Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/199

 Caree of Nismes, which Jefferson described in a letter to Madison as "one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful and precious morsel left us by antiquity." Of the Capitol building he said:

"It is very simple but is noble beyond expression and would have done honor to any country, as presenting to travelers a specimen of taste in our infancy, promising much for our mature years." The buildings of the University of Virginia belong to the same period of revival of interest in Roman architecture.

The old Academy was not so fortunate in an architect. It follows no tradition. It is merely a belfried school house.

In '59 the Lyles were happily settled in the new house, the young trees were growing and flowers blossomed beneath the windows. The older children attended La Creole Academy. Seven children had come to John and Ellen: Harriet, Joan, Alonzo, Alfred, Felix Scott, William and Julia. Alonzo, Felix Scott and Julia died in infancy. John Lyle sent the herds of cattle to winter in eastern Oregon. The winter of 1861-62, said to be the worst that Oregon has ever known, devasted the herds he had sent and in order to retrieve the heavy loss he went to the mines in eastern Oregon. He was taken ill almost immediately upon reaching his destination and died there in 1862.

John Lyle was allotted seventeen years in Oregon. He made good use of them. His work has endured. It is sixty-three years since he passed. Great grandchildren play on the hill with the wagon he had made for the amusement of his own children in 1858. The old records lie clean and legible in the worn volume on the court house shelf. The Academy lands and funds still mater-