Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-26

chapel with vault below, which WAS added after
Gen. Lees death and contain, the one the ar
hstic and life-liks reoumbent statue Of the
great soldier. the other his ashea to which shall
Be gathered those Of his family.
MoRTUARY CHAPEL AND VAULT.
The nrortuasy chapel is separated from the
pulpit platform by slight recess and guarded
by high iron gate. Within the tiled floor and
tsbleted walls are lighted from above, while in
the center on . marble sarcophagus. whose
lies the uniformed figure, . slieht drapery
thrown across and falling easily around. The
inscription 10 simply the name-Hobert Ed
ward Lee. A winding stair leads 10 the vault
below, opened, 1t h said, only for old veterans
or privileged guests, and directly opposite this
- the door Of the generals study.
The apartment il some sixteen feet square,
hgnted by two low windows, with broad seats
on the south and west Over the high mantel-
piece on the west are hung irregularly por-
trait OF George Peabody and two framed docu-
ments, the larger Gen. Lees autograph accept
ance OF the presidency Of the university, the
other college order regarding certain Christ
mas holidays. An ordinary roll map of Augusta
county, Va. completes the mural decorations.
Inc noor 10 nearly covered with O red and
black ingram, several cane chairs, Q green
leather lounge and study chair finished with
brass nails, a table against the western wall
near the window, small stove. writing desk
opposite the entrance and q large, oid-fash-
Toned and glass-handled mahoguny sideboard,
TO which were added shelves for books, with
2 pile OF rough boxes in the corner
beyond, showing unfinished arrangements,
end the simple list, save for the round table
which stands In the center. On this has
gathered the dust Of the years since its
occupant last sat before it, One other build
Ing. not collegiate, but within the same grounds,
deserves a word. 1t is the fine Grace Memorial
Church. bearing on its corner stone, I'm
Memoriam, Robert L. Lee. 1907 1870" At the
entrance on the north is the house occupied by
Gen. Lee as president and now used by his
son, Gen. q. w. Gusts Lee, who succeeded to
his fathers Office.
TIE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE.
10 visit the scene Of Gen. T. ]. (Stonewall)
Jackson's scholastic duties you go On to the
Virginia Military Institute situated on the
same ridge and lying just beyond the university,
OF which il appears a continuation. its castel-
lated buildings and officers houses, with their
towers and parapets forming u picturesque
group around the green parade ground. Here
up to the year 1889. the Western Arsenal in which
we're stored 30 900 muskets and large quantity
OF military material, had been garrisoned by a
company OF soldiers ut the expense of the state
In that year the institution was established as a
military school, the cadets doing the duty of
garrison and receiving. an education in mil
ltary and engineering directions. During the
war the cadets were actively employed in drill
Ing the confederate army and in defensive op-
erations at various places, losing in an en-
counter at Newmarket, in May, 1864. fifty out
OF two hundred and fifty men. During Hun
ter raid all the buildings but one were burned
Since the war the education of the men has
been in scientific and engineering branches
and many good workers have been contributed
to these professions.
srONEwALL JACKSON.
The most distinguished name found among
the faculty OF this institute is that Of Gen.
jackson, who was for ten years previous to the
war its professor in natural and experimental
philosophy. Under his command as major the
corps OF cadets went to Richmond in 1861, and
he began then that brilliant military career
which was SO prematurely cut short by his
death at Charlottesville. 1853. bronze
statue OF Gen. Jackson has recently been
erected, the unwilling occurring as lately as
July, 1881. 1t stands at the end Of the main
avenue of the cemetery standing figure. life
size, mounted on a granite pedestal, some
eight feet in height The inscription is simply
'StOnewall Jackson. 1S24-l863." A pair oil
neid glasses in one hand suggests the scanning
OF the southern horizon, which the sta tue faces,
as II recOnnoitering
Inc house which Jackson occupied during
ms service as professor stands few doors from
the main street in the center of the town and
remains very much as when he occupied it,
HIS parlor sleeping, dressing and bath rooms.
dining room and Office can be seen, and over
the broad back porch climb the same vines. A
subsequent widening of the street has altered
the front somewhat by the removal OF bal
cony and the exposure Of rough wall below. X.