The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-11

OF GENERAL r. e. LEES BIRTH
DAY ANNIVERSARY


Held in Assembly Hall January 10. 1910
Captain Chsmberixyne. Governor KEN
| per, DIR. Jones' Entertainment the Fol-
lowing Week for the Monument Fund.
A committee has been appointed by Lee
Camp to arrange suitable programme Tor
the celebration on the 10Th OF January next,
the anniversary OF General Robert Z. Lees
birthday. This day has been made legal
holiday by the Legislature, and is the nrst
public observance Of the day since 1876. The
committee will hold meeting in the Cham
Der Of Commerce rooms this afternoon
at o'clock, and 1t is expected that suita-
bic programme will be agreed upon.
This action recalls the celebration in 1876
which was held on Wednesday, January
| 10Th, at IL o'clock, in Assembly Hall. ms
was the old Mozart Hall, and stood on the
present site of Mozart Academy. con-
temporary in its report Of the proceedings
the next day said:
alt was regarded as a hazardous under
taking 10 have a public assemblage al tue
very busiest hour of the day, but owing 10
the fact that many who wished 10 attend
had bought seats for the performance OF
"Otbello.v and others had engagements
with legislative committees, no better time
could be fixed. The attendance was graft
fying, and comprised judges of the Court
OF Appeals, members of the Legislature,
distinguished ex. Confederates, citizens and
ladies. The ball was well filled. Had the
weather been better ii would have been
packed.
"Goyernor Kemper called the meeting to
order, and Rev. DIR. Minnigeroce, pastor OF
| st. Paups church. where General Lee
worshipped when in the city during the
war, offered prayer. lie knelt ON the stage
| and begged the blessings of Almighty God
| on the people, and thanked Him for the
precious memories and glorious examples
Lee has lett us.
CAPTAIN CHAMBERLAYNE.
"Goyernor Kemper presided, and in intro
ducng Captain Chamberlsyne, said:
0"Tbe speaker who will now address you
is one who proved himself worthy to be
soldier in arms under the eye OF Robert l..
Lee. / have the honor and the pleasure,
ladies and gentlemen, TO present TO you our
gallant and eloquent friend, John Hampton
Chamberlayne, of the city of Norfolk"
"Amid liberal applause the Governor re-
sumed the chair, and Captain Chamber
layne came forward.
.Captain Chamberlayne rapidly passed
over the history Of Lees e Tly life, told the
story of his brilliant service in Mexico, and
of his resolution TO offer his sword 10 his ma
tive State: sketched the principal cam
paigns of the Army of Northern Virginia;
spoke Of his personal qualities and spot
less life, and of his devotion to Virginia.
SEVEN DAYS CAMPAIGN.
layne said: That single campaign of seven
days is itself fame. TO amuse an army out
numbering his own by $1,000; TO watch with
a large detachment lest that army should
make q junction with the divisions
at Fredericksburg; to bring Jack
sons skill and Jackson's devoted
men TO his aid; TO cross marshy
and often impracticable stream; to attack
Mcclellan on his flank, and to roll up his
army like SCROLL whilst at each step gain
ed his enemy should be weaker and himself
be stronger and stronger, yet at the
same time to guard lest bis enemy should
break his centre as Napoleon pierced the
Russians on AusterlitZ held. Such was the
problem. You know-all the world knows
its execution. Despite the errors Of subor-
dinates, despite the skill Of bis opponent,
a soldier truly great in defense; despite the
rawness Of many Of his troops, despite
the lack in the general officers OF the
skill necessary to movements so delicate;
and. despite the nferiohty Of his force, Lee
succeeded fully in his main object; relieve
Richmond, inflicted on his enemy losses ma
terially immense and morally infinite-in
seven days absolutely undid what 1t had
taken Mcclellan six months to do, and by
single combination threw back his enemy
from the hills in sight of Richmond to de-
fensiye line in Washington's suburbs. This
campaign. for its audacity, its wide cOmbl-
nation, its insight into the opponents char
acter, its self-reiance, its vigor of eXecu-
ton, and its astonishing results may
be safely compared with the best
campaigns with the greatest masters IN the
art of war with Frederick's Lenthen. to
which 1t bears as much likeness as a cam
paign of days can bear to battle OF hours,
the amazing concentration by Washington
Of cOntingents from New York and from
North Carolina. of new levies from the Nir-
ginia Valley and OF a French fleet from the
West indies 10 besiege and capture the
army of CORVALLIS.
MAYOR KELLEY.
"Goyernor Kemper then introduced Mayor
Kelley in handsome terms, calling him
silver tongued orator, and promising what
he would say on the occasion would be like
apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Major Kelley closed his address as fol-
lows: And 50 | doubt not, it will yet be;
and from the free offerings of a generous
people there shall aise in enduring bronze,
as his distinguished lieutenant, our gallant
Governor, to-day has prophesled, m0nu-
ment TO his name not unworthy the cOmpan-
ionship of that which in yonder square per-
petuates the fame Of his fathers fastest
friend. And people will come from every
land to view that serene, majestic face
even they who fought him in life-and all
bring their children TO gaze upon the
moulded bronze, and drink high inspiration
as they contemplate the noble lineament OF
him whose deeds were so great and whose
life so LOFTY that the realms Of earth richest
in fame cannot afford TO renounce their
heritage in the life and deeds of Lee.
DIR. JONES.
"The exercises closed with prayer, offered
by DIR. J. William Jones. author of Personal
"reminiscences of General X. +. Lee who
was chaplain in the army. and after the
war resided at Lexington, and was Lees
neighbor and trusted friend.'
The same issue Of the paper that con-
tanned the above proceedings, stated that
collections for the Lee monument fund had
been taken up in the public schools on the
day before.
LEE FUND BENEFIT. Il
For two nights in the following week ga
grand entertainment" was advertised to be
given by the Fourth-street Club for the ben
eft of the Lee Monument fund. The adj
yertisement stated that the "attractions
were Kessnich's Band; Rediord, in his
character songs; Saunders, in his original
speech: Master Monte Walker, La Petite
Nettie Bass Misses Hamilton and
Becher; Tomlxhson, the side-splitting come
dian; Richmond's amateur band; Bass the
Dutch comedian, and Minors grand statue
of General Lee. The whole production was
to be under the direction and management
OF Professor Minor.
In Georgia.
The Virginia Society OF Atlanta is making |
extensive preparations TO observe General |
Robert 4. Lees birthday next month. Mr.. |
Hamilton Douglas is now in Virginia Sc
curing eminent Virginians for the occa-
sion. Captain Gordon McCabe, of Peters
burg, one of the finest orators Of the Old |
Dominion, has promised to be present. Mr.. |
Douglas is now trying TO secure IA promise |
from Senator Daniel TO come.