Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-06-28
Mrs. LEE AT ARLINGTON.


of the wife of George Washington, and
n daughter of George Washington
Parke Gusts, whom Washington adop-
ted at the age Of six months. Mrs, Lee
is apparently about sixty years of age.
She is lady whose noble character and
Christian graces render her an object OF
reverence to all who meet her. Her
mind is richly stored with the recollec-
tons of the patriotic, cultivated and dis
tinguished persons who will ever be
nrominent in our national history as
among our governments wlsest states
,'a,, aud some of whom were her own
nearest kinsmen.
The home of her youth and married
life. Arlington, was built by her father,
George Washington Parke Custis. To
this charming place she was carried
when only one month old, and all the
associations of her life centre IN and
cling to this spot Among the CLASH
col localities which our Government
claims as its property Arlington is one
of the FIRST, and is almost equal to Mount
Vernon in its historical memories Here
were entertained all the statesmen and
men ofletters prominent in our early
history. Here all distinguished foreign
ers were invited in the name of Amerl
can hospitality, and year after year, as
summer restored her beauties TO the
wards and gardens and fields of this no
Die estate, which included i'll its limits
eleven hundred acres, all American yisi-
tors were made free guests to enjoy the
cool retreats, and free to examine the
instructive relics, books and papers there
preserved.
Open-handcd hospitality reigned at
Arlington. In 1882 Mary Gusts mar
ried Robert L. Lee. Her father, George
Washington Parke Gusts, dying in
1857. gave to Mrs. Lee, by his will, the
entire Arlington estate. The terms OF
the will vested the property in her abso-
lutely. Beyond the simple duties Of an
executor, General Lee bad no control
of the property, and never, either before
or since, assumed or attempted to as
sumo a single right of ownership.
This important statement OF a fact
was made by Mrs. Lee at the house of
her aunt, Mrs. Fitzhugh, in Alexandria,
on the 10th instant 1t would be very
interesting to repeat all the converse
ton of that interview in usual form of
an.interyiew. but that would be viola
ton of her wishes and diSpleasing to
Mrs Lee.
Mrs. General Lee has for many years
been a great sufferer from intiammatory
rheumatism, and quite unable to move
without assistance but in her age and
affection she has noble and digmiled
countenance. Her features much re
sernble those of Martha Washington
With her sad yet firm expression OF
face and eyes, beautiful and sparkling
with the uncommon intelligence which
marks her conversation; with the almost
snowy hair, fine, soft, and i'll waves, ana
curIs framing her full forehead, and
covered by her plain widow 5 cap, she
sits before one a grand and lovely PIC
,yrc combining within itself much OF
the history and glory OF the immortal
uast With the modern events OF our MS
tory.
10 one can see this much suffering
5ady. and hear her accounts OF her OLD
home. and not feel convinced that on
the DAY our Goscrnment shall nave re-
enumerated the mistress OF Arlington Tor
&c loss and made that settlement with
her which is esteemed just ana iegai ny
Ill who fully understand the circumstan-
ces Of her absolute ownership OF the es,
tate. it will add to its repute for just ana
honorable dealing. r
From Mrs. Lee, herself, 1t was deli
nitely ascertGned that not Only was Az
linoton her unqualified beGuest from her
father. but that Gen. Lee neUer Paftici-
pated in any way in its ownership or
control, always refusing tt@m scruPies
not unfrequcnt with gentlemen IN re-
card to wives estates, to arbltrate IN
important matters relating to it, ana
from the termination of the war TO the
date of his death he constantly avoided
any authority, control, right or lpaepeh,
dence relative to tie estate. and reluseA
TO act concerning it in any way;
When Mrs. Lees father died he MADE
in his will an obligation that all the
slaves belonging to the estate should DC
set free after the expiration OF i've years,
The time of their mannmisslon came on
in 1868, and right in the very height OF
the war General Robert +, Lee,as the
cyecutor of the will, summoned these
slaves together at a convenient point
within his lines, and gave them theirfre
papers and passes through the Conieae-
rate lines to 90 whittier they would.
Concerning these two great and nm
portant facts we have reason to think
the community generally have not been
quite familiar. They certainly have an
important bearing upon the case. Mrs.
Lee does not ask to have the estate re.
stored to her. 1t has become national
cemetery, and as such she presumes with
other citizens will ever remain, but she
does expect reasonable remuneration
for the ground. ~
There are eleven hundred acres in all,
and some two hundred acres OF the es-
tate are occupied as soldiers cemetery
The land at the time OF its literal oocu-
patton by the Government coHlo nos
have been worth less than two hundred
dollars ncr acre. Since that time, IT'S
value for various reasons, has rapidly
appreciated. At the time OF its nomlhai