Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-01-09
GEN LEES COAT
Il Almost Causs 1 u IA. ., -. n
River boat.

River Boat
One would scarcely think coat could
be the cause Of fight, unless II was ri
Donnybrook fair trailed behind son Of
the Emerald isle. with the CHALLENGE,
the Emerald isle. with the challenge:
Who'll tread on the tail of me Goa 2"
Rut ten. Lees coat, without the gcnar
81 In II. came near causing bloodshed.
and would have done so only tho
colonel" was good natured. and the
war was over.
II happened this way When re-
sided In Mississippi. in 1869. and had
Just completed small bust Of Dickens.
| was enthusiastic with my work ard
wanted to do something great. so he-
gan bust Of Lee. thinking Il would lie
Ill appreciated gift to the people who
had always treated me so kindly
A letter from my pastor. Rev Mr.
Dana. cousin to the proprietor of the
New York Sun. to Mrs R. n. Lee. M
closed in one from myself brought. a
most gracious reply. In few dave |
received several fine photographs,
among them one in coors. Of the hand.
some, stately general Mrs lee seemed
pleased with my wish to prrpetunte the
TEXTURES Of her much-loved husband, so
sent me all the information she conld
on the subject, also the generals con
federate coat with the three gold stars
c, each side Of the standing collar; she
wrote me that he had never worn Il,
but that it was a perfect fit, so would
answer the purpose for which needed
IT,
In due course of time the bust was
completed, and wishing to return The
cont safe and sound after having bcen
importuned to loan It to be exhibited at
O charity fair, which peremptoriy
declined-l boxed it carefully and gave
It In charge Of the colonel, who was 90
Ing to Washington, D c., on leave Of
absence.
lie was to carry 1t TO a certain point,
then express it to Mrs. Lee,
On the way up the Mississippi river
there were many southerners on board
the boat. One lady in particular at.
tmctcd the coloncls attention She
was from the mountains, and had
strong opinions and did not mind cx.
pressing them. either; but she did not
represent the real southern lady, who
Ia so sweet and amiable. for she was
fierce like those who helped to prolong
the war.
Admitting the ring on the colonel's
finger, she said: "Wc-uns had plenty Of
diamonds until you-uns took en-"
Then the colonel tried to explain to her
how he had never taken anything dur
ing the war. save a chicken or two when
he was hungry, and that his STRIKER"
did for him.
but this she did not believe, and
druwled out all the foolish stories about
Butler, that great man who saved 81
many lives by cleaning New Orleans,
This the colonel smoothcd over us
best he could, and to try and please hel
said;
II have got Gen Robert Il. Lees
coat
"W-h-a-t?" she exclaimed, nearly
falling backwards, chair and all.
"Yes, his beautiful gray coat, with Its
shiny golden stars"
"You-uns hcv got the generals coat
You-uns be iar!"
The colonel was good natured. but
this rather staggered him
"Dut, madam, ~
"You-uns needn't madam mel You
hain't got his coat, and you-uns know
YOU lie
"But, madam, did not say"
Yves, you-uns lit and fl and tit, but
you never captured the general"
'But--"
IF was man, I'd teach you-uns to
brag about capturing the general, and
stealing his cont."
"Iut, madam, II you will listen n
minute, you will see did not make any
such brag."
u don't want to listen to you-uns-'
Nov, Florencetta, just hold on q
U Ia La. N, IN Z, Ian ,uLn ,uat