The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-08-21
A NOTABLE LETTER.
Written by Gen. Lee Thirty-two
Years AGO.
Memphis Ledger.

Memphis Ledger.
DR. M. j. McNeill, of Oliv,
Branch, Miss, sends US the follow
ing from his scrap book. with th,
request that it be published i
has been published before, but hal
pas ed out of the public mind. 1t i,
worthy of place in every scrat
book and household. Itreveals ths
beautiful inner character of a trul,
good and great man. It should bt
placed in the hands of every boy al
a gem of truth and good advice, and
second only to that to be found in
the scriptures. Here it is, and We
commend it to the attention of all
southern mothers, and through
them to the rising generation:
PRIVATE LETTER FROM GEN. LEE.
The original of the following pri
vate letter from Gen. Lee to his son
was found at Arlington House, and
is interesting as illustrating a phase
in his character:
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, April 5, so.
Ny DEAR SoN:-I am just in the
act of leaving home for New Mexico.
My fine old regiment has been or
dered to that distant region, and /
must hasten to see that they are
properly cared for. 1 have but little
to add in reply to your letters of
March 26th, 9th and 28th. You
letters breathe a true spirit of
frankness; they have given myself
and your mother great pleasure.
You must study to be frank with
the world; frankness is the child of
honesty and courage. Say what
you mean to do on every occasion,
and take it for granted you mean to
do right. If a friend asks a favor.
you should grant it If it is reasona
BILE; if not, tell him plainly WHY
you cannot; you will wrong him
and yourself by equivocation of any
kind. Never do a wrong thing Il,
make a friend or keep one; the man
who requires you to do so is dearly
purchased at a sacrifice. Deal
kindly, but firmly, with all your
class mates; you will find it the
policoy which wears best. Above
all, do not appear to others what
you are not. Ii you have any fault
to find with any, tell him, not 9th
ers, of what you complain; there is
no more dangerous experiment than
that of undertaking to be one thing
before a mans tace and another
behind his back. We should live,
act and say nothing to the injury of
any one. 1t is not only best as
matter Of principle, but it is the
path to peace and honor.
In regard to duty, let me, in con-
of this hasty letter, inform
you that nearly one hundred years
ago there was day of remarkable
gloom and darkness-stili known as
the dark day-a day when the light
of the sun was slowly extinguished
as if by an eclipse. The legisla-
ture of Connecticut was in session,
and as the members saw an unex-
pected and unaccountahle darkness
coming on, they shared in the gen
eral awe and terror. 1t was sup
posed by many that the last day
the day of judgement-had come
Some one in the CONSERVATION of
the hour moved an adjournment
Then there arose an old Puritan
legislator, Davenport, of Stamford,
who said if the day had come, he
desired to be at his place doing his |
uty, and, therefore, moved that |
candles be brought in so that the
house could proceed with it's duty |
There was qIietness in that mans
quietness of heavenly |
inhexible willingness
to obey present duty. Duty, then,
IS the sublimest word in our Ian
yuage. You cannot do more; you
should never wish to do less. New
sr let me and your mother wear one
gray hair for any lack of duty on
your part.
Your affectionate father,
r. E. LEE.
To G.. W. CUsTIs LEE. :