Augusta Military Academy - Recall Yearbook (Fort Defiance, VA)

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read many times. In his handling of books one could see that he felt that, as Milton had said, ‘a good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.’ “Mr. Roller had a decided social nature. His love for books never cut him off from a wholesome intercourse with his fellows. He entered fully into the college spirit of his day and indulged freely in the healthful sports of his colleagues. He had a charming per- sonality and attracted to him many warm personal friends. He was happily married to one who proved a true help-mate in life. He | made his home bright and cheerful. There was a charm about his home influence that was most delightful. There are those around me who have breathed the air of his home—that atmosphere of re- finement, taste, friendship and warm-hearted hospitality. Right well do we remember the conversations at his hospitable board, genially inspired and directed by him, on education, art, literature, politics, books and great times and great men. We distinctly recall his far outstretched hand of welcome when you arrived, and the glad exclamation: ‘Iam so glad to see you,’ and the beseeching tone when you departed entreating you to tarry longer or to return soon again. He had a keen sense of wit and humor and enjoyed a joke hugely. “Tn polities, Mr. Roller was a pronounced Republican, but could hardly be called a politician. He never held but two political offices, serving as a member of the State Legislature during the years 1871-3 and as Principal of the State Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, at Staunton for the years 1883-5, both of which positions he filled with marked ability and success. Other than this, his political zeal was confined to a keen interest in the welfare of his party in the state and the nation. “Our friend was endowed by nature with a remarkable firmness of character. He could bring his mind to a more complete state of discipline than any man I ever knew. He had such a just and com- prehensive view of all moral questions that he could readily distin- guish between the right and the wrong. Sturdy and uncompromis- ing in his character, he set his standard of life high and made his de- 8

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into life at Mt. Sidney, a small town one mile north of here, on May 8, 1889. A native product of our soul, he may very truly be called an American of Americans. His memorializers tell us that ‘he was a bright, hopeful and athletic boy, with an inquiring, eager mind that drew attention.’ From his earliest years he was noted for his thoroughness and his progressive views and for a certain self-reliance. “The Creator endowed him with a strong mind and a retentive memory which he early began to develop. To this end he diligently used the advantages of school and college. To many youth itself is so sweet a siren that in hearing her voice they forget all but the pleasure of listening to it. But the sibyl saved no scroll from young Roller; he had the wisdom to seize themall. His class-mates, gayly returning late at night, saw the student’s light shining through his window. The boy was hard at work, already in the plastic years storing his mind and memory with the best of literature and historic lore. He seems to have acted upon the teaching of Gay when he sings ‘“Learning by study must be won; ’T was n’er entailed from son to son.’ “So faithfully did he apply himself while attending Parkins Classical School and later the Mossy Creek Academy, that when, in 1859, he became a student of the University of Virginia at the ten- der age of twenty years, he was found prepared for its course as a few of its students have ever been. In each of these three institu- tions he ranked high and graduated with distinction. “But his life of mental discipline did not cease with his gradua- tion. No doubt he had, during his student days found and laid to heart those sane lines of Pope! ““A little learning is a dangerous thing, Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring, There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again.’ “Practically to the end of this earthly existence he was a con- stant, patient, and devoted student. He was a great lover of books. They were his most intimate life companions. He had a fine judg- ment in their selection. -The great English classics he read and re-

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mands upon his friends and students imperative. He was as im- movable in his principles as the lofty hills among which he lived. He could not be approached by any unworthy inducements. Neithr proffered honor nor intimidation could bind him. His life lies before us as an open book which contains no double meaning, no crooked passages, no mysteries, no concealments. It is clear as crystal. It needs no interpreter. The ends he sought were always noble; the means he used were always direct. Neither deception, nor conceal- ment, nor disguise of any kind or degree had place in his nature or methods. He walked in the light, and wrote his heart's inmost pur- pose of his forehead. No man can now recall a single word of tol- eration for a low and equivocal design which ever fell from his lips, but many a man can remember the kind encouragement which he warmly bestowed upon human and wordly purposes. He abhored with all his soul falsehood and dishonesty, and he had the severest scorn for the one who ventured to inform him against his fellow student. While not regardless of the good opinion of men, he looked first for the approval of Heaven. However one might differ with him on any question all readily accord to him their respect for his manliness and unflinching opinions which were always founded upon his honest convictions of right. “He found the straight and narrow way and to him it was safe. To him there came the clear sight that is ever the reward of unbend- ing recitude. His unyielding grasp upon the truth and the right as he saw it, his thorough dedication of himself to the highest and best: in life, combined to build for him in the hearts and lives of others an imposing monument whose symmetry and fine proportions no mere chance could create and which no accident can destroy. “Mr. Roller was a true patriot. He loved the land of his birth and was willing to sacrifice his life upon its altar of service. The call to arms in 1861 drew him, one of the best educated and most scholarly of the young men of the Southland, from the peaceful walls of the State University to the celebrated Stuart’s Cavalry, in which he served throughout the entire Civil War. He who knows the conspicious part played by that cavalry can understand some- what of the hardships he had to endure, the weariness of long i}