The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-01-03

rGQHSs pat wRen-t -tba gEeat -chieftuiR re-
3fned and lesrnA what hadfbee done,
|BaS srote. In bAAAf of Mrs.. fee. ktter
at which he gratefully hd daurtedasIy,
Et5gt firmly, deoRpod th$ prof fered dona-
E$la saylng thstii be AouldAie before
Ifs! Gse, and be unable to leave fer
cpMfortable, her sons would most cheer.
FlEity provide for her; and that, in any
eyent, they could not coif.aste.nt; TO take
anything from the college.
y The college authorities we're SO fully
|sfou' that shHy quietly adhefed Eo their
action. had Ithe deed .reonrded in the
clerks Office, and uftef she Generals
death sent Mrs. Lee check for the frs,
payment on the annuity.
But this noble Virginin matron. To
whom we can pay no higher tribute than
TO say that she WAS every wny worthy to
be tue chosen "heIp-meet" Of r. E. Lee,
promptly returned the check and re.
spectfully declined tho donation.
party OF gentlemen at the W.,its
Sulphur Springs, several summers before
Ills death. conceived the idea that they
could put Gen. Lees family beyond ali
fear OF want by raising $50, 600 to enflow
the "Presidents Chair Of Washington
College," on the condition that at his
death tho money should go to his family.
Tue General being apprsed OF this
scheme. wrote to W. w. Corcoran. ESQ
the great Washington banker,) who was
the moving spirit in it, expressing his
high qualification at their Interest in his
college. and saying that he would be
most happy to receive their donation,
only he should "insist On their di ,pensine
with the condition and allowing the
money to go into the permanent funds
of the college,"
Your correspondent had the privilege,
not long after the death of this great
man. OF looking over his private letter
book, in which wore copied most OF the
letters he wrote while in Lexington.
Hs remembers one which beautifully
illustrates this point. and which it is not
improper to make public, now that the
distinguished soldier to Whom i. was al
| dressed (Lieut. Gen. r. s. Ewell) has
luid aside his earthly weapons and gone
to jnin his honored chief in that bright
cline Which is undisturbed by "war's
rude alarms"
Gen. Ewoll donated $500 to the college
| Oh condition that it should Ego to in
crease Gen. Les's salary" When Gen
Lee heard Of the donation, he wrote his
old lieutenant touchingly beautiful let
ter, in which ho warmly expressed his
appreciation of this remembrance of his
former comrnde-in-nrms, but begged
that he would not insist upon tue condi-
tion OF the donation, but wonld let it 20
into tho common fund, mentioning a
number Of things that tho college needed
far more than any increas. of tie Presi
dents salary.
II already receive" he wrote, "a
larger snlary from tue college than my
| services are worth, and you will appreci-
ate that L cannot, therefore, consent to
have it increased"
| After some more in the sams strain, lie
added tue following, which I quote YER
batim, as illustrating another phase OF
Gen. Lees character not generally up-
preciated: II hope, now, that your care
and tolls are over; that your health, uu-
der the pleasing influences of your pre-.
sent life, has been greatly impro ved.
For my own part, I much enjoy the
charm of civil life, and find, too late,
TINT have wasted the best years OF my
existence"
We give one other example, which not
only illustrates the point we arc consider.
ing, but also the tender feelings which
existed between Lee and his veterans.
Not long after tho surrender the General
was waited upon by two ragged Confede.
rate soldiers, who had just returned from
prison. and who said that they camo as
the representatives of s'sixty other fcl.
lows around tho corner, who are too
dirty to come themselves, and who sent
them to tender their loved chieftain a
home in the mountains of Virginia.
"We will give you. sold the spokesman,
"a comfortable house and fine farm.
We boys will work it for you, and You
and your family shall never suffor want.
Aud We hear, General, that Underwood
is going to have you indicted and tried
for Urea on and rebellion;' now, il you
will just accept our proposition, VIC
know mountain hollow to which you
can retreat. and we will gather the boys
there in force sufficient to defy the whole
Federal army"
1t was with difficulty that Lse could
restrain his tears sufficiently to say in re-
ply: why. my poor fellows, I could
not think of accepting your generous
offer and being burden to you. Be.
sides. you would not have yonr General
to hide in the mountains, and become
what his enemies would call fugitive
from iuStica No. nm, iaanlv tonoh oa