The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-29


youth. II Il indicative OF nis cohip,v
hensive views Of education, Una. u"i ~, ,,
his superintendency at west rom. Wv
course OF study was extended TO five years,
and greatly enlarged in its scope. Anu "nen
he entered unon his duties here II was
soon evident that he possessed eNei! q'.',
fication 10 direct with signal SUCCESS wv
affairs of the institution, and To mOuiu Wv
character and minds Of those cOnndeu 'on i'
care.
II was understood from the time OF h's
inauguration that he would not hlmscl az,
rs teacher OF any class, but would nave ~
charge the business and financial concerns
Of the college, its educational curriculum,
and the discipline OF its students ana
from first TO last he devoted himself TO
these tasks with unccasing assiduity ana
success.
Everything here felt, with his presence,
q renoyating and progressive impulse. NO
thing escaped his attention, from the small
est detail of business TO the gravest ques-
ton OF educational policy; and IN what
ever concerned the well-being OF the col
lcgc. its faculties, and lis students. MS dis
corning Judgment and his sympathetic
heart worked ont the right result. Under
his supervision the buildings were repair
ed. the accommodations enlarged. the
chemical and philosophical apparatus re-
placed, the library rcplenished ana reform
ed. lie il was who selected the site oi your
chapel which now guards his mortal Ie-
mains: his was the hand thai drafted the
plan. and his The eye that saw It's parts
conioined together. No figure-head was
he. but worker and doer, bringing things
to pass as they should be.
Prior to his administration there were
but five chairs OF instruction. several de-
partmcnts being combined under one pro-
| fessional head:
1. Mental and Moral Science, and Politi-
cal Economy.
.. Latin Language and Literature.
3. Greek Language and Literature.
4. Mathematics aud Physical Science.
:. Chemistry and Natural Philosophy.
Speedily after his accession three new
chairs were added and professors elected
| TO fil them: thc chair Of Natural Philo,o-
phv. embracing IN addition 10 Phy~lcs,
| Acoustics. Optics. ,-c., the various s;lb-
| iccts OF Natural and Applied Mechanics;
| ihc chair Of Applied Mathematics, en-
/ bracing Astronomy, civil and Military IN
cheering. and The chair Of Modern In
guges. 10 which wa, added English Pillo-
| logy. ln the second year Of his mcmm-
/ hcucy The chair OF History and English
| Literature was established end soon after
wards the Department OF Law and Equity,
under That eminent juri,t Judge John W.
| Brockcnhr0ugh.
Several other chair. were included in the
! President, proerammc-onc Of the Eng
/ lih Language. one oG Applied Chemistry.
and also school Cf Medicine, school Of
Journalism. and q school OF Commerce.
the latter being designed TO give special in
,tluction and sytcmmic training in what
ever prrtaiucd TO business in the most cn-
1 argei Sense oi the term. Amongst other
/ changes introduced by General Lee wa,
/ The substitution OF the elective system in
stead OF q fixed curriculum; md lhc sys-
/ TEN Of discipline which nr adopted, in no.
wise plrt.king eli the military type. to
which 10 might have been supposed bis
disposition would incline. w'- HAT which
| h1s .o long prosprrcd 40 The University OF
! Nire.nia-a system which ignored e-pion-
age and ccmnui-ion, and put every >iu-
| Gr0t upO. Mluly sense ol honor-a >y>-
tenn which. especially with Young mon not
/ too immature tO appreciate il. and which
with ali men who have the capaciiyo i being
gentlemen is the best calculated tO develop
| the virtuous and independent elements OF
| character. Here for six years the General
| devoted himself TO the cause oi education.
and here under him That cause nObly tloT-
iShcd. Here ne demonstrated that comprc-
| hcnsivc grasp OF every u,jcct connected
with his sphere. and the keen apprchcn-
| SION Of the demands OF this progressive
age. and OF q land entering as it were upon
a new birth. Ills associates in the faculty
| loved him a. an elder brother. the students
rcVcred and loved him a, a father, and all
who saw or knew his work with common
voice proclaimed the conviction expressed
by one Of the most distinguished Of his as
s0ciatcs. that he was " the best college pre-
>idcnt that this country has ever pro-
duccd."
His work has been established. and
though the great chief has "fll.en by the
wav." one who bears his name, and who
is worthy OF it, la, taken up the lines that
fall from his hands. and under him. with
Gods blessing. the good cause goes on
prospcring and 20 prosper.
And 20 happily il has come to pass that
the little school % the pioneers, planted in
The wilderness, is to-day a great universe
tv; that the ambition OF William Graham,
the cOllcgc-matc OF Harry Lee, Ia, been
realized beyond lis sweetest dream; that
the college which the Father OF his tOun-
try lifted mp by hi, generosity from strug-
Cling academy 10 educate the children OF
those who had fallen i'm its defence. and
winch was blightcd 10 the verge OF dc-truc-
ton. has been restored and magniicd 10y
the hand OF him who alone OF all men, liy-
ing or dead, now equally shares with his
illu-tri0u, prototype the ,ulOgy pro-
n0unced 10y his own sire, Lighthouse
Harry Lee. " First an peace, .t'TSt Ia trdr.
and first az the hearts Of his c0uRtryHen.'
LEE TIE NAN-Hs Personal APPEARANCE.
Thus fecbly and impcriecily have | at
fcmpted 10 trace the military achievements
and public services OF him to whose menu
orv This day j dedicated. Lee the General
stand. abreast with the greatest Captain,
Of all times: and Lee the Patriot has uni
yersal homage.
II Is now OF Lee the Man that would
speak.
In personal appearance General Lee was
4 man whom once TO see was ever 90 re-
member Hi. figure was tall. erect. we'll
portioncd. .i'he. and graceful. \ fine
head. with broad. uplifte6 brow, and fca-
lures boldly but yet delicatey chisellcd,
bore the high aspect OF one born to COM
mand. The firm yet mobile lips, and the
thick-sct jaw. were expressive OF daring
and resolution; and the dark, Scintillaal
eye flashed with the light Of a brilliant in
tclect and a fearless spirit. His whole
countenancc, indeed. bespoke alike pow
crful mind and indomitable will, yet
beamcd with charity, gentlencss, and be-
neyOence.
In bis manners, quiet reserve, unlileeted
courtesy, and native dignity, made mani
fest the character OF one who can only De
described by the name Of gentleman. And
taken all in all, his presence possessed th3t
grave and simple maiestywhich command
cd instant rovercnco and rcpre.Sed famil-