Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-07-05
Letter from, Lexington. Va.


LEXINGTON, VA, July 2, lS7l.--Last night
the Society of Cadets held their 3lst annual
celebration in the mess hall Of the Institute.
The hall was filled with Il brilliant audience.
After some sweet music from the band, the
President ofthc Society, Cadet NJ. /. Spots
wood, of Va, presented the medal for best
orator and debater to Cadet c. H. Camp, OF
Georgia, who responded appropriately. The
gratis diploma to most useful member, was be-
slowed upon Cadet W. II. Mitchell, OF Flr:;
ginia, who returned his thanks in graceful and
impressive language The orator, Cadet r. B.
Mathews, OF Louisiana, your correspondent was
unable to hear owing to the fact that heavy
shower came up at the time, and the beating
of the rain upon the tin roof drowned the
speakers voice. Cadet r. r. Pearson, OF
Alabama, the Faledctorian from the Gradual
inc class, said Good Bye, scnsibly and well,
calling up incidents of cadet life III Aud Lang
Syne, ;" and urging his classmates to greater eN-
ertion in the coming battle OF lie. The diplomas
were awarded by the President.
After music from the Y. NJ. |. band, the
President introduced Mr. VIM. Porchcr Miles,
OF South Carolina, who had been requested to
address the Literary societies. MIR. Miles,
chose as his subject the discussion OF the prop
er answer to those pcrplexing questions, which
| always confront the young man about to descend
into the struggling arena Of the world after the
calm preparation OF academic life; Ivy hatdo |
propose to do? hat is the desire Of my heart ?
| How can | best cflectuatc that desire? Upon
the response to which queries largely depends
success or failure, happiness or misery, honor
or shame" How vital then the interest nvov-
ed in these questions, how important to answer
them carefully and deliberately, and when our
conclusion is reached, to adhere to it with I'M
firing patience and invincbe energy
THE objects Of human desire are multitude
nous, yet they may be reduced to Il few groups
They arc sensual pleasure, wealth. reputaton
glory and power. IT'S needless to warn grn,,
tlemcn Of liberal education against the first oil
these the second is not SO gross, Is even Il
legitimate object in life, yet never lEl>IS OF
true happiness, us instanccd by numbcrIess eX-
amples. IfrcputatiOn is attained how I'M
satisfactory and TRANSIENT how often IS the
highest success marred and cmblttere9by envy,
jealousy, misrepresentation and detractlon? How
often do humbug and charlatanism seem to
triumph over learning, science and skill !.
"Ah, but some young enthusiast has brighter
dreams, more glorious visions; far loftlcr de-
srcs than any we have yet considered Fame,
Power Glory shine before him i'll the distance
with dazzling cffulgcncC, and fill his very soul
with delicious intoxcation. "Brlght dreams!
glorious dreams Who does not envy youth its
capacity for dreaming them? which ofus would
not wish to dream such dreams again? Cloud
land, gorgeous land But oh, too soon do your
visions fade away, and achievement prove but
the bitter mockcry Of anticipation How
often the crown seems to wther Ger it has
we'll encirclcd the brow, and the fruit turn to
ashes on the lips "What then are you begin
ming to ask, would teach? Is all my phiIoso-
ply summed up in the mourntnl formula of
the preacher, rdnitas rnmitot"m?' My answer
is simple. 1t may sound homely and common
place. 1t liesin one word, Duty. ''lt may fall
on your ears with disappointing sound, but
firmly and sincerely do believe, and the con-
viction strengthens with my gathering, years,
that the nearest approach to true happiness in
this world is to be found in the simple, honest
brave discharge Of duty Duty, THE guide, the
polar star, through all the voyages and tempeSts
ever as types of the Christian Hero" What
prouder inscription could man desire upon
his tomb-proudcrt than that carved upon many
pompous monument to greatness; what nObler
cpitaph than the simple words, Here lies Il
man who always did his duty
Forward then gentlemen, into the strug-
Cling arena and in the language OF the Knights
of old ''do your cndeavor." Bear alolt your
standard with DUTY clearly cmblazOned on its
! folds That is a banner that no tyrant power
can ever make you furl Remember, though it
is hard for us Confederates to realize it, that
the race is not always to the swift, the battle
not always to the strong. BE bold, yet prudent
wary yet enterprising; steadtast, enduring. pa
tent If fortune smiles upon you boast not
yourself too much upon her favor. II she frownS
surrender not yourself to despair. Let not
prosperity puff you up with vanity and PRIDE
nor poverty ever lower your sense Of dignity
and self respect Disappointment, with noble
natures is sometimes 4 precious discipline which
purifes and clcvatcs the whole being May
each of you quit yourselves like man in the
conflict, and win the "wcll-donG' Of the great
Captain and Ruler of men. t'you fall in the
strife may you fall like Jackson with conscious
ness that you too, however hnmbIy, have
fought a good fight, and from the righteous
Judge, who weighs the heart more than the
deed, measures the motive rather than the
achievement, may hope to receive that oni y true
crown Of HAPPINESS. And when at the close Of
the great battle oflile you retire from the con
test, whether as victor or vanqulshed, whether
the cause be lost or won, may you shCathc your
sword as Ice sheathed his at Appomattox, It's
brightness lmdimncd bya breath o, dIShonor.
its Iustre untarnishcd by one unknighty stroke. y
Mr.. Miles address will be published in fill, We
hear, by request of the societies.
Monday MI ht the Dialectic Society has its
celebration. Tuesday the commencement ex-
crciscs Of the Virginia Military Institute come
off in the morning, the ball at night;
WILLIS
WASHINGTON NEws--On Monday morning
fight occurred among crowd Of colorcd men