The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-24
WASHINGTON
and Lee.
Annual Exercises at This Historic
University.
LEXINGTON HAS BEEN A SCENE
OF REvELRY DURING THE PAST
wEEK-THE TOWN CROWDED
WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE STU
DENTs-REcErrloN TO THE
ALUMNI-THE FINAL BALL WILL
BE "A GREAT SUCCESS.


historic old town has been lblaze with
ilght and color and all the pageantry at.
tenoant upon the commencement exer-
cises OF Washington and Lee University.
anu now almost before its glow has faded
OUT, or the air has ceased to pulsate with
the sweet strains OF the final ball, it has
all hegun anew, the scene merely shifting
to the parade ground of the Virginia Mil
itary Institute
There Is an indiscribable glamour that
hangs around the commencement exer.
clses OF military school that is never
equaiied by those of any other school.
Inc glare and glitter of military trap
pings, the reviews and parndes, the boom.
ing ofcannon and the ros ring of mus|,etrv
even the literary exercises, attended as
they are with the pomp and circumstance
OF martial environments all lend n bril-.
liancy and lustre found nowhere else.
Brllliant as have been these ''finals:, of
this West Point of the South for the last
three generations, that for the session of
ioo0 and 1897, must long remain in the
memories of those in attendance as the
browning one in it's history.
Nestled in the far. famed Shenandoah
Valley, girdled on every side by the ever
lasting mountains, this beautiful spot, as
the years have gone by, has become a
shrine at which the pilgrims of the Con-
iederacy come to worship, for here lies
buried its two greatest chieftains, Lee and
jackson. More than once in the past few
years great concourses from our fair
Southland have assembled here to do rev.
erence to these dead heroes. The upveil
ing OF Valentines beautiful recumbent
statue of Lee, and the NJ less beautiful
bronze figure of jackson, each brought
many thousands here from far distant
states. 10 these statues and the mag.
nlhcent Gothic Church, erected by the
people of the South as loving tribute to
the memory of Lee, has been added vet
another testimony of the fact that true
greatness never ceases to command adj
miratlon, but grows with the LAPSE of
years. In the northeast corner of the Tn i.
stitute grounds, and almost infringing
upon the barracks proper. the alumni and
friends of the school have erected me-
mortal hall to jackson, and it was the
dedication of this building to-day that
has drawn to the commencement so large
n reunion of the alumni, of Confederate
Veterans and of distinguished visitors
from different parts of the South. The
structure itself is n magnificent brick
one, built on massive foundations. and is
designed for library, reading room. gym
nasnum and all public exercises. Ont
side of practical utility and the recogni
ton OF his military services, it is n grace
full and fitting decd that he who spent so
many years OF usefulness as a teacher in
the V. NJ. 1. should thus have his mem
DRY honored.
This morning att clock 81 eat throne
assembled in the hall to witness the dedi-
catory exercises.
After opening. prayer by Rev. DIR.
Hemphill, Of South Carolina, DIR. Hunter
Mcclure, of Richmond, surgeon of Jack
sons staff, delivered an address on the
life and character Of Jackson. 1t WAS
simply inimitable, being replete with his
torical information and couched in the
choicest diction. The audience was
GREATNESS with interest during the hour
he spoke, during which he gave many
personal Incidents never before given to
the public.
He was followed in n fifty minute
speech by Rev. ]. Z. Smith, d. d.. of
Richmond, also a member of Jackson's
stall His subject was "The Religious
Character of Jackson" and in charm
lnGly prepared address gave the audiencs
II clearer idea than it had ever had of this
side of the great chieftains character.
10 Senator John w. Daniel had been
assigned the subject OF jackson. the
Soldier, "and all who have ever heard this
great orator of the South can imagine
what field such subject would give
him for the display of his genius. For
an hour and half the audience was
treated to brilliancy of oratory which
he.himself has rarely equalled. This with
music from the Stonewall band closed the
dedication of the magnificent building to
which generations unborn will in the
years to come flock in reverent honage'as
pilgrims to some mecca
To night at $3.50 there will be recep.
ton to the alumni, at which time there
will be toasts responded to by many.
prominent Virginians. On tomorrow.