The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-22
Special Correspondence of the Richmond Dis
Il

| Lexington, the coupty-seat OF Rock
bridge county, is beautifully located In the
Valley OF Virginia among the spurs OF the
Blue Ridge, and is known far and wide as
the Athens OF Virginia. II has pOpula-
ton OF fraction less than 5000 souls.
and is nicely laid OFF, The town has made
a decided advance since the construction OF
the Richmond and Allegheny railroad.
and Is showing increased signs OF
progress and improvement. There are
at this time over seven trst-cass stores
going up, and as many private residences.
The Virginia Military Institute and Wash
ngtOm and Lee University are OF course
in the main the special attractions OF the
town, and every evening the parade-ground
ut the Institute is crowded with visitors to
witness the drcSs-parade OF
THE CADET BATTALION.
These parades are in charge OF sub-pro-
fessors appointed by the Board OF Visitors
on the recommendation OF General +. Ii.
Smith. the able and energetic Superin-
ltendent.
The course Of study while due attention
is paid to the claSSicS) is mainly TO prepare
Young men FOR the industrial pursuits OF
life.
Governor Cameron, which met at the In
stitute last July, made some minor changes
at the Institute. but failed TO remove, so far
as am informed, a single professor. The
new treasurer. Captain James \. Frazier.
who succeeded Major Thomas VI. Wade, is
now i'm working harness, and promises a
good showing to the Board at lis next an
nusl meeting.
THE INSTITUTE BUILDING
| i, a massive and imposing structure OF
pleasing architectural proportions. IL is
divided into Stoops and heated with hot air
through iron pipes. The cadets are pleas
antly and comfortably quartcred. and there
is an air OF cheeriulness peryading the
whole premises The parade-grOnnd adj
| Joining the Institute building Is a beautiful
stretch OF green. and j. as level as parlor
| door. The residences OF Colonel ship.
| Colonel Hardin. Colonel lyle, and general
+. II. smith front on the parade-grounds.
These residences are built after the military
| style OF architecture, and were restored by
| the Superintendent in 1866.
The number OF cadets at the Virginia
Military Institutes about 800 see from
a catalogue before me that nearly every
southern State and not few northern and
western states are represented IN TINS time
| honored institution. The cadets are di-
vided into two companies. Cadct-Captan
| Dudley Mcdonald. son Of General James
| Mcdonald, OF Richmond, is the senior
ranking cadet officer. He i a good sol
dier. and has marked sOldierly bearing
on parade.
Coming from the Institute grounds the
visitor passes the grounds OF
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY.
| " thin the last year a new, commodous,
and elegant library building, the generous
| Gift OF Mrs. Warren Nemcomb, has been
erected. Its shelves are supplied with
volumes embracing subjects Of science,
literature. and art, and additions are con-
,tantly being made. The law library Is
especially worthy OF notice IL has the
| VIRGINIA reports as well a. the reports OF
other states. and the United States, not 10
say ANYTHING OF The numberles> treaties on
all OF the complex subjects which the vast
| field oi that science i ever unfolding.
Through the gift OF Hon. Vincent l.. Brad
ford. Of Philadelphia. 500 i annually ap-
propriated 10 purchase new books.
THE STANDARD or EDUCATION
at this institution is high, and it is the aim
of the faculty TO maintain It's present high
standard. Among it, friends and patrons
may be mentioned such names rs Hon. VI.
Il. Waite. Chici-JustIce OF the United
| states. and Bishop Pinckney, OF Maryland.
| The late Thomas \. Scott Of the Pennsyl-
vania Central railroad, before his death.
made a donation to the University, through
General :. ID. Lilley, OF 100000.
| | regret 10 have 10 report that Professor
L. l.. Campbell. who 80 ably fills the chair
OF chemistry and geology, is confined TO
his room by sickness. ! hear he is improy-
| ing: though ii he RECEIVERS at all it will be
gradual process. He is not only a useful
man to the University, but TO the state OF
virginia, and the old commonwealth can
| i'll afford to spare such men at this critical
period in her history. He is the brother
of the Rev. W. \. Campbell, pastor OF Che
| PRESBYTERIAN church in Manchester.
THE APPROACHING LEE-NEMORIAL CELEBRA-
TON
is the coming event now uppermost in the
minds OF the people here. II will be a
grand occasion. and no less than 10000
people are expected to be present On this
occasion Valentines recumbent statue Of
the immortal chieftain, the idol of the late
Confederacy. will be unveiled, and that
Isilyer-tongued young Virginia orator, Hon.
John W. Daniel, OF Lynchburg, will deliver
a carefully-prepared address on the life and
virtues of the greatest soldier OF modern
times. The Valley railroad and the Rich
mond and Allegheny railroad will run
trains into Lexington 10 accommodate all
who wish to take part in these festivities.
While the main feature OF the day will be
devoted to General Lee, the patriot soldier
whose remains lie i'm the quiet village GEN.
| etery will not be overlooked or forgotten.
The grave OF Jackson will be decorated
with flowers at the hands Of the ladies
whose devotion 10 the cause Of the South
has passed into history, and whose unselfsh
patriotism has made the Memora-day "
the sweetest and the dearest in the calendar
OF the southern heart.
| Tie chaIel building, where these cere-
monies are to take place, was built soon
after the close OF the war under the i'm
mediate supervision OF General II. f.. Lee.
Its acoustic properties are widely known,
and public speakers who visit Lexington
are always anxious to secure tine use OF the
chapel.
| THE LEE MAUSOLEUM
is what might be called an annex to the
chanel. Ii is constructed of brick and
stone l0X:0 feet. The interior consists OF
pressed brick and Indiana free-stone. The
ceiling is made Of galvanized iron and
glass, the latter so constructed as 10 admit
of a copious flood OF light from above.
The walls OF the Mausoleum are built OF
large slabs OF Indiana free-stone, with
pressed-brick pillars between, and has an
ornamental cornice OF stone of the same
material The floor is built OF marble. In |
the centre OF this room will be base OF
granite and white marble, upon which the
figure OF Lee will rest. The chapel Is |
separated from the Mausoleum annex by