The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1909-06-11
BUST OF GEN. LEE PRESENTED
TO THE A. & N. COLLEGE.

I'dHoW"S 10 euo oNoA OSS ~ III.
w. II. Magruder, vice president
f,he A. & M. College, present,
i,g a lafe-sized bust of General
), ephen D. Lee, the first presi-
u.nt of the college.
The bust was accepted for the
ias,itution by President j. g.
Hardy, IN appropriate terms.
D. MsgIuds's Address.
Ladies and gentleman, mem
bers of the corporate authorities
of Mississippi Agricultural and
M, chan,cal college:
| have been asked by DIR.
B.ewe.t Lee Of Chicago to pre-
sent to the corporate authorities
Of this institution a life-sized bust
of his distinguished father. |
was selected because | served
curing the last year OF the Civil
War under General Lee, and be-
esuse, as member of the facul-
II of this college and as his next
soor neighbor. l was intimately
ssociated for sixteen years with
,.ur first president. Because, |
say of this comradeship, and on
ccount of the enforced absence
f DR.. Lee on this noteworthy
occasion, [ am here to present
his speaking likeness of our dead
resident, given to the college as
:. testimony of a sons love for a
father a decendant's pride in the
chievements of a great ancestor.
:,nd a students reverent regard
for the executive of his ''alma
mater"
No eulogium that [ could pro
nouuce would add luster to the
name of Stephen D. Lee, for Ian
guage is not capable Of revealing
the heights of our admiration for
the measureless depths of our
love the renowned soldier, the
eminent educator, the consumate
statesman, the illustrious citizen,
the tender husband. the loving
father, the loyal frleud-the noble
gentleman. But it was to his
enemy that General Lee showed
most clearly the nobility of his
great heart. Fair to his bitter
est foe, that foe could never
Ncharge him with injustice; for he
fought in the open with hard
blows but was always magani-
NOUS to the defeated, and held
no vengeful malice against the
foe that was successful.
In war and in peace. in every
crisis of his life, our first presi-
dent was found to be a great
man. Whether, as at Second
Manassas, saving Lees left wing
under Stonewall jackson from
overwhelming numbers by a gal
liant charge with field artillery on
the flank of the Federal advance,
Or at Chickasaw Bayou with a
force of twenty five hundred men
defeating Sherman's ten thou
sand picked troops or whether
debating with George or Walthal
in the Constitutional Convention
of 1890 the expediency of a
measure. or directing the simple
affairs of his own private lite.
General Lee was always the self
possessed, clear-headed man of
the occasion never allowing the
decisive moment to pass. yet al
ways on the alert for every new
detail until the moment for de-
cislon had arrived.
Such a character can never
die; it will always be an inspira-
tion to the citizenship of our
state, and Mississippi is fortu-
nate in having the example of
this beloved leader. after which
her youth may fashion their
lives.
so, iron nerve to true occasion true,
0, fallen at length that tower of
strength
Which stood four square to all the
winds that blew!"
And now, gentlemen of the
faculty. give into your keeping
this life-like representation of
Lieutenant General Stephen D.
Lee. Place it where for future
generations the students eye
may daily behold that noble
countenance, so expressive of
high ideals wrought into great
deeds; place it where each mem
ber of an ever-changing faculty
may find in its observant attitude
a stimulous to 'promptness in the
performance of duty; place it
where every executive will be
admonlshed to enforced discipline
with that firmness and that low
ing kindness which ALWAYS mark
- IL = = II