Nothing pleases a cadet quite so much as to see a “Tac” do something wooden. They say that he is gross, which has nothing whatsoever to do with being fat, but simply means that his mind is somewhat dense. Immediately the blunder spreads like wild-fire from lip to lip, growing as it goes and repeated with a joy that approaches delirium. There was at one time an officer on duty whose idiosyncrasies were told and retold. He furnished many a good story for the delight of the Corps, and his departure threatened the existence of _The Howitzer_, the cadets’ annual publication, and of the _Hundredth Night_, the annual play in which the officers may be satirized. His mind seemed to work by rule and regulation. One night when he was making his inspection of barracks, he came to a room where only one cadet was studying at the center table. He entered, looked around, and then inquired: “Cadet, where is your roommate?” “In bed, sir!” was the reply. “Is he asleep?” asked the officer. “I don’t know, sir,” answered the cadet. “Well, find out,” ordered the “Tac.” The man then turned to his roommate who was plainly visible in bed, and asked: “Jim, are you asleep?” “Yes” sounded off a voice from the depths of the comforters. “He says he’s asleep, sir.” “Very good, cadet,” replied the “Tac,” and quite satisfied, left the room, just in time to escape the outburst of laughter that followed this highly intellectual conversation. To be always under the observation of so many pairs of keen young critical eyes is sufficient to make any officer somewhat self-conscious, and to give a certain kink and twist to his actions. The cadets, like all youth, are merciless in their judgment, sometimes almost cruel. They are ever on the alert for any slip that the “Tac” may make and intolerantly condemn him. But so responsive are the cadets that it would take but a smile, or a word or so bordering on intimacy, to remove all critical feelings and bring about “glad confident morning.” I wonder sometimes why that so seldom happens. I suppose it is because we are all artificial. Although the Tactical officer is very much occupied with the interior discipline and economy of his company, the greater portion of his time is given over to the military instruction of the cadets. The purpose of this instruction is to familiarize the cadet with the duties and needs of a private in the ranks by practical experience, to impress upon his character the habit of obedience, and to train him in the function of command by repeated exercise.