The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-12-12
VOL. 81.
Lexington Letter.

~ mer resorts In the Virginia
u antains, no place is perhaps
more interesting or largely visited
than the one from which this com
munication is written. Il Is not
only quiet and healthful retreat,
buta place Glled with historic in
terest as well. When your CORES.
pendent first came here the more
important spots of this historic old |
reservoir were Immediately sought |
and he 10 now enabled to make a |
few notes that will perhaps interest
not only Virginians who may have
settled in your midst, but the
many other lovers Of the sou.h and
the old dominion state as well.
Lexington Is situated at the
southern extremity of the beautiful
Shenandoah or Virginia valley.
High and healthy environed by
the Blue Ridge and Alleghany
mountain chains, it is admirably
fitted for passing the college days
OF the large number of southern
and western young men who come
here each year to avail themselves
OF her superior and tine honored
institutions.
La the early cononial days Lex
ington was frontier military post
which gave her vestige over Der
sister cities IN tie contest for the
Virginia Military Institute, an in
stitution patterned and operted af
ter West Point. in which Stonewall
jackson was an instructor before
the war. This little inland town
has been, and is now, the home of
some very distinguished persons.
Near the center OF the town stands
an old brick building occupied as
the office and residence of medi
cal doctor. There is nothing no
ticeable or attractive about the
old edifice, except that it was oncA
thess home Of Sionewall jackson.
But we are told that even this
old monument to the memory OF
the hero Of Manassas is soon to be
RACED TO the earth. The bricks
composing IL will be sold over the
land at price and on its site vii
be erected large structure to b,
known as the Stonewall Oper.
House. From the avenue neaI
Jackson's house may be seen the
historic he me of Ex- Gov. James
Mcdowell toward the southeast.
surrounded by shady hilltoI
grove, towards the east is tn,
homestead of John Letcher, Vir
ginia's famous war governor, wo,
rose from the carpenters bench t,
the exalted station of statesman
the home now being occupied b,
the surviving members of his fam
lily. Intervening these histori,
domiciles may be seen the larg,
stone front of Hon. j. Randolph
Tucker, the great lecturer and fol.
lower OF John G. Calhoun on cues
tions of constitutional law; while il
& quiet corner of the city, ed
by majestic trees waving theil
shady boughs under the heav,
mountain breeze, is the mansion
of the south's fayorite poetess, Mrs.
Margaret j. Preston.
Perhaps the most noteworth,
abode of all, and the one on who's,
surroundings we may dwell fer 9
moment 10 the home OF Gen. Robert
Il. Lee which stands within Wash,
ington and Lee University cam pus
in the northwest and within thu
corporate limits OF Lexington. Il
is q modest Two story brick
planned by and erected especially
by the great Confed erate gener a
when he came here as college pres
ident in 1865, and is now occupict
by Gen. G. w. C. Lee, the eldes
SOD now praresidrlrg officer OF th,
institution fostered by the father
This brings US to the time O
Gen. Lees looming to Lexip gtop
his acceptance of the presidency o
old Washington College-whicl
composes one of the most interesr
ing pages OF history after the wa
and which will doubtless be of il
terest to tie reader.
Out on small hill Just back o
the present stately Washingto an
Lee university buildings, stand,
two stone walls bearing the Jack
kniie marks of students of man,
generations past, They are al
that remain of what was once Lib
erty Hall Academy, little insti,u.
tion established a century sRo ant
later on endowed by George Wash
ingten. From these old wall.
have emenated many eminent men
Among them we know John anc
Generals James and Robert Breck
enridge' all distinguished as states
men and soldiers; Meriweath Q,
Lewis and Henry Lee, private sec
retarlss respectively 10 Prssiden,
Jefferson and jackson; John C,
Cuttlenaan, the famous Kentucky
statesman, John Letchcr and other
Virginians. A story has been
handed down that John Brecken
ridge Was SO brilliant as youth
that he was twice elected a meu,.
Der OF the state legislature befors
he was yet tweaty one. Both cleo
-iions were set aside OF course. and
his seat in the house denied him,
but when he did gain his majority
he was again elected and his en-
thusiastic friends lived to see the
subject of their admiration q mem
Der of the United 'States senate
attorney general under President
Jefferson and the author of the ia
nous "Kentueky Resolution OF
1889"
1t was this brilliant little insti-
tuition. which had undergone many
hardships, swollen into the great
Washington College, then rayaged
by the hand OF war, that Gen.
Lee was invited to preside over at
the close of the great fatricidal con.
test.
II was well known that when the
great strife was ended, General Lee
received many honorable and high
ly lucrative business offers from
nothern and eastern capitalists.
For the mere use Of his name rich
corporations would not only grant
to him an independent income but
held out promises of immediate
wealth. All of these the great
general sternly refused. When it
came to the college presidency,
position offering great labor and
but little remuneration, the noble
heart Of Lee accepted. A. first he