Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-11-22
THE v. NJ. L.
IncuIcates Habits of Economy
and Regularity

Following ls an editorial from
the Alexandria Gazette on the sit
uation at the Virginia Military
Institute:
TIE Board of Visitors of the
J Virginia Military Institute after
session of several days duration
at Lexington, Virginia, adjourned
at IL O'Clock Saturday night.
During this session a thorough
and sweeping investigation was
u ade of the food conditions now
existing, and which have prevail
ed at the Institute for the several
gears last pat, a stenogrsphic re-
port of which was made and
which will be printed in pamphlet
form and accessible to ali who de.
sire to see the same. 1t embodies
written reports by the Superin-
tendent, a board of officers of the
Institute, and a committee of rep
reeentative citizens of Lexington,
and disinterested individuals who
have eaten at the mess hall of the
Institute, and made investigation
and examination of the conditions
there. 1t also contains the evil
dence of the tactical and other
officers and professors of the In
stitute, and of cadets who were
examined upon the subject.
1t is the endeayor at the Insti-
tute to inculcate habits of neat
1ees, economy. regularity and sim
plicity Of life, and above all, the
basic feature of military discip-
line requiring the surrender of IN
dividual will and obedience to
duly constituted authority. These
cardinal virtues iDstilled in the
mind of the youth, and becoming
a part Of this very lif1, during
his four years course at the Insti
tute, insure a golden harvest, ex-
erting an influence upon his whole
future career, for which he is
afterwards grateful.
1t must be apparent to all sober
minded End rejecting people that
the board is actuated by the single
purpose of Lerpstue ting the exis-
tence Of the institute and the cen
tinuance of its usefulness. It's his
tory since its organization forms
part of that of the Commonwealth
and its influence has been exerted
in every department of life. During
the civil war its grady ates were
found in every branch of the mill
tary service Of the Confederate
States, from the general in com
mand of a division to the private
in the ranks.
In these days of greater liberty |
and license to youth, with a re
Taxation of the rules of conduct
which were formerly applied, the
Institute conducted and admins
tered as it should be, stands out
In bolder prominence than ever be-
fore. Class organization is not
recognized by the authorities of
the Institute, for if the cadets
oy Organization and combinati on
could demand and secure Immuni-
ty from the rules of discipline and
conduct prescribed for them, then
the Institute could not be conduct
ed In the manner and fer the pur-
rOse TO, which it was created,
and it would lose the essential
feature of it's creation.
The Board of Visitors is CON-
posed of eleven embers, among
them the Adjutant General and
Superintendent of Public Instruct.
ion; all of whom were present at
The meeting just ended cave the
Superintendent of Public Instruct
ion. Eight of the members of the ,
Board a'e graduates of the Insti
5ute; they have trod the same
path that the present cadets are
Can it not be assumed {
hat they feel as deep, if not a
greater, interest In this institution
han those who have not passed ,,
through it's course2 That they
experience a livelier interest in
he real or imaginary trials of the .
cadets than those who know 10th :
ng of the life of cadetY That
hey have more information with
aspect to the conditions existing
It the Institute than those who :
lave no knowledge cf or informa- ;
ion upon the subject2 :
They realize that these young
nen are now standing upon the
erge of manhood, ct the very e
rate of life, with all of its trials, Il
lopes, ambitions, successes, and, !
las, disappointment, and that v
he path to this entrance il at 1
ended with self-denial, applica- [
ion, obedience and submission to "
INSTITUTED authorities will be II
preparation for the strug- a
les which is the lot of man. In u
his crisis of the affairs of the In s.
titute the Board of Visitors o
hould receive the support of the p
ublic as we'll as those more deep II
? interested in its welfare. L