Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-12-27
Hon. VIM. L. Wilson will be Present
at the Rouss Banquet.
R. ROUSs WILL PROBABLY ATTEND
IFrom the Minehester News. ]

Winchester is to be honored with the
presence of Hon. William L. Wilson,
president of Washington and Lee Uni
versity and the great tariff reformer, and
its citizens will have the pleasure of sit
ting under the spell of his eloquence in
the near future when he will speak to them
on subject dear to every Winchester
heart Charles Broadway Rouss,
Mr.. Herbert s. Larricll returned Mon
day from Lexington. where he went to
extend pressing invitation to Washing
ton and Lees distinguished president to
attend the banquet to be given by the
Union Fire Company in honor of the
birth day of Mr.. Rouss on February II
next. Mr. Wilson accepted the inviration
and will respond to the toast of 'Charles
Broadway Rouss.'
Ever since the Union Fire Company
inaugurated the custom of appropriately
observing Mr. Rouss's birthday repeated
efforts have been made to secure the pres
ence of Mr.. Wilson, but each year he
has been compelled to decline what can
be safely said the pleasure of attending
on account of business or other engage
ments. Now he has seen his way clear to
be present and the success of another
recurring milestone in the journey of life
of Whinchester's benefactor is assured.
The selection of so distinguished a per-
sonage to respond to such theme, is ap-
propriate. William L. Wilson and
In GN1,orlos.
friends. As children they played and
grew up together and when the clouds
of 6I began to lower hand in hand they
entered the same company in the army
ofthe Lost Cause. Together they fought,
and side by side the hardships and priva-
tions were endured, and only when the
stars and bars were frrled at Appomattox
did they separate, each applying himself
assiduously to the pursuits for which
they were best qualified. During the in
tervening years until now, what strug-
giles they have had to face they alone
know, but of what their present need of
success has been, the world is cognizant
Representing two different spheres in the
worlds avocations they have climbed the
ladder of success side by side, until. on
the shady side life, they can look down
from its highest pinnacle with the salts
faction of life we'll spent.
Mr.. Larrick was appointed a committee
of one to visit Lexington and urge upon
Mr.. Wilson his acceptance OF the invita-
ton, While other towns havebeen honored
with the presence of Mr.. Wilson as their
guest, Winchester never has laid claim to
have contributed their quote of students to
the University, and amoug its alumni are
some of Winchesters brainiest men. On
the other hand, the people at large are un-
aware of the superior advantages of the
college. With Mr.. Wilson as an exponent
of this superiority, our people cannot be
otherwise than enlightened in the matter
A persistent effort will be made to in
duce Mr.. Rouss to be present at the ban
quet, together with party of friends, and
every Winchsterian sincerely hopes that
he will offer no objection to at least re-
ceiving the honor, which Winchester is
only too ready to bestow.
Mr.. Wilson has achieved too much
worldwide honor to need any introduc-
ton. AT present he is president of Wash
ing & Lee University, Lexington. and
was former president of West Virginia
University at Morgantown. He also held
the chair of Greek at Georgetown Uni
versity.
1t was while representing the Second
West Virginia District in Congress that
Mr.. Wilson gained worldwide notice as
the framer of the tariff bill which bears
his name. Later he was appointed Post
master-General by Cleveland While in
England, Mr. Wilson had the honor of
being one of the only two Americans ever
rendered banquet by the Chamber of
Commerce of London. By special in
vitation he was on another occasion the
guest of Queen Victoria at Windsor Cas-
tie. During the Civil War he served in
the Confederate Army, and, as Mr.
No wonder