Year: 1868

is certainly remarkable consider


ing the depressed condition of all pecu-


mary affairs, and the ruin of SO many
fortunes in the Valley, as produced by
the war.


Of the location of this excellent in
stitution We can speak with pleasure
and confidence. Winchester has become
hallowed ground to all who have been,
as well as to all who are yet, Yir-
giniahs. The beauty of her scenery is
renowned almost the world over. Her
lovely landscapes noble panorama
of mountain and valley, swelling plain
and crystal brook-have long been the
subject of the painters pencil and the
poets genius. Health and vigor, are
native to the Valley; refinement of taste
and purity of thought are the leading
traits of her society. Her graveyards,
the resting place of virginia's noblest
dead, are classic spots, while her bat
tie fields, the witnesses of a nations
heroism, will be historic spots, so long
as American history endures.


A pleasing incident in the history of
Dunbar Seminary was the delivery, upon
q recent occasion, of an address to the
young ladies of the institution, by that
distinguished lecturer, Major URIEL
WRIGHT, formerly Of the st. Louis Bar.
His theme was "Weman and her Mis-
sion." A local correspondent of the
Winchester Times gives glowing de-
scriptios Of the affair, concluding as
follows:


The noble women of the Revolution
were the speakers next topic. He
marked their firm and andaunted bear
ing in the days of CORVALLIS, an Arnold
or Tartleton. In the deepest gloom,
they were patient and hopeful; poverty
and hardship were borne without a
murmur. Loom, distaff and needle
were busy to clothe ragged rebels"
During an embargo of seven years, in
their plastic hands "old things became
new," patch was no disgrace in cos
tune and the coarse brogan rose into
high dignity and appreciation. Their
patient energy and ingenuity triumphed
over every obstacle. They bent them
selves to menial duties and elevated
their lineage in the act. But most
of all were their souls tried
by the pangs of a cruel suspense.
Before enterprise had called forth the
telegraph or railroad, days, weeks and
even months might 90 by and bring no
tidings from the distant front. Mothers
knew not whether thay had sons, sis
ters knew not whether they had broth
ers, and wives knew not but that they
were widows. And yet did mothers
send forth their sons with smiling faces
though aching hearts, their only regret
they had not more to send. In this
spirited retrospect of those days, sacred
in their associations of all that was sim
pie and sterling in the good old past,
came before MS the men and women of
the Revolution.


If our versatile artist provoked a
smile as he sketched an antiquated
taste displayed in the lengthy cue, the
shorts aud silver buckles of manly at
tire, or the womanly ruff of Elizabeth
and the still later farthingale which
adorned the Virginia matron, it was
forgotten in the story of a heroiSm
whose record must ever thrill us. The
lustre of their example shOne brighter
when viewed side by side with their
Puritan contemporaries whose olden
pastimes in the land of "isms" have
come down to US with the pattern of
their Goodbye fear and abstinence"


In the latter part of his address,
which want of space allows me only to
mention, the audience were INDUCED in
a view of Virginia present and pros
pective, a subject which, considering
its difficulty and delicacy, was discussed
with an ability which challenged the
attention aud interest of all.