The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-09-01
The Death of Gen. Lee.
Interesting Private Letter From the Late
Mrs. Mary Gusts Lee.
Special Correspondents Philadelphia Times.l

Special Correspondence Philadelphia Times-l
CHARaoTrsvILLE, VA, August 10.
In the fall of 1870 we vent to Lexington
to visit General and Mrs. Lee. Perfectly
do recall my impression of the General as
he advanced To meet me. the preoccupied.
care-worn expression that his face had worn
during the war, was gone, and he looked as
| had remembered him years before. He
had accepted the results of the war. There
was no reserve of bitterness, no useless re-
erets but the brave determination TO make
his life useful. If the true indication of
genius Is the power of concentration upon
any given subject, General Lee demonstra-
ted il in his active, thorough interest in his
new duties as presidedt Of a college. One
felt that it was not forced interest. but a
deep solicitude for the youth Of the country.
Looking better than for several years, en-
ergetic and active, how was ii possible to
realize that death was waiting in the near
future-nerciless death that needed not
peoples cry that he might be spared to lead
in peace As he had in war We doubt not
but that ne would have moderated bitter
ness and counseled wisely. We babe him
farewell on Monday, September %, after
several days most pleasantly spent, and on
the Wednesday following suddenly
and as shock TO the whole country came
the avaht-coureur of death. | will here add
letter from Mrs. Lee giving some details
of the SAD event and bespeaking her own no
bic, beautiful character:
LEXINGTON, November 80, 1870.
My DEAR Mrs. | should sooner
have replied to your letter, but have been
very sick and confined to my bed for a
month.
Dear friend, I am so glad your husband
and yourself made that visit, and only wish
you could have remained longer. Constant
ly are we reminded how important it is to
do whatsoever our hand findeth TO do. [
think 1t sometimes important where our
pleasures are concerned, where it does not
interfere with our duties.
That Wednesday night, at halfpast seven
o clock, after a day every moment of which
had been filled with care for others and the
closing hours to the yestry meeting of the
church, my husband came in. We had been
waiting for him, and [ remarked ''You
have kept us waiting d long time. Where
have you been?" He did not reply, and
stood up as if to say grace, but ne sound
proceeded from his lips and he sat down in
his chair perfectly upright and with sub
lime look of resignation on his countenance,
but did not attempt to reply to our inqui-
RES. That look was never to be forgotten,
and | have no doubt that he felt then his
| hour had come, although he submitted TO
moned and had not even reached their
homes from the same vestry meeting. His
whole demeanor during his illness Showed
one who had taken leave of earth
lie rarely attempted to speak except in
his dreams, and then he wandered to those
dreadful battle-felds. Once, when ---
| urged him to take some medicine, which he
always took with reluctance, he looked at
her and said Its no use, but afterwards
| took it. When he became so much better
the doctor said you must soon get out and
ride your tavorite gray" He shook his
head emphatically and looked upward.
He slept great deal, but knew US all and
greeted with kindly pressure of the
hand, loving to have us around him. For
the last torty-eight hours he seemed quite
insensble ofour presence, breathed heavily
aud at last quietly sunk to rest with one
deep-drawn sigh. Oh. what a glorious rest
was III store for him-the humble. consistent
Christian, who, not many weeks before, had
sac, when We were talking of the assurance
OF heaven, he wished he could feel that as
surance. He will be surprised at the well
come: We'll done, good and faithful ser
want, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"
H.! -. - been successful instead of the
"hero of lost cause" he could not have
been more beloved aud honored.
| am content and would not have him
back, though | must continue my weary
pilgrimage alone, without the support on
which | have leaned with such perfect con-
fdence for more than thirty years. We
shall continue to make this our home
could not bear to move into a new house,
and my own Arlington is not open to me-
Believe me always truly and affectionately
your friend, MARY GUSTS LEE.