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through the heroism of its leading character. It is a drama young America should know. Its influence on our nation may be greater than is generally realized.
Ben

Ben started life at West Point in the easy [[strikethrough]]way[[/strikethrough]], relaxed mood of a boy who has grown up in the cosmopolitan schools of great northern cities like Cleveland and Chicago. Many of the boys of his class were from the same general background. They were like the fellows at the University [[strikethrough]]of Chicago[[/strikethrough]] and at Central High. Among them Ben made acquaintances swiftly and seemed on the way to a normal school year. Then something happened.

There had been whispers in locker rooms and in hallways. Somebody was passing a word around. Ben could feel rather than hear what they were saying. He was sure the "word" concerned him. Within a day or two he knew it. All the boys stopped speaking to him. Somebody has, of course, organized the demonstration. The others, boy-like and easily le[[strikethrough]]a[[/strikethrough]]d, took it up and fell in line. Few could have realized the unfairness, the unworthiless of this behavior, but once it got underway, all fell in line. Perhaps some of the boys resisted those who took the lead in this organized snub but feared to stand out against what they believed to be the majority. In any case, it continued, and it became more marked as time passed.

[[underlined]]Nobody did[[/underlined]] anything which could be described as hostile of itself,but on the other hand nobody cooperated with Ben. No one greeted him. If he asked a simple question, he was not answered. If he approached a group in which a conversation was in progress, all talking suddenly ceased. He was left alone - completely alone. His classmates were giving him the "Silent treatment".

One would have to experience such an ordeal to realize how it feels. At West Point it was more crushing than it would have been in a city school or college, for at West Point the cadets have no life outside their own halls and grounds. In a public school a fellow could have wandered out of bounds and found found other associations, other friends with whom he might share experiences. At West Point Ben was alone with his situation.

It is hard to believe that any group of boys could continue a demonstration of this kind for a whole year. It is also hard to believe that a solitary colored boy could last it out- especially when one remembers how easy it is to wash out when one is under a strain. Yet both are true. The silence, with slight interruptions, lasted throughout Ben's plebe year, and Ben stood up to it till the end. Taller than most of his fellows, as handsome as anybody who wore the uniform, as fond of pleasant associations and good fun as any body, Ben took [[strikethrough]]on[[/strikethrough]] what was dished out to him without a whimper or a complaint. Never once did he let anyone think that he depended on others for his happiness. He simply took the medicine.