St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-07-14
LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA.

/ w
sand inhabitants. And she has much
to boast Of. In the first place being the
| last resting place of two noble and dis
tinguished generals. / first visited the
cemetery, where the remains of Gene
raj Thomas j. Jackson (more familiar
| " known as ''Stonewall") rest in a
4 quiet and lovely spot, meath tall weep
/ ing willow, and as your expectations
would be to find an elaborate monu-
ment with a vOluminous inscription to
his memory it is just the contrary for
as you stand by the grave your eye
marks out a long green turf mound
with simple and plain head-board of
| marble with only Thomas j. Jackson
| engraved thereon. I next visited the
Mausoleum which contai Us the remains
of the late General r. E. Lee, wife and
daughter, which is Immediately back of
the Washington and Lee College chap
ell. Said:chapel was donated by Gen.
Lee in honor of the college.
The Mausoleum is now being fitted up
| in fine taste to hold the magnificent
statue Of Gen. Lee which has been
completed by an artist named Talen-
tine.
The figure is in recumbent position
and represents the General taking his,
rest in full military dress, with his
sword at his side, his left hand touch
ing it and his right hand across his
breast. The head rests on the pillow
and is inclined little to the right
The folds of the linen sheet under him
as it falls down the side of tile bed, and
the army blanket covering him little
above the middle are perfect limitations,
even to its binding. The whole must
be a master piece Of art, and my read
ers will have to draw on their own i'm
aginations for fuller description, or
attend the Centennial OF the Washing
ton and Lee College, commencing June
21st and ending June rs. The last day
| will be the unwilling of the above des-
cri bed statue of Gen. Lee. Great pre-
parations are being made for the Cen
tennial and a great many people are ex-
pected to be there. There is now an
extra track or branch Of the Richmond
and Allegany r. r., being made from
Balcony Falls to Lexington, rate of
fare will be reduced for the occasion.
The Washington and Lee College is
a fine male school, Gen. G.. w. Gusts
Lee, son of the late lamented Gen. R.
E. Lee is the honored president of the
College. visited the Library, and pro-
cured a catalogue and found among the
list of names of the students, several
from Louisiana. next went through
the College Museum a magnificent cabi-
net, containing the greatest variety
from both mineral and animal kingdom
that | ever saw, they have contributions
from every part of the globe.
The University or College buildings
are of grey stone, with lovely lavons
and green play grounds in front and On
all sides. 1t was noon when l visited
the College, and the students were ~
ing about under the quiet shade taking
their hour of rest In this same lavon
| is the new Episcopal church, large
and magnificent building made of grey
stone. The stone is not chizeled out
even and smooth, but is left rugged and
rustic like, on the out side. Gen. Pen
dleton was the pastor of this church,
but he has lately been called to his
Heavenly home. The Virginia Military
Institute is only a few hundred yards
from the Washington and Lee College,
General Smith being the President. Il
learned there are not as many students
there this year as. there generally are.
Still they have a good school of one
hundred and fifty students.
There is a splendid preparatory school
for boys at Fancy Hill about seven
miles from Lexington. Mr.. Laird a
gentleman of fine morals and religious
principles is the president of the school,
I attended the Commencement exercises
4 of the Fancy Hill school on the 18th of
June and was much pleased with the
appearance of everything. The boys
all acted well, and the valedictory by
lone of the young men students was
very good, and il was delivered exceed
Iingly we'll. The evening was in every
sense delightful one; fine music from
the Lexington string band was given
us between each and every play OF act
The stage was beautiful and artistically
ARRANGED, and decorated with lovely
flowers and evergreens, proving that
hands Of taste and refinement had