The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-25
Letter from Lexington.

| Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
LEXINGTON, VA, May q, 1859.
The 'Jacktown University" OF the Nir-
cinia Military Institute is a burlesquc gotten
| up among the cadets to afford a little rational
and innocent amusement. 1t has a large
"faculty," who have been in the habit OF
giving rich lectures on subjects embraced in
| their "course of instruction" But on last
evening the regular routine was. varied by 4
| lecture before the University by ". W.
Scott, Esq, of Lexington. It was made Il
pay lecture to raise funds for the purposes
of the University" and was in this re-
spect most gratifying success. In spite Of
the rain about three hundred cadets and stu
dents, and n number Of ladies and towns
people. were present. The exercises were
held in the mess hall, which was brilliantly
illuminated and had its walls decorated with
the splendid portraits of Lee, jackson,
recently painted for the Institute by Mr..
Washington.
At the appointed hour, the "Faculty,"
dressed in the most fantastic style, entered,
and were greeted with uproarlouS laughter
and applause.
The orator of the evening bore off the
highest honor of the "Ugly Club " at the
University of Virginia in 1867, and has Il
fine reputation as Il humorst. He an
bounced as his theme upon this occasion
- Starch" The lecture was we'll written,
contained some fine passages of satire and
some bright scintilations Of wit, and was
not devoid of touches of pathOs. 1t was
greeted with loud applause, and would
have been appauded more frequently but
that the speaker was, unfortunately, not
heard distinctly by large part of the audi
cuce. 1t is understood that the "UniVer-
>itv' will have grand celebration at the
close of the session.
The final examinations of the college arc
now in full blast, and the students seem to
be hard at work. Indeed it has been year
Of hard study both at the college and the
Institute, and It is hoped that not few OF
the Young men will reap the reward of their
tabors and bear of the honors of these in
situations. And the good order which
has marked the session now drawing
to a close has excited general attention.
The conduct of the students and cadets
ever since the close of the war has been
worthy of I'LL praise; but it has beer still
more exemplary during this present session.
And il will be gratifying to the friends of
the Institute. and Christian people gene
rally. to say that they arc now being blessed
with an extensive and powerful revival.
About a month ago an interest was deve
lopcd, which has gradually increased until
about seycnty:fue cadets and flee of the as
SiStant professors now profess to have found
Jesus. No extra meetings have been held.
except daily sunrise PRAYER meeting; but
the interest has been developed i'll conncc-
ton with the evening prayer meetings,
which have been for years kept up at the
Institute. and which have for the past few
months largely increased iii numbers
and interest. The pastors Of Lexington
and several visiting ministers have
rendered all of the assistance in their power,
the Superintendent General SMITH has been
untiring in earnest efforts for the spiritual
interests of the corps, several Christian wo
men have rendered most valuable aid, and
the Christian cadets and young converts
have proved themselves, indeed, rccruiting
$crgcdHs for the army Of the Lord. Ali of
the first class" (twcnty-thrcc i'll numbcr)
save ,fuc are now professors of religion. and
a< the interest is still undated, It is hoped
that the good work has just begun. and that
ere it ceases many more of these dear young
men may hc brought to Christ. This state
mcnt will surely elicit the warm sympathics
and fcrvcnt prayers Of all who love to pray.
LEXINGTON.