e believed
to be the improper application of some public funds, assumed to
himself the action which lawfully belonged to the Secretary of War.
The question thus raised was considered paramount to that of the
proper use of the funds. The young officer lost his point, and
got a well-merited rebuke. But it is not to be expected that
complete military education can be obtained without complete military
experience. The rules of subordination and obedience _in_ an army
are so simple that everybody learns them with the utmost ease.
But the relations between the army and its administrative head,
and with the civil power, are by no means so simple. When a too
confident soldier rubs up against them, he learns what "military"
discipline really means. It sometimes takes a civilian to "teach
a soldier his place" in the government of a republic. If a soldier
desires that his own better judgment shall control military policy,
he must take care not to let it become known that the judgment is
his. If he can contrive to let that wise policy be invented by
the more responsible head, it will surely be adopted. It should
never be suspected by anybody that there is any difference of
opinion between the soldier and his civil chief; and nobody, not
even the chief, will ever find it out if the soldier does not tell
it. The highest quality attributed to Von Moltke was his ability
to make it clearly understood by the Emperor and all the world that
the Emperor himself commanded the German army.

A TRIP TO NEW YORK ON A WAGER

My constitutional habit once led me into a very foolish exploit at
West Point. A discussion arose as to the possibility of going to
New York and back without danger of being caught, and I explained
the plan I had worked out by which it could be done. (I will not
explain what the plan was, lest some other foolish boy try it.)
I was promptly challenged to undertake it for a high wager, and
that challenge overcame any scruple I may have had. I cared nothing
for a brief visit to New York, and had only five dollars in my
pocket which Jerome N. Bonaparte loaned me to pay my way. But I
went to the city and back, in perfect safety, between the two roll-
calls I had to attend that day. Old Benny Havens of blessed memory
rowed me across the river to Garrison's, and the Cold Spring ferryman
back to the Point a few minutes before evening parade. I walked
across the plain in