The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-29

people OF Lexington. Altogether coh9'u
ering the facilities Of the town, the abair
was splendidly managed from beginning 10
end This evening the visitors are sc"'-
tered all over the pace Iunching.
History OF tho Monument.
On the 25th day OF May, 1870, while zen
eraI Lee was in Richmond, Valentine, the
SCULPTOR. took measurements OF his face, ano
on the Sd Of June following went to Lex
ington for the purpose OF modelling bts'
Of him. General Lee gave the artist
numerous sittings, and when the WORK
was completed it was pronounced by com
netent criticism not only most admirable
nortrait. but most successful work OF art
ON the death OF the great soldier, October
- 1870. the corporate authorities OF Wash
incton and Lee University. then Washing
ton College. placed at Mrs. Lees disposal
any norton OF the college-grounds she
might select as place for the temporary OF
permanent interlhent OF his remains.
MRS. LEES SELECTION.
Mrs. Lee selected the basement OF the
new College chapel, which building Gene
raj Lee had planned, and the erection Of
which he bad watched with the deepest In
terest from the time Of its commencement
to its completion. This building is plain,
unpretentious brick structure, situated IN
the campus, and Immediately facing the
main or University buildings proper. On
the day Of the obsequics meeting OF Con
iederato soldiers was held, and it was de-
termned 10 organize a memorial associa'
ton. This action WAS taken before it was
known whether Lexington would be the
permanent burial-place OF Lee, it being the
object Of those who formed the association
TO erect a monument OF some character
that would testify their love and apprecla'
ton.
MA. VALENTINE DESIGNATED.
When the subject was broached to Mrs.
Lee she expressed desire that Valentino
be the sculptor. On November %, 1871, 8
meeting OF the Executive Committee Of
the Association was held at Lexington, to
which Mr.. Valentine had been summoned
and was present, and after consultation
with Mrs. Lee, the Association, controlled
bv her taste and that Of the artist, COM
missioned Mr.. Valentine to model recum-
| bent figure after the school OF Rauch's
! figure OF Louise Of Prussia in the mauso-
Ieum in Charlottenbourg, Mrs. Lee having
been particularly impressed by photo
graph OF this work. On June 90 1871, Mr..
Valentines study was exhibited to the
committee; on June the DIST it was shown
to Mrs. Lee, and meeting with her cordial
approval, was on the 23d formally accepted
by the committee, and the commission for
the work in marble given.
TIE PUBLISHED FIGURE COMMENCED.
From this date until March, 1915, when
the finishing touches were given to the
marble. Mr.. Valentine was employed almost
increasingly upon the work, which, after
being exhibited in Richmond and eliciting
the highest commentator from the press
and the public, was removed to Lexington
to await its final disposition. The removal
from the sculptor's studio to the depot took
place on the evening Of April 10, 1919. and
was the occasion OF an imposing pro-
cession. The Dispatch OF the follow
ing day, in noticing the event. says
d" At o'clock the procession was formed
in drenching rain, which would have
broken up any column OF less enthusiastic
material. The students Of Richmond Col
/ lcge, the First Virginia regiment, and q
very large crowd OF citizens generally
/ tamong them many ladies' brayed the storm
and held their places in the ranks until the
procession reached the depot. while along
the whole line OF march the sidewalks and
every door and window which afforded s
/ view OF the procession were crowded with
eager lookers-on. Ii was q grand vol
untary outpouring OF our people 10
On the eth Of May last the work WAS for
maly turned over TO the committee by Mr..
Valentine, who went to Lexington TO
superintcnd placing it in position, and was
accepted on behalf Of the committee by the
Hon. William A. Anderson. Among the
names prominent in the work OF the COM
mrtee are General William y. Pendleton,
Hon. Boiyer Christian, John C.. Boude,
/ Esq, Archibald Graham, Jr., Esq, Judge
William Mclaughlin, Judge j. X. Ed
mundson, Hon. William \. Anderson,
Walter Bowie, Esq, Professor j. j. White,
and others.
History OF tho MausOIeum.
When the figure reached Lexington II
was, without being unpacked, deposited in
secure place in one Of the University
buildings, and at several meetings OF the
Executive Committee OF the Association
various propositions as TO the character Of
its final receptacle were discussed. In the
mean time it had been decided by the Lee
family that the Generals remains should
rest permanently somewhere in the college
grounds. Ms. Lee having died, her re-
mains had, in accordance with her request,
been laid beside her husbands. Eventually
the committee determined upon n mauso-
leum annexed to the rear OF the chapel, the
outward appearance to be OF the same un-
ostentatious character as that of the chapel
and in architectural harmony with it, and
Mr. j. Crawford Nelson, OF Baltimore, was
employed rs the architect.
LAYING TIE CORNERSTONE.
The ceremony Of laying the cornerstone
OF the building took place on the 10Th Of