Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-17

and walk ahead. When he gets tired OF
this, again, he has only to wait till the boat
reaches him, which it is sure to do at last.
We made the journey at night and can
not practice this pastime. But the sur
roundings are calculated to inspire the
thoughtless with awe. The wide waters,
which are at least six yards across, their
depth, which in some places is known TO
be ever forty inches; the high wind which
dashed the waves into frenzy, making them
break when fully a half inch high against
our gallant bark, all added to the effect.
And as we sped OH at the rate of two and
half miles, we think about
"a wet sheet and flowing sail,
F wind that follows fast"
Singularly enough this combination of hor-
rors produces the effect of extreme monot-
ony and the company is soon in state of
semnolency, which is not disturbed till we
are near Lexington. That noble stream
which fond admirers lower down describe as
the ''roaring, raging Jeems," is here in a
| branch state of infantile size and uninfan-
| tile quiet. .....e
The handsome building on the bill in
sight as we disembark, having safely es-
capped the perils of the deep, is the Military
|
| quarter of mile farther the University
| building of the massive style of architec-
| ture of an earlier day. A few hundred
yards beyond we are in the heart of Lex
| ington. 1t reminds me of Columbia in
size and appearance. But how did it ever
get here? And what keeps it up? No
railroad runs to it. There are no facilities
| for ingress or egress. Its advantages for
trade seem to be of the smallest. Those
mountains / see on every side shut out the
world. A place could hardly be better fit
ted by nature for having Beotian
ignorant population to whose ears hardly
an outside echo would reach and who
would think those mountains bounded the
world. Yet in this valley are two first-class
Institutions. Take away these and Lex
ington is still one of the intellectual centers
of the country. Take away Lexington, and
this county of Rockbridge is still, as the
census shows, the most enlightened county
in -eriea-perhaps in the world.
AS in duty bound, L pay my respects to
the President, Gen. Gusts Lee. The Ia
dies accuse him of being diffident. But as
he belongs to the craft OF singularS, they
are probably trying to account for bis hay-
ing resisted their charms. Perhaps they
are also preparing the way for improving
the remnant OF Leap year, to his abduction
and kidnapping. The grace, dignity, and
tact of his manner are too attractive for
him not to be a shining mark for capture.
It is hard to analyze the subtle elements
that makes this worthy son of a worthy IA
ther-so please and impress those with
whom be is thrown. l make it my bust
Dess to find out all / can about the working
| e s,f If Ty,ir
What most astonishes me is to
perceive that Gen. Lee was, and
by his influence, still is the ruling
power of the institution. shared with
many, the idea that the General had little
to do with the inner workings of the col
lege, which believed was kept up and ruled
BY the really first class men who constitute
the faculty. So far was this from being the
case, that he at once put himself in friendly
antagonism 10 some of the ablest and most
experienced of his Professors. He intro
duced with some opposition, and continued
with difficulty, a system which wise and
experienced heads thought would not do.
But the success of his management soon
convinced the most skepticsl. The initial
| idea Of his system was that his students
were gentlemen in whose honor he could
repose confidence, which no whispers OF
suspicious should abate until they had
proved their own unworthiness. II was
soon the case that there was not person
fluence did not filter. There was not a
pupil who did not realize that there was an
/! obligation on him to prove that the conf
denee reposed in his honor was not mis-
placed. Hence with FIVE hundred students
/ loa
there were formerly with five score. A
higher compliment could not be paid to
Gen. Lee than this simple statement.
The Lexington University exists by &C
cident, The men now identified with it
would ten years ago have probably depre-
Gated the idea of creating such rival to
Charlottesville. The course of events has
taken matters out of individual control
The fact faces US, irrespective of all reasons
tending to show the fact should not have
been, that first class institution has loom
ed up in this quiet village. Many ask what
is the use Of having it, Virginia already had
one celebrated university. 1t largely an
Swers this question that the inexorable tide
of events, independently of individual vol
ition, created Lexington. Yet more, Eng
land has two Universities, and finds he,
| SESdb Edlu III bnO' OuO III
| mate of Virginia and the associations con-
nected with her soil, will make her more
and more an educator of the South. Even
if the professors of the college are largely
drawn from extra-State regions. Most
of all. distinctive features, and especial ex.
| ceIepces will develop themselves in each
institution, and in perfecting these special
ties the public will be benefited. One great
| - ic infr
of what / understand to be a modification Of
the English tutorial system, by which back
ward students are enabled to catch up with
their classes. Another very admirable fea.
ture is that she grants modified degree to
that large majority of students who are IN
able to attain the thorough scholarship
needed for full graduation.
Embarrass de richesses. Here, neal
the college, is the celebrated Military
Institute, never, in point Of mum
bers, more fourishing than now. Gen
Smith is the man who made it, and The
Atlas who still bears it on his shoulders. II
agrees with him, for he looks younger thar
in the war, and talks as cheerfuly an6
hopefully as if he found hard work and
poor pay delight.
In brief interview with Maury be laugh
| lDgly remarkeu b1dL ne Ddu DeSuu LUdb Udl
the new study of Italian, reading transla
ton of his works in that language. can
not but think what queer fish we of tht
South are. We let our own authors, o
European reputation, starve. Maqry has
only in the last few months had funds to
publish full maps for his Biographies; and
: it is by the hardest work that we admit
/, them into our schools. BY the way, he j!
: leaving the Institute, aud it is likely he
) could be induced to identify his worldwide
t fame with some institution in Tennessee.
l must visit the chapel, handsome new
t building, about a hundred yards in front Of
? the college. find student who has il
and the basement in charge, and who show:
1t to me. They take it by turnsto perform
this duty. After looking at the chapel hi
g invites me into the basement. l find Gen
: Lees study, nearly under the pulpit, with
8 books, letters, papers, lying about as if he
had just stepped out. Nothing here has
been disturbed since his death. In The
I center of the basement is a square railing
II. l. 49,