The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-12-12
miscellaneous.
WASHINGTON AND LEE.
Virginia's Famous University.

No better view of Lexington can be OBJ
tanned than that which is to be had from the
observatory of Washington and Lee Univer-
sily, where one sees the picture not in seq
ments but as whole. The town is environ
ed with mountain ranges. Before US the
Blue Ridge stretches its azure length, to the
right Purgatory rises dark and mysterious,
while behind and to the left of US North
Mountain lifts its rugged peaks to the clouds.
Seen ON an afternoon in October when the
maple and ash trees which dot the green
slopes of the college campus have donned
their brilliant autumn robes, and the depart
ing rays of the sun streak the heavens with
flame-color, violet and molten gold, and rest
like halo upon the landscape, the beauty
of the scene beggars description.
To the rear OF the college The gray ruins of
Liberty Hall, the seed from which the present
f1ourishing University sprang, are still stand
ing. Under the name of Augusta Academy
this institution was established as early as
1749 by the Scotch-Irish settlers, who remov-
ed to the Valley of Virginia from Pennsyl-
vania. With the exception of William an
Mary College, at Williamsburg, it was the
only high school of which the "Old Dominion"
could then boast and was the first institu-
ton of learning chartered in that State.
When spirit of resistance was rife among
the oppressed colonists, the name of the Uni
versity was changed to Liberty Hall Academy,
and William Graham, born in Pennsylvania
near the sight of the present town of Harris
burg, the virtual founder of the institution,
became its rector. 1t was this same William
Graham, who, in 1881, buckled on his sword
and marched at the head of the students of
Liberty Hall to defend the passage of Rock
fish gap against the invasion of Tartleton's
troops.
Princeton of Light Horse Harry Lee, the
valued friend of Washington and the father
of General Robert E. Lee. 1t is supposed to
be due to this early intimacy that, when
Washington consented to accept from his ma
tive State certain shares in the James River
Canal Company, with the proviso that the
proceeds OF the fund should be devoted to
the advancement of education in the country,
he transferred the gift to Liberty Hall. In
consideration of retiring this stock the Legis-
lature of Virginia agreed to pay to the col.
lege six per cent. on $4,000 annually for
ever, and it is characteristic of the Father of
his Country that the gift was accompanied
with the wish that Liberty Hall should not
only be school of science, but fpurest
patriotism. Other donations followed
that of Washington. In 1902 the Cincinnati
Society bestowed its funds upon the
academy, and John Robinson, Revolution
airy soldier and trustee of the college, over
whose grave, to the left of the University, a
marble column has been reared bequeathed
his entire fortune TO this worthy object
Liberty Hall was now named, il honor of
its first benefactor, Washington Academy,
which title it retained until its destruction by
fire in 1903, when more commodious build
ings were erected, and it was called Washing
ington College. Prominent among its benefac-
tors of more recent date is Vincent L. Brad
ford, LII. D., D. e. L., of Philadelphia, who
bequeathed to the institution his law library, a
choice collection of paintings and, with some
small reservations, one-half Of his estate
This last is to be applied to the endowment
of chair of civil law and equity jurispru-
dence, and to another of constitutional and
international law-both chairs to be called
by his name.
Other Philadelphians have generously fur
thered the good work. Thomas A. Scott
donated 100000 to the college, the outcome
of which is the Thomas A. Scott professor
ship ofapplied mathematics Mr.. Rathmel
Wilson gave valuable scientific and literary
library, formerly the property of his brother,
the late Thomas B. Wilson, whose name is
prominently connected with the Academy OF
Natural Sciences and the chronological So.
ciety of Philadelphia, and H. II. Houston
gave $1,000 for the endowment of the How
ard Houston Fellowship. This last dona-
ton is for the benefit of students who, hav-
ing passed through the regular college curri-
cuum, desire to pursue still further some
special branch of knowledge. 1t is signlf-
cant fact that every student who has availed
himself Of this post graduate course has be-
come professor in some university.
| Valuable contributions have come also
| Napxy Vnrx which is that nf nj
Josephine Louise Newcomb, who erected, at
cost of $4,000. as a tribute to the memory
of her husband, the late Warren Newcomb
"Newcomb Hail." containing commodious
| libraries and reading rooms and spacious art
gallery. The names ofprominent citizens OF
| Baltimore, Washington, Rochester, Chicago
New Orleans and other cities swell the list OF
donors, theirliberaity enabling the trustees to
supply the institution with large and valuable
library, neurological geological, geological
and botanical cabinets, philosophical, astropo-
mical and chemical apparatus, and all the ap-
pliances which belong to university OF the
highest order. A recent addition to the college
| buildings is d thoroughly equipped gymna'
sum- Another interesting feature is an aid
fund, lent to young men oflimted means who
desire to avail themselves of the advantages
which the University offers, to be returned in
from two to six years after the expiration OF
their collegiate course. Although not collec-
table by law this sum, except where death has
vented, has generally been repaid. The in
fluence of the institution upon the country al
targets widespread, and the names ofsuch
men as Governors Crittenden, of Kentucky;
McNutt, of Mississippi; Mcdowell. Letcher
Kemper and Mckinney, of Virginia; United
States Senators Breckenridge and Brown, OF
Kentucky H. S. Foote, Ellis and Adams, of
Mississippi; William c. Preston, of South
Carolina; Parker and Moore, of Virginia
Morton, of Florida Mckee, of Alabama, and
Strange, of North Carolina; Judges Trimble
and Todd. of the United States Supreme
Court; Burks, Allen, Coalter and Anderson, Of
the Court of Appeals of Virginia John Trim
BILE, of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky
Mcdowell and Mckee, United States District
Judges, and Stewart, of the Circuit Court OF
Missouri; Doctors William s. Plumer, Of
Allegheny and Columbia Seminaries; John
II. Rice of Union Seminary, once chosen
president Of Princeton College; Graham and
Wilson, of Union, and James X. Bnrch, pro-
fessor ofthelogy in Centre College, Kentucky
Presidents Samuel Doak, Washington Col
lege, Tennessee Samuel Carrick, Blount Col
lege; Moses Hoge and Archibald Alexander
Hampden Sidney; George A. Baxter andHenry
Ruffner, of their alma mater James Priestly
OF Cumberland University, Tennessee; So