Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-11-16
Guy Fawkes Celebration in Vir-
ginia-A VisittO the Miller
College.
Correspondence of Stanton V1NDIcAroR.)
BATEsYILLE, Albemarle, Nov. 9th.

COA1eR0s
CORRESPONDENCE of Stanton VINDICAToR)
BATEsvlLLE, Albemarle, Nov. 9th.
1 have just availed myself Of an invita-
ton to the Miller College to witness bon
fire and balloon ascension, commemorative
of the 5th of Nov, or the Gunpowder Plot,
successfully gotten up under the auspices
of W. Woodroffe and friends of England.
at s P. NJ. a long torchlight procession re-
paired to the eminence, on which tie tire
was constructed. When it was asked,
"Who will hang Guy Fawkes,' silence
held every tongue, until America stepping
| forth before representatives of the four
continents, strapped the effiay to his back
and attained with squirrel-like agility the
tender height OF the tree that bowed under
his weight. Then the numerous tirebrandS
were applied to the fuel and in the twink
ling of an eye Guy was no II ore. The bal
loon was failure, for the rarefied
air from the bonfire caused it to incline
and he consumed before it passed from
sight.
We were not moderately surprised to see
work of such imposing greatness decora
ted with every establishment of fancy tow
ering where heretofore the screening owl,
the mourning dove and the croaking frog
held their courts in putrid fenS or neglec-
ted fields Of pine and sage, Even now.
the change has been so radically great,
| that so, tine desert smiles'' thanks upon
| er bonefactor. To this picturesque, TO-
mantle, and heathful location, man could
not ask of nature a feature in addition.
l. oking to the evenings sun, it views the
the varying grandeur of near and distant
mountains within itself it has lovers
hooks, fishes brooks, ripping rills and
artists hills. The adjoining ground is
IA tract of 500 acres. On which is laid off an
orchard for large fruit, one for small fruit,
a flower garden, vegetable garden, lawn
and park. Every office is filled by men of
u. questionable ability and who will prove
their skill in constructing the most modern
architecture into a building not to be sur
passed by in its state. A. Lybrock. the
architect, from Germany, and G. Wood
roffe, the contractor, from England, are
men thoroughly experienced in their bust
ness.
The main building is 228 feet long and
100 feet high, extending back 100 feet so
as to form Il T. 1t was commenced i'll 1875
and will be completed in June, 1878, at an
expense of more than 100000 without
considering the expense of gas, steam and
water conducted from a reservoir OF 10000
gallons, filled from q large and rapid
mountain spring 8 miles distant. The
lumber is brought from North Carolina
and Nova Scotia. the galvanized iron from
Ohio, slate from Buckingham county,
granite from Richmond and brick from
Albemarle. The chapel situated in the
main building over the dining room is 10
by 40 feet. This situation for chapel will
be hard upon children, if sound will pene-
trate the walls and their ears as keenly as
it did mine, when a student, for listening
to the sounds below instead Of above, an
lnsupportable reStlesSnes would seize me
and an irresistible temptation would take
| me out to look afteI business on the lower
| floor.
Samael Miller. the founder, was born
of obcsure parentage in Albemarle, on
Sprouce Mountain. 1t has been reported
| that Miller being an obStreperouS lad, was
| driven from the paternal roof. Such was
| not the case; for his mother, after becom-
| ing widow, was never married, and he
| lived with her until driven out by poverty
| to seek a better home. When boy he
ploWed for l21 cents per day, gathered
| tags of wool from brierS, at night WOve
| suspenders, made wooden combs for sale,
and thus, by hard earnings and tight saw
ings he began in partnership with his broth
er in grocery in Lynchburg, where he
| oPCut I1la illC III opCCulotlO11S, tl1G
| ment from Which at his death was about
| s2,000.000 Nor was his life free from loss.
for at one time, he afterwards admitted
| that, unknown to his creditors, he was $3.50
600 worse than nothing. His liberality was
unimpeachable, having aided in building
every church in or near Lynchburg, besides
building d female institute and supporting
several charitable Institutions. In manner
he was puritanically simple, in character
scrupulously honest, in soul magnanimous
and capable of nought that honesty might
blush to own. He mingled but little with
the world, preferring quiet and solituder
he spent his daysin his unpretending home
in Lynchburg, until death in 1869, after a
short warning at the age of 81, bore him
away, we hope, to the reward of the just.
The Miller College will be a home for
the penniless orphan boy, where he will be
brought up a true and noble man, under
the care of those possessed of minds replete
with knowledge, and hearts touched by
the widow s cry and the orphans tear.
hoX.