The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-12-12

crates Mankin, of the University of Virginia
James Moore, of Transylvania University
William G. Preston, of South Carolina Col
lege; James II. Piper, of East Tennessee
University. and Drury Lacy. Davidson Col
lege, shed a lustre upon the pages OF bel
| alumni.
Interesting because of it's association with
the history of our Republic in its infancy
Lexington is halowed now as the repository
of the ashes of Lee and Jackson. The latter
sleeps in the Lexington Cemetery, simple
stone marking his resting place Within the
iron railing which encloses his grave bronze
medallion, bearing the Maryland coat-of arms,
has been placed by the survivors OF his divi-
sion in that State. Within the college cam.
pus to the right of The entrance is the hand
some stone church built as a memorial TO
General Lee, for the erection of which con-
trbutions were received from almost every
part of the Union. Further on to the left is
the house built and occupied by himself and
now the home of his son, General George
Washington Gusts Lee, the present President
of the University. Opposite the college
building is the University chapel, erected at
General Lees suggestion and planned by
himself. The building is of gray stone and
brick, over which the Virgiuia creeper and
the Boston ivy throw their graceful tendrils.
Within the chapel, to the lett of the chancel,
are portraits of Washington, Chief Justice
Marshall, w. w. Corcoran, who donated
thirty thousand dollars TO the college; Thos.
Jefferson and James Madison to the right
Vincent L. Bradford, LII. D., d. @. l.. of Phila-
delphia DIR. Mercer, OF New Orleans, who
made such valuable contributions to the
library and art gallery; Mrs. Warren New
comb, of New York, who gave $4,000 to
the institution; Colonel Thomas A. Scott
this portrait presented by Mrs. Scotland
Zachary Taylor. Over the arch above the
chancel hangs a medallion of General Lee
Through this arch, curtaincd by portieres,
may be seen the famous recumbent figure of
Lee by Valentine. 1t is slightly above life
of white marble. The head is naturally ele-
waited and the face turned somewhat to the
right. The left arm is extended, the hand
grasping the hilt of sword, while the right
rests upon the breast. The feet are crossed
and the texture of the army blanket, which
covers the lower portion of the figure and
through which The contour of the limbs is
distinctly visible, is admirably shown.
Below the chapel is the mausoleum in
which Lees remains are buried, and across
from this is the Office in which he discharged
his duties as President of the college, which
has been preserved as he left il on the day
OF his fatal illness. The furniture of this
apartment is simple, consisting of book
case-lying open upon which is book,
probably the last to which General Lee ever
referred an old-fashioned secretary, IN which
his letters and papers are neatly pigeon-h oled;
two tables, sofa and easy chair, upholstered
with green leather; and few other chairs
The plain ingram carpet, faded by the light
which streams in from an uncurtained win
dow, is unworn, although thousands of feet
have passed over it. Upon the centre-table
are some papers and letters, arranged with
mathematical precision; few pen boxes, a
beaded pen-wiper and his pen just as it fell
from his hand. Everything bespesks neat
ness and methodical habits The chamber,
with the adjacent mausoleum, is carefully
guarded by Thomas Hughes, faithful color
ed man, who was janitor of the college dur
ing General Lees lifetime. When in 1865
General Lee, who had refused every position
which offered him ease or emolument: accept
ed the presidency of Washington College,
called at his death Washington and Lee
University, he gave fresh impetus to the in
stitution. Young men poured in from the
South and from many portions of the North,
and the college, which had been almost aban-
doned during the civil war, opened with four
hundred students. During his administration
he substituted the elective system for a fixed
curriculum, and widened the course of AGA
demic and professional instruction. Con-
WINGED of the refining and restraining infu-
ence of the family circle, he abolished the
dormitory system, and the students became
inmates of the homes Of many of the most
prominent and cultured citizens of Lexing
ton. The system of discipline then intro
duced, and which exists at the present day,
was characterized by no rigid rules or harsh
restrictions A code such as regulates the
conduct of gentlemen was established among
the students, which placed them above the
necessity of legislation. General Lees in
dorsal by letter of the movement to organize
a Christian Association among the students
and his unfailing interest in the associations,
illustrate his desire to exert a wholesome
religious influence over them.
To the oldest Christian minister in Lex
ington he said: Doctor, l shall be disap-
pointed if these young men do not all be-
come Christian men during their college life
and hope that you will give them all the
help you can"