The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-08
GUARDIAN or LEES TOMB.
"UncIe Tom" His Old Servant, worships
His Memory.


His Memory.
Mr. c. a. Fonerden. OF Baltimore, writes
to the Sun as follows:
Having spent two days recently In
Lexington. Va, among the halowed
memorials OF that ancient town. 1t then
occurred to me how strange II must APP
pear to our Northern brother that the
tomb and magnificent recumbent statue
Of Gen. r. T.. Lee should be kept and
sacredly guarded, as it is. by a colored
man.
$50. too is General Lees office. just
as he left it, tables, desk, lounge. chairs
table-covers, papers, and letters, ana
everything, even down to his inkstand
and penholders, in personal charge OF
old Uncle Tom.
"Nor is it an easy task 10 guard and
preserve these venerable relics from the
profane and Decorating hand of the
relic-hunting vandal
"Yet with the sharp eye. brave heart
and strong arm of the faithful sentinel
there remains Uncle Tom, a worthy de-
fender OF those things. May his tribe
increase"
and now let me report TO whom II
may concern what Uncle Tom impaired
TO me concerning his relationship with
that mighty captain of the valorous Con-
federate hosts. lie began by saying In
his dialect that he had enjoyed the proud
privilege and distinction Of being close
TO the great general in camp-life for four
long years, and that never once, in all
that trying time. had he ever heard him
utter a cross, impatient or Improper word
to man or beast. 1t must be admitted
that a relationship OF so long a period as
1l.afi md tFrh
would be a closer observer Of the great
mans character and daily demeanor than
that untutored brother of cOlor2 No Sc
verer critic IS a man likely to have than
his own valet. body servant or cook; or,
at least the foibles and shortcomings of
the man of mark could have no greater
or more pcrllous exposure than that 10
the scrutiny of his servant under condi-
tions such as those in which Uncle Tom
served his beloved master as he Is wont
to call the great general. He was mas
ter and a father to me. too, said Uncle
Tom.
ION one occasion I'm showing the statue
to a party of seventeen Northern gentle
men he told them, as usual. that his old
master was the greatest general in the
world and the best man.
What! DO you, a colored man, say
that Of this man here in our presenter
asked one of the number.
eyes. | would say that before ten
thousand men, said Uncle Tom, and add
ed: If you all had 'er had him. de wah
woodcr been over long befo 1t wus.'
Then one young man in the party
said: Yes. he was good man, Uncle,
but he was on the wrong side
'erhoreupon an old soldier, who was
present. renlied: But how many are
there who think to the contrary, and this
great man conscientiousy thought other
wise. living and dying a hero In the hearts
OF his countrymen. with the respect and
admiration, too. Of the whole North ana
all the world
"Thus reinforced Uncle Tom said he
enjoyed the speech OF that good old sold
Ter. once a brave adversary on the held
of blood and strife. Then the young man
retortcd:
Well. he got whipped, anyhow
'Whupt, whuptr blurted Uncle Tom.
Does Won call It whupt sab. ef when like
as you wus a goin' walkin' rum mere 10
Do hotel. a whole parcul uf men woold
-. non Won and bind YOU down; Now,
dat.s do wav de General was whupt, sab,
and only dat way :,
"rhen Uncle Tom told me personally
that on some occasions, lie Yankees had
two hundred to one In telling him that
7 was in the old Stonewall Brigade, early
and late. he became fervcntly eloquent In
Iaudations. the loudest and most en-
nbatic. of my invncible old commander.
$50 taking him through and through
T think a would be hard to ma more
do,,out love for the South and its IN
e,ttufions than that Of Uncle Tom.