Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-29
Written for the DIspstch-l

General Lees statue tnNcbces
Virginia, famous for her men OF worm,
Is gratifed 70 see their names enroIo
On Glory's scroll AMONG the great OF Farm.
To hear their pmaus sung, their praises toIu,
In movin, tropes. with neither stint nor deartn
Sne 10 her bosom truo such sons dO'h ho'u'
With fond maternal love and consistency
And pridos herself upon such progeny.
With grateful hoarts her sons and daughters
A devot.es. have hither come to-day;
And nj this shrine, with Jealous hearts sincere,
their garnerod wreaths OF gratitude woulo
vvo,,,H sne,s olo,,d. and IN the world declare
Their homage true. devoid Of vain display-
would honor him who led the "Great Los'
Whose yaior won tbs wond'ring worlds sp-
plauso.
Assh,dows lengthon % the days decline,
SO grows apace our ililsirious Lee
The years 20 by in solemn march sgplime'
ZACH adding cubes TO his immensely,
His fame not ret in full iruition's prime,
Blt, Ike the Eirth Of some majestic use'
Increases IN dimension year bJ year,
AS whining circles round It's bole deciare
With ono accord his countrymen unite
In beaping on his knlghly deeds their orsiss;
Throughout bis great career his acts Invite
tn, scrutiny OF criticisms gaze,
And vet II cannot on r fiaw slight;
Warm ad miration kindles 10 blazs
Wheneier mo sDotless name OF Loe II hosrA
vlrginia's courtly prince Of cavaliers
For consistency and for worth renownd:
lie strobe the earth with firm and manly
tread:
BY iuspce eovorn'd, honor ever found
Hiukresent where persistent duly leo.
Unelaf5d by the transient sound
on yapid praise by which small minds are fed,
he soar'd aloft, Ike eit'ring ORB on high,
or Ike meteor streaming through the SKY.
Courteous IN manners, In department bland.
Firm in the leld. ana In the council iust;
Fitted was he TO govern and c0mnen1-
one whom emergency might 50 ely trush
ruuovaila when once ho took his stand
In "siatos' Rights rear'd." In loyalty was
nuist
Thrift could not urge him bond the supple knss
Like shameless renogades oil 10" degree.
ou.rried from mine and In like mstriI csg,
Which formed our oEp, our matchless WASH
Whoa" tosTa'ry yet survlves and still will last,
n milo Journeys on tho earth around the sun
Along with him and worthless OF the pasi,
DisilnRuished AID renOwnd Tor plaudits won;
Win such will he consort In Faines feroat,
While coming years will stin his name repesk
obedient to yirginia's decree,
Ills form In bronze. designed by artists hand,
We now unveil In finished sJmmotry.
AMI on its pedestal will hon etorth STAND
A beacon bright fOf distant years 10 sec.
As al exempler truly great ana grard
Vis virtues will endure aud ne'or grow dim,
His uamo EN- balmed will be Honor's synonyma
Pos,erlty will envy. this, our age,
Whose privilege twas 70 know, our entertain
Lee: ,,,,,
Whose deeds will brightly shine on hiSErJs
page, ,, ,,, A.. -.
Twill not withhold from hin the name OF sage
Twill also hail MIN as q prodigy
Whose ike or earth but seldom nero sppoerN
Tue unique product Of GUe-seoTs Of gtaTs
IN DAYS remote, some Plutarch may arise,
Whose pen will draw proportionate and true,
This brilliant orb which nash'd athWart our
skies,
For wond'ring admiration's eyes 10 view;
He'll photograph Lee 5 form, and eulogize
His gifts poqueAthed, which Nature gives 70
feW.
Secure from hoary years correcting rust,
Nichd 10 Times crypt Will DO his peerless bust
In Thoughts cathedral dome be will reside
While slowly crumble centuries away;
His name. 70 immortality allied.
VIII never Wane, will never know decay
CompanlOnei with Ed, no Will abide,
The peer OF any In the famed array;
Foremost among them, Ia the van VIII DO,
yirginias cherished son, Incompatible LEa
NORFOLK, VA D. .. ID