Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-20
WASHINGTON AND LEE.
Parallel and Coincidence.

Written for the Dispatch by b. Is. Minor.l
An American writer has said: History
furnishes no parallel TO thetcharacter OF
Washington. He stands on an unap-
preached eminence. distinguished almost
beyond humanity for self-command, intre-
pidity, soundness of Judgment. rectitude
of purpose. and deep ever-active plety."
This testimony, almost universally sustain
ed is not so true any longer. Lee has
very nearly approached him in all these
qualities, and he doubtless took Washing
ton for his model. Some, with the fullest
appreciation of the transcendant greatness
Of the sage of Mt. Vernon, have not hesl-
tated 10 run close parallel between MN
and the heroic exile from Arlington. Let
me, at least, direct your attention TO the
remarkable condolences and relation
ships between these two colossal
figures in American history. Both
were born in the same county, In the
same State. and opened their infant eyes
upon the sparkling waves Of the same
broad Potomac. II has been beautifully
said that Heaven left Washington child
less that the nation might call him father"
Lee, therefore. could not have been his
son-in-law: but he was the son-in-law OF
his adopted son. who was named for HIM
and loved and revered him as if he were his
own and only child. George Washington
Parke Curtis was as full of the Odd Chief"
as he STYLED him, as ever Boswell was
of the literary leviathan," DIR. johnson;
and year after year, on the 22d OF Febru-
ary, he poured forth to the public his low
ing and admiring "reminiscences of him.
Whatever link was wanting 10 make
nearer the tie between Lee and Washlng-
ton. which was formed by this marriage,
was furnished by the intimate friendship
of his father and the glowing eulogies OF
him which that fathers pen had recorded,
US if for the guidance of the SON IL
was Light Horse Harry Lee, the father
of Robert E.. who so tersely and truly
crvstallZed Washington as " first IN war,
first in peace. and first IN the hearts OF ms
fellow-cItizens" Both lived i'll ancestral
mansions. not very far apart. on the same
southern side of the noble stream near
which they were born Arlington looking
over upon the nations capital, that was
named for its father; ami probably Mt.
Vernon can see the dome of It's Capitol and
the towering shaft of its monument to
Washington.
Both were heroes of rebellion. as it is
termed. Washington was great and was
successful. Lee was great, though, with
out fault of his, he failed and after that
failure Providence led him 10 preside over
the very institution which Washington
had endowed; and who thus, as 1t were,
out Of the very rewards which his country
had proifered him for his inestimable SER
vices. provided safe and honorable re-
treat for his homeless grandchildren ban
lshed from their ancestral halls. Thus
the hero defeated IN war became an hon
ored and successful high-prlest in one OF
the bright temples of peace. Moreover,
he had displayed all the firm disinterested-
ness of Washington byrejecting the various
tempting overtures that had been made to
him, both 10y way of salaries and donations.
Here. too, we now find these two most
illustrious names cOnjoined in amOnument
that NAV vet prove TO be the proudest and
best ever erected to the memory OF
either. or yet TO be erected In all
coming time, and that monument watched
over bv the son of the one VINO
bears the great name OF the other.
And now that they are both gone the
deeds of the one have been COMMUNICATED
by one of his grand compatrlots, Chlei-
Justice MARSHALL; and the memory of the
other ia n * said, TO be transmitted TO pos
terity bv another Marshall, who was hrs
friend and trusted aide and who Is OF the
same family, state. and county with the
famous Chief Justice. Our sublime and
magnanimous soldier-citizen, stricken IN
the midst of his double work Tor science
and religion, and IN the very temple IN
which he was so faithfully mnistering, has
SUNK TO hisr peacefully in the midst OF
his family and friends. crowned with a
civic and literary wreath more TO be valued
than and as enduring as the laurels which
he Justly won upon the theatre OF bloody
strife. and bemoaned by world gather
| ed as IT were by an electric Hash about
his dying couch.
The time was when men would have said
| (some did say that the fate OF sydney
| Johpston, Stonewall Jackson, or Leonidas
| Polk was more fortunate than Lees. But
| not so now. An All-Wise Providence saw
that it was not good for his star also TO set
| In blood; and he himself, when the weight
was heaviest upon him, uttered the fine
sentiment that it was his duty to live
That human virtue ought 10 be equal 10
human calamity" As zone star ditfereth
| from another star in glory" SO the eftul.
sence Of his transcribed that OF
others. 1t transcended itself, for IL
| blazed on with eyer-increasing splendor as
il moved majestically around his sphere Of
DUTY" At last TO us on earth this star
| seemed TO set. but il was really shining
on more and more unto the perfect day
| in Heaven.
RICHMOND. Va. August, 1890.