Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-06-12
Mrs. Lce-The Arlington Estate.

Mrs Ice, widow Of the late Gen. Robert Il.
Lee, is a great grand. daughter Of the wife OF
George Washington, and a daughter OF George
Washington Parkc Custis, whom Washington
adopted at the age Of six months. Mrs. Ice
is apparently about sixty years oil age she Is
lady whose noble character aud Christian
graccs render her an object OF reverence to all
who meet her. Her mind is richly stored with
the recnlections of the patriotic, cultivated and
distinguished persons who will ever be prom-
nent in our national history as among our Gov
orpmcnt's wisest statesmen, and some Of whom
were her own nearest kiDsmen. In her child.
hood the home and family and associates of the
great Washington and his digniIird and heautl
full wife were all familiar.
The home of her youth and married life, Ar
liugton, was built by her father, George Wash
inrton parkc Gusts. 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 classical locall-
ties which our Government claims as It's prop
erty, Arlington is one of the first, AMI Is almost
equal to Mount Vernon in its historical memo
rirs Here were entertained all the statesmen
|
tory. Here all distinguished Foreigners were
invited in the name of American hospitality,
and year after year, as summer restored her
beauties to the yards and gardens and fields oil
| this noble estate, which included in its limits
eleven hundred acres, all American visitors
We're made free guests to enjoy the cool re-
treats, and free to examine the Instructive relies,
books and papers there preserved.
| Open handed hospitality rcgncd ut Airing
ton. In 1882 Mary Custis married Robert f..
Lee. Her father, George Washington parke
Gusts, dying in 1857, gave to Mrs. Ice, by his
will. the entire Arlington estate. The terms Of
the will vested the propcrtp in her absolutely.
Beyond the simple duties of an executor, Gen.
Ice had no control OF the property, and never
either before or since assumed nr attempted to
assume single right of ownership.
Mrs. General Lee has for many years been
great sufferer from infamuiatory rheumatism,
and quite unable to move without assistance !;
but in her aye and afliiction she has noble
and digufrd counlcDancc. Her features much
resemble those of Martha Washington. With
her sad yet firm expression of face and eyes,
beautiful and sparkling with the uncommon in
tcgence 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 widow cap, she sits be-
fore one grand and lovely picture, combining
within itself much Of the history and glory Of
the immortal past with the modern events Of
our history.
No one can sec this much suffering lady and
hear her accounts OF her old home and not feel
convinced that on the day our Government
shall have rcmuncratcd the mistress of Airing
ton for its loss, aud made that settlement with
her which is esteemed just and legal by all
| r.l ,f bnr
absolute ownership of the estate, it will add to
its rcpute for Just and honorable dealing
From Mrs Lee, herself, it was definitely as
certaiued that not only was Arlington her un
qualified bequest from her father, but that
General Lee never participated i'll any way 10
its ownership nor control, always refusing (irum
scruples not uDfrcquent with gentlemen IN re-
gard to wives estates) to arbitratc 10 important
matters relating to it, and from the tcrmina
ton of the war to the date of his death he con-
stantly avoided any authority, control, right or
independence relative to the estate, and re-
fused to act concerning il in any way.
When Mrs Lees father died he made in
his will an obligation that all the slaves be-
longing to the estate should be set free after
the expiration of five years. The time Of their
manumission came on in 1868, and right in the
very height Of the war General Robert +.
Inc, rs the executor Of the will, summoned
these slaves together at convenient point
within his lines, aud gave them their free pa
pcrs and passes through the Confederate lines
10 go whittier they would.
Concerning these two great and important
facts we have reason to think the community
generally have not been quite familiar. They
certainly have an important bearing upon the
ease. Mrs. Ice docs not ask to have the estate
restored TO her. 1t has become national
cemetery, and as such she prcsumes with other
citizens it will ever remain, but she does expect
a reasonable remuneration for the ground.
There are eleven hundred acres in all, and
some two hundred acres Of the estate are occu-
ricd as soldiers cemetery. The land ut the
time of it's literal occupation by the Govern
mcnt could not have been worth less than two
hundred dollars per acre. Since that time its
value for various reasons, has rapidly appre
catcd. at the time of its nominal purchase
by the Government for the faintest sort of a
song, under the operation of q tax sale, there
were several Of Mrs Lees friends ready to
mako the purchase for her, or to pay the taxes.
They were not allowed an opportunity to do
either, and Mrs. Lee is now hardly more Sc
rious 10 calling in question the validity of the
present title OF the Government to the land than
even high legal authority within the lines Of
the Government itself.
Neither does Mrs Lee regard questions as
to the validity Of the title at all settled. To
her mind her property has simply been seized,
confscated in short, and without the slightest
remuneration being granted to her. Injustice
has been done, and she believes a just and gen
crous Government, sustained by an enlightened
public opinion, will repair the wrong.
The pure and lofty womaDhood and the
true nature of Mrs. Lees character was re-
vealcd in the farther fact that she converscd
upon the whole matter without one single OK
preston or shade Of bitterness. OF the Prcsi-
dent and his administration she spoke in the
sinccrest terms of respect, and seemed entirely
calm and patient in the reflection that at the
proper time the right would prevail. Like her
great husband, she recognizes no necessity for
the state Of things" that existed when the late
war commenced, and now she recognizes no
necessity for any other state Of things than that
| IF nrofound nracn amity and concord hotuno,