nothing more out of me, because I told the truth. I afterwards learned how the slipper did get out on the walk. When D Company vacated its quarters for the new class C⸺y came over to room with L⸺t and me, and unbeknown to me he had worn my slippers, and as he was one of the two cadets chased by the engineer sentinels he lost it, and then for fear that he and I might both be caught he did not mention the fact to me until after my return from the Commandant’s office. Three of my class were turned out over new cadets, and others of the class detailed to help drill them, and when the new list of corporals was published I had the pleasure of writing home that I was one of the few yearlings to wear chevrons. After the publication of the new lists of class standing I called upon one of the unfortunates to express regret that he had not passed. He seemed to be very indifferent about having been found, and said that, after a long search on his “family tree,” he had on that day made the fortunate discovery that he was the nineteenth cousin of Queen Victoria!