The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-07


i sTTuTE-TsAsTo q HANGE ST 81 HE
GREAT FREsHET-THE ELEc.TIeS.
Icorsss pondence OF the Richmond Dispatch1
5S.s 49, DEcEMBER, 1877.
Ibaye lust returned from a most delight
Sui visit to Lexington, the pleasure OF
which Il can hardly express more strongly
than to say that it more than compensated
for the ride In an open, hack from Goshen
to Lexington, and In the stage from Lex
ingtosf TO Stanton.
The town has changed but little within
the past several years, except that beautiful
pavemsnts tlsve taken The place OF the mud
OF other days.
There have been some changes among.
the citizeus, and familiar faces were missed !;
but found the town the same abode OF
culture, refinement, and warm hospitality
as in days OF gore.
Washington-an Lee University has an
encouraging number OF students this ses-
sion, and there are various things which in
licaie Frightening prospects for the future.
it was gratifying to learn that the Young
Mems Christian Association is IN more
{ fiourfsbing condition than for several ses-
sicns, and that larger number OF students
than usual attend the prayer-meetings and
participate in their mission Sunday-school
Work So
j went, OF course, to the tomb of Lee,
and was gratited to. find that fresh flowers
are still regularly brought to adorn the
graves Of the General, Mrs. Lee, and Miss
Agnes-that q students guard OF honor
still keeps watch and ward at the tomb
that General Lees office is still preserved
lust as he left it on the day OF bis fatal
sickness, and that mementoes OF the great
chieitain are CHERISHED withincreasing affec-
ton ms the years go on. The mausoleunl
which is to contain Valentines beautiful
recumbent figure is soon to be commenced,
and will be pushed to an early compile.
ton. The Lice Memorial Association .
which has had this enterprise in charge,
deserve great credit for the iudsclous
manner in which they have quietly but
earnestly and effectively pushed their work.
They have paid for the sarcophagus, with
the exception of some $500, and now have
in hand over $1,000 with which to begin
the n1ausoleum. Messrs. Dimmock, OF
Richmond, and Nielsen, OF Baltimore.s are
now mt work on plans for the building, and
it is hoped that by the LIST Of January at the
latest the work will be begun. hen 1t
shall have been completed and the splendid
creation OF Valentines genius placed
:
he ftly decorated, and Lexington will
have work of art unsurpassed, il cqualled,
in this country. It is pleasant to note the
enthusiasm with which those cultivated
gentlemen, who were familiar with General
Lees person, speak OF Valentines work.
They say that the likeness is wellnigh per-
feet; that the proportions are exact your
correspondent happens to know that Vaien-
tine had the privilege OF making exact
measurements Of General Lees person..
and that the marble figure is The perfect
counterpart of the plaster model save IN
few changes which Mr.. Valentine suggested
some time before, and which the committee
agreed for him to make. Indeed, the COM
mittee seem to consider themselves most
fortunate in having adopted hrs. Lees,
Virqiaid artist, who has produced work
which. no foreigner could have had equal
facilities for producing or could have at all
equalled. -.7,s..
And / did not fail to visit the grave Of
Stonewall Jackson and to mediate on
sswhat might have been - il the stern SOL
dier who blvoilacks there had been, in
Gods providence, spared to lead his old
CORDS to Gettysburg. General Lee said, not
long before his death, If Ihad had Stone
qcaU Jackson at Gettysburg should haze
aeon that battle; and If Ihad IRON great
Uictory there should haze established The
independence Of the South" Who doubts
this in the light Of recent discussion OF this
great battle?
Tue jackson Memorial Association has
been making but little progress of late, but
it is hoped that the day is not far distant
when suitable monument shall also mark
the grave Of Jackson.
FYNY~ xsvxyn
same abode OF strict discipline and earnest
zeal In preparing young men TO be good sol
diers in the great battle Of life. Certainly
no other man on the continent could have
accomplished what the untiring zeal OF
General Smith has done for the Institute
since the war. It was very pleasant to find
that the nightly prayer-mee ceilings at the In
stitute (which have been maintained for a
long series of years, and in connection with
which there have been some precious reyi-
vals) are still kept up with undated inter-
est.
All of the churches in Lexington Except
the Episcopal, of which Rev. DR.. Pendleton
remains the rector) have changed pastors
since was here. Rev. DR.. F. r. Mutually,
my old army friend, is the able and accepta-
bic pastor OF the Presbyterian church; Rev.
l. w. Canter is the jealous and efficient
pastor of the Methodist church; and Rev:
George B. Eager is having a most successful
pastorate of the Baptist church, and winning
golden opinions from the whole community
by his power in the pulpit and efficiency
among the people.
You have had the details Of the great
freshet, and need only add that the people
of Rockbridge are in anxious suspense as
TO what will be done towards repairing the
canal. Shamefully swindied out OF their
railroad, the canal is now absolutely essen
tial to them.
The Conservatives of the county seem
heartily ashamed of the result OF the cleo
ton. / was told that Governor Letchers
defeat was largely due to his earnest adYo-
cacy OF a dog taa-that this caused many
owners OF worthless ours to vote against
him. But the real cause was no doubt the
uer-confidence which kept large numbers
Of the Conservatives from the polls. They
say they will not be caught mapping again.
=. SE5s 5 - $50 ss5s,sss sVIAToR. &
Virginia Historical Society.
STATE C0uRT OF APPEALS BUILDING,
RIryyMoND January r. fS7S {