The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1889-06-06
Irr.s TACT.


From an enecdotal article by Mrs.
Margaret j. Preston In the June
Century we quote the following:
Few men were more skilled In the
avoidance Of every thing that could
wound the feelings Of others. On
the occasion Of General Lees being
summoned to Washington TO give
testimony, an incident occurred
which illustrates this characteristic.
A connection Of my own, who at
tenden him as one Of his compli-
mentary staff, told me that when In
Washington there were multitudea
Of persons-Rnd among them many
Of the most distinguished In the
land, north and sOuth-seeking audi
ence with General Lee; evening
after evening was occupied with
these Interviews, Again and sgnin
had my friend been beset by q per-
sou who had no claim to be pre-
seDted, and AZ often hRd he been
waived aside on the plea that the
number of gentlemen coming TO be
Introduced was 30 great as to EN-
barrass bis provisional staff. But
this persistent Confederate watched
his opportunity and made the best
Of IL. Coming up TO Colonel NJ
when he was little or his guard he
whispered, Take me up now; there
IL nobody being introduced at this
moment"
"But don't you see that the Gen.
eral IL surrounded by n group Of Of
ficers and congressman, and that it
won't do to break in upon their con-
versations:''
But the old soldier would not he
shaken OFF. So Colonel NJ
thought the best way Co eud the
matter would be 10 lead him up to
the General, and thus In a moment
put a stop Ia his pertinacity. TAX
ing him, accordingly, by the arm, he
drew him forward. The large circle
opened AMI allowed n pathway, and
the man was presented in due form
and received with rs much courtesy
as u he had been n prince of the
blood. Colonel N was about
10 lead him instantly away. when he
suddenly STEPPED into the open
space where the group had made
way for him, aud in a rather loud
voice said:
GENERAL, ] have always thought
that 10 ever had the honor Of meet
ing you face Ia lace, and there WAS
an opportunity allowed me, ! would
like tn ak you n question which no
body but you can answer. ] seem to
have that opportunity now. This IL
what I want Ia know: What WAS
the reason that you failed to gain
the Victory nj the battle of Gettys-
burg"
To have such an iiI-tim.d question
dropped like q bOmh-sheli ia such a
presence was, Ia say the least of IL,
embarrassing, aud some curt re-
jOiudeT would have been natural and
To the purpose; but General Lees
kiHdhpaTtedness would not permit
\ rude dismissal even TO 30 uEwAT-
TAntable n guestiOner. Advancing
aud gently taking him 10y the hand,
while all the listening group stood
round amazed nj the mans presump-
ton, the General quietly said:
my dear sir, that would Ice a long
story, aud would require more time
than you see ] eau possibly COM
mani al present; so We will have
to defer the matter tu another Occas-
ion
This same friend gave me an in
stance of a similar encounter that
concerned Mrs. Lee, whose simpIici-
~ and kindliness of heart Tivale1
that of her husband.
The General and his wife were nj
the Virginia White sulphur Springs,
occupying one of the pretty cottages
that had been set apart for them.
The crowd Of visitors was great. and
ever ybOdy who had the least show
for so doing was asking for introduce
iiUns, for the war had not long been
over.
al encountered n good-natured but
absurd man from the far south"
thusiAsm for the Lee family was at
fever heat. His pompnus way OF
talking was a constant amusement
la mt; and when lac asked that I
shnihd inirude upon the gay group
that always filled the piazza of the
Generals cottage and introduce him,
| naturally hesitated somewhat,
fearing lest hs should OverpOwer
them 10y one of his magniloguent
apOstrOphes. lie Joined me one
evening Just as we were passing the
cottage door, where n party of WISH
tors were being entertained by the
General and his wife. Now H. your
time, lac whispered; and he forth
with drew me tn the sieps, where, as
in duty bound, presented him.
Withdrawing n little he assumed n
Hamlet-like pose, aud lifting his
hand with a most dramatic air, he
began:
"'DO I behold the honored roof
that shelters the head of him before
whose name the lustTe OF NapOleon's
pales into a shadow: DO I see the
walls within which sits the most
adOred of men: Dare tread the
floor which she who H. scion of the
YatTiOtic house OF the reVered Wash
IngtOn eOndescends Co hailOw with
her presence" l. this the pOrticO
that trails its vines over the noble
pair
81 tumbled back aghRst," said
Colonel NJ, 'at my own blum
der, as listened To this ridiculous
speech, which ] really believe WAS
potion up and conned for she Or-
casiOu. But ! was relieved in n mo-
ment when Mrs. Lee. quietly laying
down her knitting aud interrupting
the rhetorical effort. with a kind
look upon her face replied:
lrs, this il our cabin; viii you
take n seat upon the bench -