Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-12-07


the check and respectfully declined the djna-
tiou.
A party of gentlemen at the White Sui
phur Springs. several summers before his
death, conceived the idea that they could put
General Lees family beyond all fear Of want
by raising $4,000 to endow the Presidents
Chair of Washington College" On the condi-
ton that at his death the money should go to
his family.
The General, beiug apprised Of this scheme,
wrote to w. w. Corcoron, Esq, the great
Washington banker, who was The moving
split in it, expressing his high qualification at
their interest in the college, and saying that he
would be most happy to receive their donation,
only lie should " insist Oh their dispensing with
the condition, and allowing the money to 80
into the permanent funds of the college"
Your correspondent had the privilege, not
long after the death Of this great man, of Look
isg ever his private letter-beok, in which
were copied most sf the letters be wrote while
!
He remembers one which beautifully Illus
trates this point, and which It is not improper
to make public, now that the distinguished
soldier to whom it was addressed Lieutenant
General X. s. Ewell) has laid aside his earthly
weapons and gone to joiu his honorod chief III
that bright cline which is tndiSturbed by
wars rude alarms"
General Ewell donated $500 to the college
on condition that it should "go to increase
General Lees salary When General Lee
heard of the donation he wrote his old
lieutenant touchingy beautiful letter, in
which he warmly expressed his appreciation
of this remembrance of his former comrade-n-
arms, but begged that he would not insist up
on tie condition of the donation, but would
let it 90 into the common fund, mentioning
number of things that the college needed far
more than any increase Of the presidents
salary.
a. already receive" he wrote, "a larger
salary from the college than my services are
worth, and you will appreciate that cannot,
therefore, consent to have it increased"
After some more in the same strain lie added
the following, which quote rerbatim, as illus
trating another phase Of General Lees charac-
ter not generally appreciated: 81 hope now
that your care AID tolls are ever
that your health, under the pleasing influences
Of your present life, has been greatly improv-
ed For my own part, much enjoy the
charm Of civil lfe aud fnd, TOO late, that
have wasted the best years Of my existence" ="
We give one other example, which net only
illustrates the point We are considering, but
also the tender feelings Which existed between
Lee and his veterans. Not long after the sur
render tho General was waited upon by two
ragged Confederate soldiers who had just re-
turned from prison, and who said that they
came as the representatives Of sixty other
fellows around the corner, who are too dirty to
come themselves :" and who sent them to ten
der their loved cheftain home in the noun
tains of Virginia. ." We will give ysu," said
the spokesman, comfortable house and a
fue farm We boys will work it for you, and
you and your family shall never suffer want.
Aud we hear General that Underwood is 60
ing to have you indicted and tried for treason
aud rebellion; now, if you will just accept
our proposition we know mountain hollow
to which you can rstreat, an We will gather
the boys there in force sufficient to defy the
whole Federal army"
1t was with difficulty that Lee could re-
strain his tears sufficiently TO say in reply =:
Why, my psor fellows, could net think
Of accepting your generous offer aud being a
burden to you. Besides. you would not have
your General to hide in the mountains and be-
come what his enemies would call fugitive
from justice. No! am deeply touched at
your offer, and cannot command words to ex-
press my gratitude, but must, Of course, de-
cline it,"
The noble fellows were persistent, insisting
that it would not be a burdsn-that they had
more land than they wanted-and that they
would all consider il high privilege to be per-
nitted to work for their loved chief and il
was only after the General had given them
suits Of his own clothing in place Of their rags
that, in their easetness 10 show their treasures
to their comrades, he succeeded in getting rid
Of their opportunities.
The offer of these ragged soldiers was but
/ ,ha ou,1uehino of tho faelin1 nf tba uvhcio
southern people. Despite their deep poverty
they would have bestowed upon Lee houses
aud lands and money that weuld have made
him millionaire had be permitted it. But
he preferred to set the people the example Of
sarnipg bis bread by his own honest toll, and
steadfastly refuse to accept all gratuitios.
1t is said that there is a system Of medicine
III > l. -. -