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Page 17 text:
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V Tke Greater V. M. I. In the early part of the last century there was in existence at Lexington a small arsenal the purpose of which was to house arms and ammunition belonging to the state. The problem of maintaining a garrison for the protection of this arsenal was a difficult one, and in 1839, as a solution to the difficulty, the state legislature authorized the founding of a military school, whose student body could furnish the garrison necessary. On the eleventh day of November, 1839, the Virginia Military Institute opened its doors and began its career with an outlay of two small buildings and a corps of thirty-two cadets, most of whom, due to the lack of instructors, had to attend a majority of their classes at a neighboring college. Around this nucleus has been built the West Point of the South. Before the time of the Civil War, many buildings had been constructed and much equipment acquired, but during the raiding expedition of General Hunter, the Federal troops destroyed literally everything but the Super- intendent ' s home. However, from the close of the war until the present day the existence of the Institute has been one of consistent and uninterrupted development. The two small buildings have developed into twelve large and useful structures, in addition to the many spacious officers ' quarters; the corps of thirty-two has grown until it now has six hundred and seventy members. The rigid military system which has always marked V. M. I. as the leading military college of the country. West Point alone excepted, has always been maintained at the highest level. The organization here of the R. O. T. C. units, with the generous outlay of government equipment and instruction by regular army officers, renders the system even more modern and efficient. Along academic lines, the system of consistent daily recitations in every class for every man has proved its worth, and the names of V. M. I. men are numerous in the lists of outstanding personnel in fields of big business, commerce, science and industry. The four courses of instruction are con- stantly being enlarged and broadened, and the full collegiate standing of the Institute is recog- nized everywhere as being of the highest order. In spite of the shortage of time due to the rigors of military and academic training, athletics at V. M. I. receive every encouragement and a large per cent of the corps participates in the various sports. Owing to the great loyalty and generosity of the alumni, a large athletic field, a handsome stadium, and a spacious gymnasium — the largest in the South — have recently been constructed. As a state-supported school, the material progress of V. M. I. necessarily seems slow in this age of heavy endowments and million-dollar developments. Nevertheless, with the spirit of V. M. I., and its evident result, plus the unceasing loyalty of her alumni, the Institute will continue to increase in size and prestige, and the Virginia Military Institute keeps on being heard from today.
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Page 18 text:
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X y X X :S SVVVyyywS-: WSl FFFF? The Spirit of V. M. I. In all the world there is no school which occupies exactly the same position as the Virginia Mil- itary Institute. Its rigid military system marks it different from many; its efflcient system of class- room work differentiates it from some; but these are minor distinctions, for they can be duplicated elsewhere. The real and fundamental characteristic which is responsible for the enviably unique standing- of the V. M. I. is not to be found in tangible assets; it is an intangible something existing within the corps itself. It is a something — an atmosphere and a quality — hard to define, which has arisen throughout the years from the fine traditions of old V. M. I. and from the lives of corps after corps of honorable cadets who lived in barracks together under the influence of men of character and ability exemplified by the great Stonewall Jackson. That something which is the heart and soul of V. m. I. is known to all who know the school as the Spirit. The Spirit is essentially of and by the cadets themselves, and is upheld and controlled by them, while it in turn exerts the greatest influence upon each individual. When a new cadet enters the arch for the first time he may possess a knowledge of military, a knowledge of the disciplinary s -stem, and some knowledge of the history and customs of the Institute; but until he has lived his life in barracks he cannot have an understanding of the Spirit. Outsiders may be acquainted with its results, but it is only for those men who have worn the gray to fully understand its character and its meaning. To explain it fully to a stranger is impossible, yet no cadet can be long in the corps without becoming permeated with its influence and largely controlled thereby. In barracks the Spirit assumes many forms and identifies itself with every phase of existence. In the outside world, school spirit is usually limited in its connotation to mean that enthusiasm with which the students support their athletic teams when they go into a contest. At V. M. I. it includes this enthusiasm at its highest point of development. With a student body comparatively smaller than those of the schools with which it competes in athletics, the Institute turns out teams that are famous for ability, but more justly famous for that inherent quality which is a combina- tion of grit, perseverance and endurance, and which supports tenacity and a nature to fight on with every ounce of strength till the final whistle — the old spirit of never say die. And this tenacity and fight is not limited to the team alone, but is prevalent throughout a corps which has earned a reputation of being the best of cheering sections — one that roots even the louder when things go wrong and defeat seems imminent than in the moments of exuberance of success. However, this much as applies to athletics is only one of the phases of the V. M. I. Spirit. In barracks life and in all cadet activities it is the controlling and all-important infiuence. The perfect functioning of the honor system is one of its greatest results. The inherent disgust and contempt which every cadet feels for any shady dealings which smack of dishonesty or hypocrisy is a prevalent characteristic and one of far-reaching importance. Yet another manifestation of the Spirit is to be found in the feeling of true affection between brother-rat.s — the warmest friendship a man will ever know. Loyalty to his class, loyalty to his school and loyalty to his classmates are characteristic of every cadet, and are all identified as parts of a great and constant whole — the Spirit. In the dictionaries, spirit is defined as the breath of life; the life-giving principle. These definitions are exceptionally applicable to the Spirit of V. M. I., for that is V. M. I. The mere fact that a few short months of life as a cadet are sufficient to insure that a man assimilate the qualities which make him a true keydet is in itself indicative of the greatness of the Spirit. That is the quality which makes every man thrill with pride and a feeling of exultation when his company marches in review to the applause of hundreds on the parade ground at finals. That is the quality which makes every man feel a lump in his throat at the final ceremonies, and every first classman swallow hard with emotion as he presses the hands of his classmates for the last time. That is the quality which makes the graduates of the Institute men commanding respect and esteem the world over, and makes them component parts of the mo.st loyal body of alumni in the world. In truth the Spirit Is V. M. I. 14 r
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