Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-06-05
Stauntott Spectacle.
WEDNESDAY,, JUNE 5. 1889.
Virginia Military Institute.

escuteheon. The foundations of her gov
eminent and her plans Of development,
whether at the periods of colonial progress,
the institution of the sovereign powers of
State, or healing the breaches of civil war,
she has consistently exercised enlightened
wisdom in providing for the education oil
the rising generations, and the training OF
the youth of her population IL virtue ana
knowledge, and in forming the groundwork
in them for the obligations and tulhllment
of the duties of enlightened citizenship. 1t
is not necessary to mention specifically the
methods of progress FOR the attainment OF
these ends. The State literary fund and
the establishment of the State University
and the Virginia Military Institute as the
progressive groundwork of education upon
which the State could properly supplement
and encourage and cooperate with the
people in all the ramifcations and plans of
corporate institutions and private enter
prizes covering the whole field of educa-
ton. were measures which have stood the
test in every essential of wise and patriotic
purposes, as craftsmanship and experience
and economic progress might apply their
standards.
A few more than the allotted years of q
generation-and these will swiftly roll
along-will bring the centennial of the
University, and then the people of the old
Commonwealth who shall witness it Will
be rejoicing in that progress and develop
ment in education, in material power, AID
in the attainment of prosperity that will
reflect honor and gle1Ey;, renewed upon the
excellenee Of its decades, and superior be-
cause of the fruition of the wisdom and
purposes which laid its foundation.
This year numbers the fftieth of the
existence of the Virginia Military 1nsti-
tute. 1t affords the people of the State an
opportunity for especial reflection and
much more than is ordinarily the case.
though all that pertains to it is of chief
concern to them. In their thoughts they
can we'll estimate those of the Superintend-
ent and an associate professor who survive
through all that long time, as well as the
few of the class of cadets who are living,
that in 1889 formed in line at the old
Franklin Hall in Lexington and marched
to the State Arseonal at that place to
supersede the garrison of regulars in mill
tary service and to commence the founda-
tions of an academic course and military
instruction based upon the plan of the
United States Military Academy at West
Point. Here tie mind naturally turns to
the past in 1889, and what a history it is
invited to review and contemplate along
with General f. II. Smith, the superintend-
emit and Colonel Jno T. L. Preston, an asso-
ciate professor, and Colonel Edmund
Pendleton, General Wyatt NJ. Elliott, and
perhaps others living of the first class OF
cadets. Nor does it stop with these. The
first Board of Visitors, of which General
Thomas II. Bolts was president, will have
a place at this point. In this connection
with the commencement of the Institute
the names of General Bernard Peyton,
Adiutent General in 1889, and his imme-
date successor, General William Fl. Rich
ardson, are inseparably associated as eT-
offcio members of the Board of Visitors
To the latter is added the continuous asso-
citation ended only few years ago by his
death and the obligations of the Institute
in the requests which appropriated to it
child's portion of his estate.
The names of the sons of Virginia and
other States associated with the Institute
through the half century that has passed
are enrolled in its archives. Many of them
will be the subjects of eulogy at the semi
centennial celebration as they may have
been prominent in military or civil life and
the reunion of the living at the place con
secrated in the hearts of all will impart a
freshness and vigor to the aged and cheer
the more youthful along the pathway of
life. In all this the people Of the State
will be deeply interested spectators, many
of them availing themselves of the occasion
to see and know personally more of 6
great institution which has under the care
and guidance of its distinguished Superin
tendent completed half century of ser
vices that will require many volumes fol-
their portrayal.
The Alumni and eleves of the Institute
truly appreciate the present as proper
time in its history to formally unite IL
coming together upon it's historic grounds
and to render it's semi-centennial anniver
sary an occasion of SURPRISING interest,"
Some weeks since we published the address
of the Committee charged with the duty
of carrying forward that object, and We
again present it, that the matter in iti
general scope can be observed along witt
the efforts that are making to render il
successful -
1S39-1SS9.
sEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF TIKI
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE.
To AL Old Cadets of the Virginia Military
Institute Greeting:
Comrades,-As chairman of the Semi
Centennial Executive Committee Of the
Society of Alumni of the Virginia Military
Institute it is made my pleasant duty to
announce that on the Sd and 4th of July
prOXlmO IL is pfOpOSou NY Guo alumni W
unite in celebration at tho Virginia Mill
tary Institute that shall fittingly commend
rate the semi-centennial anniversary of our
cherished Alma Mater. 1t is therefore
earnestly hoped that every matriculate now
living will strenuously endeavor to lend his
presence to the interesting occasion and
participate in the jubilee that, it is be-
lieved, will mark memorable epoch in the
history of an institution famous both in
war and in peace.
For half century, amid such vicissitudes
as rarely befalI an institution of learning,
the Virginia Military Institute has unfalter-
ingly prosecuted her glorious mission, diff
fusing all the while a rich blessing upon
Virginia and her sister States in the practi'
cal education she has bestowed upon so
many of their sons And now with maturer
wisdom, in proud contemplation of her
sDlendid past and full of hope for her