The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-15
LEE IN ALEXANDRIA.
DAYS Spent There rs a Boy and In Later
Years.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, June li.-lspecial.
There is a great deal in the life character
Of Robert T.. Lee that speaks well for old
Alexandra, where he passed his boyhooi
and youth.
Undoubtedly the quiet, unassuming de-
meanor; the unfeigned modesty, and the
generation Of this man for things holy, and
some more Of those characteristic traits OF
his that stand out so boldly had their
foundation in the inner social and political
atmosphere and surroundings of that quiet
old burg.
Several of the oldest citizens who can re-
call those early days have been sought 10
learn something of his boyhood days, put
their recollections are so indstinct, ana ms
evidently reserved life do not give many
points that historians and bi0grapbers have
nased over. They say his father, General
Henry Lee. moved here from Stratford III
1910 or 1911. and in 1sl2-i3 Robert Lee was
enrolled as a pupil in one OF the
lower rooms of the old Alexandra
Academy. Afterwards he had private
tutor: doubtless Mr.. Leary, an irish frotes-
tant. He was rather gentle boy, GOOD
boy. and cared more for home and his
mother. who was an invalid than anything
else: therefore he seemed different RON
other bows. lie was especially iona OF
those younger than himself, and often went
to the country either to walk around or 10
hunt, and one Of his fayorite PLACES was
Arlington, or the darlington House;
as il was called then, and he would
ride out there with Mr.. GUSTS who
took special interest in him. He was the
Youngest child. There were two girls and
three other BOYS, one, the oldest, Richard |
Henry, q step-brother, and then a man.
Garter was at school in New England and
sydney Smith was in the navy, while one OF
his sisters was in Philadelphia most OIL the
time under the treatment OF physician !
for she. like her mother. was very delicate. |
They lived in Cameron street, near tnrIst
Church, and there in one OF the douDle-Drich
houses on OrOnOkO street, near the cot
ton factory. This house adjoined 1t. Asaph |
street. and had large yard on the east OF II
far back, and was superbly
shaded and its garden was as cosy and
sweet-sccntcd, and as pretty as any South
erner might wish. He was devoted to his
mother and did the marketing and much
more. which generally falls to the lot OF girl.
Thus we are told that his mother considered
him sboih son and daughter 10 her, They
attended Christ Church. whose rector then
was William Meade, the great bishop OF
after years.
General Henry Lee was frequently away,
and after his death, IN ISIS, Robert became
his mothers constant support, always at
tending her at church. seated beside her in
pew -, on the left aisle, and manishly rest
ing his left arus over the door, which now
bears a plate engraved "R. h. Lee"
When Christmas came Robert Lee nearly
ALWAYS headed the party to go INTO Tue
after evergreens, and in October,
1922. be appeared in the procession in honor
OF General Lafayette a. marshal. lbis
seems TO have been his first appearance IN
public.
In the fall and winter Of 1s2i-'25 he was
prepared for West Point by Mr. benjamin
lIailowell, whose work IL known every
where and whose autobiography contains
several pages most complimentary to this
student.
Mrs. Lee died in 1920, the same year that
General Lee graduated from West Point,
and shortly after this General Lee seems to
have relinduished Alexandria as his home.
I'm June. 1881. he was married. The pa
pers give no account Of the affair, which was
a social event Of the year, it is said. but the
Gazette Of July 9th contains the following
notice:
MARRIED At Washington House. by the
Rev. Dr Keith, LIEUT.. ROBERT LEE. OF the
United states corps of engineers, 10 Mia ~
4. Curtis, Esq.
After his marriage General Lee took up
his residence at Arlington, attending Christ
Church az Of y0re, and frequently coming TO
town during the week 10 make purchases,
for he was granted furloughs constantly
when near Washington where he was sta
TONED i'm the engineers Office in theWar De-
partment. he would ride over every morning
except sunday, aud had a pleasant greeting
for any AleXandrian he might meet or
pass. Then he would ride in town on a bay
horse early in the morning, and on holidays
he would drive there with his VIE ana
spend the day with friends in the city or
out on Seminary Hill.
lilo wouId freduentl; 90 out to Mr. FOwle's
in Fairfax, or to the FitzhugRs beyond at
..Rayensworth," where General Rooney
lee now lives. General Lee was familiar
figure here before the war, and frequently
70 enterprises started here.
After the war he came here seldom-a few
times at the most.
In MAY, 1863, just after General Grant
was inaugurated. he came on 10 Washing |
ton TO see the President, and on his way
back he stopped here to see his relatives
and most intimate friends. lie stopped
with Mrs. Fitzhugh out ON Washington
street. corner OF Queen, where Mr.. Wash
now resides, and spent the day
calling on old friends, and greeting others.
He attended Ascensi0n-Day services at
Christ Church that day, sitting in his old
new with his brother sydney smith Leland
spent the evening with Mr. John Il. Dam
gerheld, where he received many old ac-
with great cOrdality.
The next evening he was taken from Mrs.
Fitzhugh's TO the Mansion house, where an
informal reception was held. Between two
and three thousand people shook hands with
him, and they were the townspeople gener-
ally. some too were blacks. Next morning
he went up on the Orange road, and thence
TO Lexington.
sneak,ng of this occasion, sit was more
like family meeting" said the Gazette, "for
we here regard General Lee as one OF our
Alexandria boys. He resided here in his
boyhood, here he went 10 school, aud here
no has relations, old friends and school
mates. and he knows a large portion OF our
neople. We have never seen
n more lovely exhibition OF the
grateful and unbought homage OF the
heart. TO worth and high char
acter than was exhibited last evening. IL
was a scene long 10 be remembered, scene
without parallel here, without parade, pomp,
or ostentaticn, but full Of lnterest-most
honorable 10 the recipient OF this bestowal
Of respect and those who greeted him."
several Of the ladies here, who attended
the reception, say that General Lee kissed
them. A..
do not think General Lee visited Alex
andria after this. He expressed himself
highly pleased with his yisit in letters just
afterwards.
The news Of his death was received here
with universal sorrow. Bells t0lled and
paople displayed emblems OF mourning.
There were mass-meetings called, ofcourse,
and the day OF his funeral the bells tolied
from sun rise TO sun set, and business was
suspended.
held M this date, il needs only 10 refer to the
thousands Of Alexandrians in Richmond re-
Gently. They were veterans and youth,
women and children. BELL.