Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-01

assembled 10 hear him There Is much
unwritten history IN that square, Dack
room. now fun OF books and curlos.
A MUTUAL AID SOCIETY.
"The Mess" was n mutual aid society.
The men were cheerful for the girls; the
girls In turn kept up for mother VINO
generally managed 90 keep up herself
Mildred was the little housekeeper, and
toward the end there we're hard times
ri The Mess" The larder was uncer-
tain, the appetites regular. sam, the
major-domo, had an uneasy lie, Tor ne
foraged lndustriously, and found httie
but rye-coffee, sorghum, and corn-meaL
Sometimes Mrs Lee got box from the
North, sent by some loving friend, the
contents OF which she at once forWarden
10 those whom she knew needed 1t. Keep
ing for herself only what other people
would not take. When Richmond friends
sent her a package of tea or little LOAF
sugar. abe always wished TO share II with
The Mess": OF course. they would
not permit IL: and frequently made little
ruses that she might enjoy an unusual
dainty
on one occa sion General Stuart went
down 10 the White-House and broughl
back TO Richmond six North Carolina
behring's, which he presented to Mrs. Lee.
She regarded them as such a treat
that she could not think OF eating them
all herself; so she sent three OF them
10 her dear friend, Mrs. s., Of Brook
Hill. There was great excitement when
the herrlngs arrived, and half dozen
girls went TO sleep with visions OF a
tempting breakfast. Alasl IN the morn
ing q sad tale awaited them. An neon
slderate cat had devoured one herring;
tho best COW had lost her cud at a favor
able time, and needed a salt fish to re-
store Il; and when the last herring was
being brought I'm from the table, some
hungry soldiers passed, and to their lot 1t
fell.
There was a victory for Lee at this
time. which Mrs. Lee took quietly. A
lady, wild with joy, exclaimed: "Oh,
Mrs. Leel how can you be so calm
Aren't you proud? Aren't you elated?'
MY DEAR" said Mrs. Lee, Il am
thankful-that IS all. II he suffered de-
feat tomorrow, those who adore to-day
might then condemn. No; know the
Genera! always does his best, and l am
content TO be quiet when be IS victorious
and calm when he suffers defeat"
At the time Of the evacuation. when
Richmond was a maddening bedlam,
Mrs. Lee alone was calm and perfectly
helpless People entirely frantic rushed
from pillar 70 post, the streets ran Win
whiskey. and the mob got on It's knees
beside the cutters and slipped the merry
stream. Fire broke loose, and the Wnole
city was IN danger The IRE reacheu
Eighth and Franklin streets, ana the
house next door 10 THE Mess" caught.
besought her to ny. Four times did
Union officer come, In a carriage ana
four horses. 10 take her away, and SO
eager was he to move her that he or
dered the trunks 10 be thrown out OF
the window. but she refused TO budg
ordered the soldiers out. and made her
daughter. Mary, keep the door OF the
house. which caught fire several times
but was promptly extinguished; and Mrs.
Lees own words were: That II was
impossible to exaggerate the KIND atteh-
ton OF the Union soldiers to her.
The General and Mrs. Lee immediate
w after the surrender, longed 10 leave
Richmond. and 10 find a country place
and perfect seclusion and rest While
they were looking for a home. Mrs.
Elizabeth Preston Cooke, Of lakewood
Cumberland county, Va, offered them
cosey country house with SO much anec-
tionate kindness that the General could
NOT but accept Il; and he was a country
gentleman from that time until he was
called 10 the presidency Of Washington
and Lee University. At the same time
ne had many offers which he graciousy
declined. Some Engishman wrote MN
that $4,000 had been put IN the BANK OF
England TO his credit and would DC nv
if he would come to England to live.
when he was about 20 leave Klchmond
the girls came 10 THE Mess Ia hocAs'
either with photographs for him 20 au-
togranh or to beg him 10 give them his
nicture himself. To these manifold re-
quests he responded with inefaole sweet
ness.
The radiant countcnance OF young
Girl who lived near "The Mess" often
cheered the Lees in those last weeks IN
Richmond. one day the General looked
so sad that she exclaimed; why VIII
Won look so heartbroken?"
"Why shouldn't II" he answered. My
cause is dead / am homelesS-I have no
thing on earth"
Eyes. YOU have" the girl said. cheer
fully. you have got plenty OF love ana
You have got buttons on
your coat, and I want one"
General Lee Win Il EitAitNf 49, -
the button nearest his throat and she
had II nut into beautiful setting and
wore It TO the day OF her death.
He never gave any more buttons away.
There was a command that the Confede-
rates should not wear their buttons. and,
as they had no other clothes and no other
buttons. the latter had 70 be covered
with black cloth; and the Generals honor
prevented him from giving any more
away.
A very modest girl. who had never be-
fore seen General Lee. travelled with him
down the river one day just after tho
war. She was emotional. and the sight
OF him overpowered her She did not
think he noticed her, but he did They
we're both going 20 get OF AZ the same
landing. and he spoke 10 her, and wanted
10 know II she were well wrapped no,
saying that young girls were so apt 10
catch cold. She had her modest ward
robe in an old-fashioned bandbox,
studded with brass nails. and he observed
that. too. "What a quaint little box"
he said. II Ike IL so much-dOn't your"
And a homely trunk was az once g,orihed,
and a girls tiresOme journey frightened
with an impression which she Will ever
hold.