第17章

An "extra" is an extra tour of guard duty given as punishment. Cadets on "extra" are equipped as for parade, and walk in the area of Cadet Barracks from two o'clock until retreat, or from two to five hours, on Saturday or other days of the week. An "extra" is sometimes called a "Saturday Punishment.""A fem," "femme."--Any female person.

"A file."--Any male person.

"Fessed," "fessed cold," "fessed frigid," "fessed out," and "fessed through."--Made a bad recitation, failed.

"To get off."--To perpetrate.

"A gag," "Grin," "Grind."--Something witty, a repartee.

"To hive."--To detect, used in a good and bad sense.

Also to take, to steal.

"To hoop up."--To hasten, to hurry.

"H. M. P."--Hop manager's privileges.

"A keen."--See "Gag," etc.

"To leap on."--See "To crawl over."

"Made."--Given an appointment, given chevrons as an officer in the battalion organization.

"A make."--Such an appointment.

"Maxed."--Made a thorough recitation.

"Ath."--The last one.

"To pile in."--To retire.

"To pink."--To report for any offence.

"To plant."--To bury with military honors.

"To police one's self."--To bathe.

"To pot."--"To pink," which see.

"Prof."--Professor.

"To put in."--To submit in writing.

"To put into the battalion."--To assign to a company, as in case of new cadets.

"Ragged," "ragged out."--Made a good recitation.

"Reveilles."--Old shoes, easy and comfortable, worn to reveille roll-call.

"Reekless, ricochet."--Careless, indifferent.

"To run it."--To do any thing forbidden. To risk.

"To run it on."--To impose upon.

"Shout."--Excellent, i.e., will create much comment and praise.

"Sketch-house."--The Drawing Academy.

"To skin."--See "To pink" (most common).

"To be spooney."--To be gallant.

"To spoon."--To be attentive to ladies.

"A spoon."--A sweetheart.

"Shungudgeon."--A stew.

"Supe."--Superintendent.

"To step out."--See "To hoop up."

"Topog."--A topographical drawing.

"To turn in."--To repair to one's quarters.

"To be sent in."--To order any thing sent in.

"To turn out."--To come out, or send out.

"To be white," "To treat white."--To be polite, courteous, and gentlemanly.

"To wheaten."--To be excused by surgeon.

"To yank."--To seize upon violently.

"O. G. P."--Old guard privileges.

"Chem."--Chemistry.

"Math."--Mathematics.

"Phil."--Philosophy.

"Rocks."--Mineralogy.

"Wigwag."--Signalling.

"To get out of."--To shun, to shirk.

"Thing."--A "plebe."

"To extinguish."--To distinguish.

"To go for."--To haze.

"House."--Room, quarters.

"To freeze to."--To hold firmly.

"To wipe out."--To destroy.

"Limbo."--Confinement.

"Solemncholy."--Sad, dejected.

"Plebeskin."--A rubber overcoat issued to new cadets.

"Turnbacks."--Cadets turned back to a lower class.

"Div," "subdiv."--Division, subdivision.

"Devils."--Fellows familiarly.

"Tab."--Tabular system of French.

"To celebrate."--To do.

"A stayback."--A graduate detained at graduation to instruct the new cadets.**When the cadets are in barracks, the officer of the guard on Sundays either has or assumes authority to detain from church, for any emergency that might arise, one or two or more members of his guard, in addition to those on post on duty. Cadets so detained are called "staybacks.

"Scratch day."--A day when lessons are hard or numerous.

"Gum game."--A joke.

"To fudge."--To copy.

BENNY HAVENS O.

[A number of cadets sitting or lounging about the room. One at table pouring out the drinks. As soon as he is done he takes up his own glass, and says to the others, "Come, fellows," and then all together standing:]

--Stand up in a row, For sentimental drinking we're going for to go;In the army there's sobriety, promotion's very slow, So we'll cheer our hearts with choruses of Benny Havens' O.

Of Benny Havens' O, of Benny Havens' O, We'll cheer our hearts with choruses of Benny Havens' O.

When you and I and Benny, and General Jackson too, Are brought before the final Board our course of life t' review, May we never "fess" on any point, but then be told to go To join the army of the blest at Benny Havens' O.

At Benny Havens' O, at Benny Havens' O, To join the army of the blest at Benny Havens' O.

To the ladies of the army let our bumpers ever flow, Companions of our exile, our shield 'gainst every woe, May they see their husbands generals with double pay to show, And indulge in reminiscences of Benny Havens' O.

Of Benny Havens O, of Benny Havens' O, And indulge in reminiscences of Benny Havens' O.

'Tis said by commentators, in the land where we must go We follow the same handicraft we followed here below;If this be true philosophy (the sexton, he says no), What days of dance and song we'll have at Benny Havens' O.

At Benny Havens' O, at Benny Havens' O, What days of dance and song we'll have at Benny Havens' O!

To the ladies of the Empire State, whose hearts and albums too Bear sad remembrance of the wrongs we stripling soldiers do, We bid you all a kind farewell, the best recompense we know--Our loves and rhymings had their source at Benny Havens' O.

At Benny Havens' O, at Benny Havens' O, Our loves and rhymings had their source at Benny Havens' O.

[Then, with due solemnity, every head uncovered and bowed low, they sing:]

There comes a voice from Florida, from Tampa's lonely shore;It is the wail of gallant men, O'Brien is no more;In the land of sun and flowers his head lies pillowed low, No more to sing petite coquille at Benny Havens' O.

At Benny Havens' O, at Benny Havens' O, No more to sing petite coquille at Benny Havens' O, etc.