But his temper interfered with their efforts in the
latter direction, while his dulness precluded his
passing through the course of studies prescribed.
"REPORTER--'He was always spoken of as a very bright
lad.'
"CAPTAIN HALL--'He was not bright or ready. He lacked
comprehension. In his first year he was very troublesome.
First came his assault upon, or affray with, another
young gentleman (Cadet Wilson), but the Court of Inquiry
deemed it inadvisable to court-martial either of them.
Then he was insolent to his superior on drill, and being
called upon for an explanation he wrote a deliberate
falsehood. For this he was court-martialled and sentenced
to dismissal, but subsequently the findings of the
committee were reversed, and Cadet Smith was put back one
year. This fact accounts for his good standing on the
examination next before the last. You see he went over the
same studies twice.'
"REPORTER--'What was Cadet Smith found deficient in?'
"CAPTAIN HALL--'HIS worst failure was in natural and
experimental philosophy, which embraces the higher
mathematics, dynamics, optics, mechanics, and other
studies. He missed a very simple question in optics,
and the examiners, who were extremely lenient with him,
chiefly, I believe, because he was colored and not white,
tried him with another, which was also missed.'
"REPORTER--'Is optical science deemed an absolutely
essential branch of learning for an officer in the
army?'
DEFICIENT IN HIS STUDIES.
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