The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-26
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
Letter from Licking .-Annitcrsar
Celebration and other Matters.


LEXINGTON, VA, February %.
The people Of this inland and isolated town
arc just now rejoicing over the rcUpcninG OF
the canal, and the consequent fact that we
have now communication, by water, ut least,
with the great world outside. For about six
weeks travel on the canal was impossible.
From Lexington many miles down, the river
seemed one vast bed Of ice. Several boats
were locked in by the freeze, here and at the
locks below, with heavy freights, and it was
feared that when the break occurred these
boats would either be crushed or swept off,
and great damage done. But, fortunately,
the thaw was very gradual, and the long-idle
boats were able to resume their journeys
without the slightest damage. During this
long freeze business was very dull here, and
the only compensation for this state of things
was that the canal afforded splendid skating.
The young people enjoyed this sport very
generally, and morning and evening for
weeks the canal presented ii lively scene, as
the hills echoed to the merry shouts and
laughter Of the gay performers.
The old folks generally pronounce this the
most severe and bitter cold winter that they
have seen for many years. Avery large crop
Of splendid ice has been secured i'll the eX-
pectation that we shall have a hot and dry
summer. Blocks of ice have been cut from
the river over q foot in thickness. Boats
are now running regularly, and goods and
passengers are constantly arriving, and an
other frceze-up is not unprecedented.
But while rejoicing over the reOpenlng OF
the canal, our people are rather gloomy as to
the prospects of the Valley railroad. The
tone Of the recent articles Of the papers in
Baltimore is regarded as quite discouraging,
especially the article Of the Gazette, which is
said to be the organ of the company. 1t is q
very sad disappointment to the people Of
both town and county, as for years they have
cherished the hope with each beginning veal
that that would be the propitious period
when they would realize all their fond hopes
in the completion of this long-talked-of en-
terprise. They claim that they have faith
fully met all the demands made upon them
and in good faith stand ready yet to carry
out the contract made. Determined to leave
the county without blame. the supervisor
Lave imposed the tax for this railroad.
The prospect is not altogether dark, how
ever. Feeling that we must have railroad
a through line fpossiblc-if not, at least loca
onc-our citizens arc beginning to canvass il
good earnest, too, tue propriety of building &
point OIL the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
This is a fayoritc idea with some of our prom
incnt men, and they are now in correspond
ence with certain builders of this class o.
roads in the South, looking to this end. So
in order to be safe on both sides, your CORE
spondcnt cries Vire Valley railroad! Vlut
ndrro,c-gduge
On last night, the eyer-memorable 22d o.
February, the Washington Literary Society
of Washington and Lee University gave
their anniversary celebration in the chapel
At IN early hour the large and elegant hal
was filed with the fashion of the city,, Tho
officers of the society, together with the
orator and debaters, occupied the platform
The string band from the Institute discourseC
excellent music on the occasion. Prompt te
the hour the accomplished President Of the
Society introduced the orator, MIR. S. FL
Chester, of Arkansas. Taking for his theme
"The True Scholar" Mr.. Chester gave 9
very happy calculation of the subject, and
sustained his position by brief, terse argu
ments. He first. corrected some preva
lent errors on the subject, defined the true
scholar, gave happy sketch oihi opportuni
ties for usefulness, and alluded to, the calls
likely to be made upon him ncto. Then
polluted out for our admiration some we'll
known names in history, and concluded his
Grafton by stirring appeal to allhls Fellows
present to prove themselves true scholars
Dir. Chester, by his graceful manners and en-
ergetic oratory, reflected credit both on the
Young State that gave him birth and the
venerable institution which claims him as her
disciple.
-Four of the young gentlemen of the So
ciety, having been! previously elected, came
forward in turn and debated. the question OF
the eyening-viz., From nlscIttlo ice de11ue
most pleasure, the Fine Arts on. Literature ~
Upon the affirmative were Messls. j. S. Lewis
of Tennessee, and r. ,A.aWallar Of Illinois.
Negative, Frank Field Of Missouri, and L.
+. West of Virginia. The young men
entered into the debate with much spirit and
earnestness and entertained the audience
with vigorous arguments, flashing wit, and
sparkling bumor, for an hour. The speeches
were all above ordinary, and reflected much
credit on the contestants. Although it was
the misfortune of the affirmative to lose the
question, the negative won no bloodless vic
tory. .ttt ,.H%s .-...-.
We are grat6ed TO see the continued pros
perity of the University, especially as it was
generally apprehendcd that after the death
of the immortal hero, the institution would
lose its hold upon the public favor. But it is
not so. The list of IIltricuiates of the present
year is but one or two behind that of last
year, and this too, when there has been such
n general falling off with all our colleges.
The people remember that the splendid