Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-11-09

LEXINGTON, Va. Nov 7 1880


the 'Old Dominion will not be an pnnec.
essary intrusion upon your journal, when it
IS known that the writer is acting upon
hint given him by one connected with your
paper, even if that writer is former Gov
respondent, and one who labored zsaIouslv
but unsuccessfully, in certain ha -fourbt
canvass not long gone by.
And as was going to tell you, it was
very rainy and very muddy the day we left
your town. Muddy, did say Why, sir.
| have seen mudholes half milo long IN
Illinois, and at least half so deep, and cows
standing up to their Threats in mud bayl-
ing for week; and | have seen dozens Of
wagons hung up" as wagone-s call it, On
one string. L have seen-the spirit that
rules the element of mud only knows what
Of mud / had not seen until last Friday,
when the climax" was to be "capf.' as
rhetoricians call it, From Staunton to Leg
lngton was one continual mudhole Think
OF a rnudhole thirty-six miles long Is it
not tremendous? Then think of travelling
through this river Of mud while the win
dows OF heaven Were opened, and you have
the picture am trying to present. When
w oiAAFOA VIC NtIC III ut,tEG ftdRC iull u
law students was mud, aud the contents
themselves were mud; conceited this town
was mud, and that | was put into muddy
led to sleep, which, upon examination next
morning. | found was not the case.
Lexington is certainly a handsome little
town. | would not like to call it anything
else at this time. The institutions OF learn
ing give it an imposing appearance. The
College is not the building expected to see
in that celebrated edifce. 1t certainly looks
as if time or neglect had used it badly, and
l am sure sound reputation for neat APP
pearance and imposing exterior depend upon
its being repaired. have not had time or
occasion to examine the interior, but will
report when do. DR.. Junkin, the we'll
known Principal Of this Institution, is a
very plain aud ordinary looking man, but
possesses strong mind and an UNSURPASSED
fnnd Of knowledge and an inexhaustihle
mine of information, He breaches at the
Presbyterian Church in Dr. Whites alb
sence. His voice as speaker is the most
remarkable have ever heard-the musical
whine ola feeble old man, though it with him
is perfectly natural, he being oy 10 means
feeble. as old as he is. His literary proteges
seem to consider lin as literary prodigy,
being better informed upon any and every
subject than any man in the country. But
with all his learning, he is enc Of the most
democratic individuals in ell these parts;
for, to see him riding along the street,
stranger would suppose he was some farmer
of the ncighborhood con1e&o town on busi-
ness
| The Military Institute is. On the other
hand, magnificent e1ifce, standing, like
some tremendous castle, upon bill north
of the town and overlooking the whole conn
try. It is built III the castle style its bait
Elements ready to be mounted with cannon,
but wanting the moat, the portcnllis, and
the wbridge. The windows swarm with
those animals called cadets, aud it is really
curiosity to see their course of discipline.
Every thing is done by drumbeat. Galley
slaves were never treated more strictly
0. the drudgery, the unspeakable seryility
of military life, for have tried it. 1t seems
can hear many sigh 90 up from many 3
young heart within that building-many d
longing wish for the joys and tue liberties
of home, Youth enthralled bears often =
cheerful domeanor, but [, who think some
times can read hearts, feel that where there
are so many careworn faces, there must be
the canker or the worm. Day in and day
ont, saturdays and Sundays excepted, }
there is one continual chain Of duty-,hc
Studying and the recjtiDg Of les sons, the
drilling, the Parading, the eating by rote
and to the beat of the drum (and often bur-
ried away before their appetites are salts
fed and all this for the most magnificent
humbug the world has ever known-War
human hatchery.
| Exccse this hurried and confused COM
mpuicas'on, rs my thoughts we're so jostied
aud scattered by my Stage ride, that have
not rightly collected them. may do bet
ter next time Give my love to the Devil
q mean the printers and believe me
Respectfully yours,
! EONTESn!TE