Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-09-20

| formed himself of the standing of each
student, and the rules of study were as
rigid as military discipline, the alternative
being ''study OF the plough" If any col
lege boy were idle, or disposed to shirk his
books, he was summoned to the Presidents
Office for gentle admonition-so gentle
indeed that when he came away, his fell
low students were apt to say "WhO said
'Goodmorning' first?" that is, "Did you
know when General Lee was done with
you 2"
In one respect his influence was immeas-
urable. Every man in the South looked
up to General Lee as the highest type of
manhood, and his very presence was an
inspiration. This is the influence which
young men feel more than any other-that
inspired by intense admiration-an intlu-
ence that would have been very potent for
evil if the object of their admiration had
been merely great soldier, dazzling them
by his genius, but destitute of high princi-
pie Had that been the case, his influence
it was elevating, since his superiority in
all other respects was united with char
acter that was so gentle and so good.
That he might reach the young men, he
sought their acquaintance, instead OF stand
ing apart in icy dignity. Prof. White tells
me that, if they were walking together in
the College grounds, and a student was
seen approaching, he would ask who he
was, and when he came up, instead OF pass
ing him with a stiff and stately bow, would
stop and call him by name, and ask about
his family and his studies, and speak few
words of encouragement, which the young
man would not forget to his dying day:
To be under the authority and influence OF
such a man, was an education in manll-
ness. There was not student who did
not feel it, and to whom it was not the
highest ambition to be guided by such
leader, to be infused with his spirit, and
to follow his example.
From the first he attached great impor-
lance in any system OF education to Rell.
gion. He was himself a devOut member OF
the Episcopal Church, and no one was
more regular in attendance on its services.
No one knelt with more humility i'll the
house of God, OF responded more fervently
to the prayers. But it was not merely be-
cause he found his own personal comfort
in this faith OF worship that he desired it
for others. He believed that Religion lies
at the foundation of all that is worthy to
be called character" In his long military
life, which was of necessity a public one,
he had seen great deal of ''men of the
world''-men Of society, men OF fashion,
and he knew how all this outward grace
might cover the meanest selfishnesS and the
blacklist heart. He had come to feel more
and more that one could not be truly great
WHO WAS lou uIuly Sooet, oiioo Ai,o " 90 my
given for pleasure only, but that it had
grave responsibilities; and he wished his
young men to recognize that they had du-
ties to others as we'll as to themselves, and
that the truest heroism was in self-forget-
fulness and self-denial. This type of char
acter, he knew, could not be formed on
mere sentiment it could be inspired only
by profound religious faith; and so he
esteemed it as above all science to 'know
Cod If he had been the College pastor,
he could not have been more earnest that
his large household should be infused with
spiritual life; and hence he often expressed
to the pastors of the churches around him
his desire for "a revival in the College;
that the young men should go out, not only
thoroughly educated, but having in them
the elements of strong religious character.
II. M. +.
#When the surrender took place, almost the
first question which General Meade asked
General Lee, was elbow many men had you
at Petersburg and in your lines, when they
were broken?'' .'Forty thousand was the
reply. 81 am amazed said Meade, "and
could not believe it, if it We're not you that
said it,"
concluded IN the Viadicdtor meet aoeek.l