Henry Ossian Flipper, the Colored Cadet at West Point Part 8

"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 s.h.i.+rk.

"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 cla.s.s.

"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 a.s.sumes 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 gla.s.s, 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.