The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-11-15
LEXINGTON. A.,

NONeInDeT l.. 1SOJ. }
The "Jacktown University the ogiy
Club of the Virginia Military lns.l.ute5
ave one Of their unique entertainments on
Yesterday evening. Your correspondent
WAS unfortunately not able to accept the
IND invitation sent him, but learns from
.n,nc notes which a friend present has tur-
r;shed him that the occasion passed OH
most pleasantly 10 the large audience VINO
assembled in the spacious mess hall.
The president Cadet Randolph read the
programme Of the evening, and gave 4 Dricl
statement of the formation OF the NJ
ynrsity." and the great good II had gone s.,
the world ut large, and the Virginia -h''i-
tarv Institute in particular. -.
The occasion was the anniversary OF the
two literary societicS,--thc "IilShinan
Elow Hard" and the "Speckled Purp -
and their objects and beneficial effects were
vow. humorouslv sci forth by their reSpec-
Two presidents Cadet Taylor, of the for
1ncr. and Cadet Rodes, OF the latter. :.
Cadet Smith Z. then read some orders,
fill OF huuuor and fun, which were keenly
rcli>hcd by the cadets, as they were Ticn
barbecue on the orders usually pabhshed
II Dress Parade"
The orator of the evening-cadct Clarke
hose a. his theme, (Which eXcrts the
.-rcatn>t influence over the mind OF man
y,.mcn or Doucv!" His speech is said TO
l,ave been very humorous, but at the same
time forciblc, advocacy of money rs the con-
trolling influence. <<,
.Thc question for debate was "ls a
turkey justitiable i'll picking SrasShopPer
from swcct-potato vinc!" Cadets AhoeT-
k.n and Camp earnestly advocated tle ID
iirrnative in speeches which produced roars
cr laughter. Cadets Pearson and Hopkins
took the negative, and contendcd that the
decd OF the turkey would be coid-blooded
murder. They, too, excited the merrlment
Of The crowd to the highest pitch.
cadet Blrrett dcclamcd in line style a
,gc6i,y from PEGS Raven, BiGtus, Mary
lad a Little ] amb," &c, &c, which was
ENORMOUSLY woven together, and produced
a very ludicrous effect.
The costumes were as funny and varied
~ old rags. mixture OF colois, swords, Nc,
could produce. The Virginia Military In
stitute band made very sweet music, and
the whole affair was considered very credit
able TO the Young humorists and entertain
inc to the audience. The "Jachtown Uni
veisitv" seems to have become one OF the
institutions of the Virginia Military lnsti-
tutc. and will grow i'll favor with thoSe VINO
illustrate the maxim
a. little nonsense now and then
Is rcilshcd by the best OF men,
To-day rhe llth) is the anniversary of the
foundation OF the Virginia Military Inst
utc thirty years age. For many years the
-;ate If Virginia had had in Lexington IN
ar~cual, where arms were depoSitco, ana
there was al annuity 10 pay .nc pHnnc
pliard VINO protected them. some sa@aclous
,.,iitlcmcn suggested the establishment OF q
military school here on the basis OF this an
1riifv. il Being understood that the cadets
sga1il,l Guard The arsenal. The scheme was
pushed through in spite Of some Formidable
,.sra,itiun. and the trustees were fortunate
i! securing as superintendent oil The in>l!-
iu!e General +. II. smith. who was then
;-Drofcs>or in Hampden sidney College.
Started under these circumstances. the
Virginia Military Institute gradually en-
tended its influence and rose i'll Importance
until the war summoned its professors and
cadets 10 the tented field. and laid its beau-
t.tui buildings in ashes. How well the lnSll-
t,ltc did its work is attcStcd by the fact that
ona-tcntl OF the Confederate armies was
commanded by its Alumni, embracing
,.lrcc maior-@encrals, thirty brIgadier-Scnc-
ralS. sixty colonies. fifty observation-disclosures,
thirty majors. one hundred and twenty-five
raptains, and between two and three hun
d.rd iicutenants; Of whom one hundred
and TWENTY-FIVE were KILLED and three hum
bred and fifty wounded.
Eut the chief Glory OF the Virginia Mill
tuy Institute is the Visor and lie with
which il has risen from It's ashes, re-cstaD-
li-hel its fame, rebuilt its halls, and filled
ihelu with cadets from al parts Of the coun-
tly.
General Smith may well look with pride
l. Tie fact that on this thirtieth anniversary
al the Institute he has $50 cadets ''preScnt
Tor duty with the brightest prospects for
future increase. According to custom there
was Il suspension Of al exercises ut the In
stHue to-day, and an elegant dinner gotten
up in The best >t,lc Of those prince OF cate
r"rs Captain Gibbs, "Jcrry,' and "The
Judge"
The corps was spared the sad visitation
lv which one of their number lost his life
on the last anniversary, and the day has
passed off most notwithstanding in the
rcrular evening prayer meeting, in which
special thanks were rendered to that God
OF whom the inspired pensman has said,
Except the Lord build the house, they
labor in vain that build it; except the Lord
keep the city, the Waterman waketh but i'll
Vlin.'
The number of students at the college
continues to increase from time to time,
and the good order and studiousnesS OF
these representative young men continue
20 be worthy Of all praise. LEXINGTON.