will call forth greater energies from its officers
and increased diligence from its pupils. Its prosperity I
consider certain.

"With great regards, yours very truly,

"R. E. LEE."

There is a glamor attached to this Virginia school unique in the
country. It comes not alone from the bright cadet uniforms, the parade
grounds, the gray stone barracks and the _esprit de corps_ evidenced
there; part is kept alive by the hundreds of loyal alumni and friends
whose devotion is unlimited. This "West Point of the South" maintains
the traditions of the time of Stonewall Jackson and graduates young
officers for the army and young men for every field of business. A
current Broadway show of popular appeal and a cinema of note is that of
"Brother Rat" which depicts the life at V.M.I.

Culpeper Minute Men

Who can resist a story about the Revolutionary War? There is a
fascination surrounding the heroes and heroines of that era and most of
us listen attentively to any legend depicting the action of our
forefathers.

From a point along the Skyline Drive one may look toward Culpeper
County. (In fact, in all probability you passed through a part of this
old county if you took an east to west route to reach the drive.) Among
other things Culpeper is justly famous for its Minute Men of the
Revolutionary War.

The town was formed from Orange in 1748 and was named in honor of Lord
Culpeper, Governor of Virginia from 1680 to 1683. This land was a part
of the original land grant to Lord Fairfax. It was here in the old
Courthouse that young George Washington produced his commission as
surveyor. The record reads:

"20th July, 1749--George Washington Gent. produced a commission
from the President and Master of William and Mary College,
appointing him to be surveyor of this county, which was read,
and thereupon he took the usual oaths to his majesty's person
and government, and took and subscribed the abjuration oath and
test, and then took the oath of surveyor, according to law."

Speaking years later in the Senate, John Randolph of Roanoke remarked
that the Minute Men "were raised in a minute, armed in a minute, marched
in a minute, fought in a minute, and vanquished in a minute." These
soldiers chose as part of their uniform green hunting shirts with
"Liberty or Death" stamped in large letters across the front. Buck tails
hung from their o