The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-14
Mrs. Robert T.. Lee.

This venerable lady, who has been paying
= visit to her relative Mrs. Fitzhugh, in this
city, for some weeks past, took the south
bound train at the Union-Street depot this
morning for her home, at Lexington. Du-
ring her visit here she has received inaQuiet
way every mark Of esteem and respect to
which her position us the widow OF the
chieitain of the lost cause, and her noble and
lofty traits OF character as woman, render
her so eminently entitled.
The Washington Republican of this morn
.ng contains the following account OF an
interview with Mrs. Lee, which took place
10 Tuesday evening, at the residence OF Mrs.
tl;zhugh, in this city:
Mrs. Lee, widow of the late General
Robert E. Lee. is a great-granddaughter OF
tue wife Of George Washington, and Il
daughter of George Washington Parke Gus
It's, whom Washington adopted at the age Of
six months. Mrs. Lee is apparently about
sixty wears of age. She is Il lady whose
noble character and Christian gruces render
:,.r an object Of reverence to all who meet her.
Her mind is richly stored with the rccollec-
tons of patriotic, cultivated, and distinguish
ed persons who will ever be prominent in our
NATIONAL history as among our Governments
Ni;est statesmen, and some of whom were
her own nearest biusmen. In her childhood.
the home and family and associates of the
great Washington and his dignited and
beautiful wife were all familiar.
The home Of her youth and married life
fArliugtol) was built by her father, George
Washington Parke Gusts. To this charm
ing 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 classical localities which our Govern
ment claims as its property Arlington is one
OF the first, and is almost equal to Mount
Vernon i'll its historical memories. Here
were entertained all the statesmen and men
Of letters prominent in our early history.
Here all distinguished foreigners were i'll
vi:ed in the Dame Of American hospitality,
and year after year, as summer restored her
BEAUTIES to the yards, and gardens, and fields
OF this noble estate, which included in its
limits eleven hundred acres, all American
visitors were made free guests to enjoy the
cool retreats, and free to examine the in
structive relics, books, and papers there pre-
served.
Open-handed hospitality reigned ut Arliug.
Z. 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 absolutely. Beyond tue simple duties
Of an executor, General Lee had no control
OF the property, and never, either before or
since, assumed or attempted to assume a
single right of ownership.
1irS. General Lee has for many years been
& great sufferer from infammatory rheuma-
tism, and quite unable to move without as
slStauce; but In her age and aff1ictiOn she
has Il noble aud digniied countenance. Her
features much resemble those of Martha
Washington. With her sad yet tirm expires.
sion Of face and eyes, beautiful and spark
ling with the uncommon intelligence which
marks her conversation; with her almost
snowy hair, fine, soft, and in waves and
curls, framing her full forehead and covered
by her plain Widows cap, she sits before one
grand and lovely picture, combining with
in itself much Of the history and glory of
the immortal past with the modern events Of
our history.
No one can see this understanding lady
and hear her accounts Of her old home, and
not feel convinced that on the day our Gov
ernment shall have lemunerated the mistress
OF Arlington for its loss, and made that set
Element With her which is esteemed just and
legal by all who fully understand the cir
cumstances Of her absolute ownership of the
estate, it viii add to its repute for just aud
honorable dealing.
From Mrs. Lee herself it was definitely
ascertaned that not only was Arlington her
unqualified bequest from her father, but that
General Lee neoer participated in any way
in its ownership or control, always .reftis-
Ing from scruples not unfrequent with gen.
tlemen in regard TO wives estates) to arbi-
trate in important matters relating To it, and
from the termination Of the war TO the date
Of bis death he constantly avoided any
authority, control, right, or independence
relative to the estate, and refused to act con-
corning ii in any way.
When MIS-. Lees father died he made in
his Will angsbiigation that all = slaves be-
longing TO the estate should be set free after
The expiration of five years. The time Of
their ulaDuHission caiue OH in 1858, and
right iu the very height Of the war. General
Robert f.. Lee, as the executor OF the will,
summoned these slaves together ut d con-
ysn,ent point within his lines, and gave
their free papers and passes through the
Confederate lines to go whittier they would.
Concerning these two great and important
iaets We have reason to think the c0mm,inity
generally have not been quite familiar. They
ceftasHy have an important bearing upon
tAe Gaze Mrs. Lee does not ask to have the