Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-11-23

meadows, were its environments Eas
, and westrose the great Virginia ranges
: the Blue Ridge and the Alleghanie,
An aflluent of the river of Powhatan
flowing under cliff and across lowland
layed the confines of this classic city.
Lee conducted the college. Maury
adorned the military school. There
was cultured circle connected with
this Virginia Athens found nowhere
else in the Commonwealth. This So
ciety was in itself an education.
COMMODORE MAURY.
I wrote the account of the death Of
Commodore Maury. He was Christ
ian. Among his last usterances was a
noble sentence in reply to an inquiry
as to his faith: "My anchors do not
drag" His body lay in state at the
Military Institute, with the many deco
rations upon him-the rewards of
science. There was no steel highway
to Lexington. The thoroughfare was
through noble glen, the Goshen Pass,
abloom with laurels at times. Maury
requested that his body be carried to
the cars at the blooming season Of these
mountain shrubs. This wish inspired
an exquisite little poem; enc sentiment
1 give:
Say not, sailor when the laures bloom,
They are ever blooming on thy tomb.
LAST DISPATCH OF LEE.
General GUSTS Lee, who resided in
Lexington, handed me dispatch for
his sister, then in Buffalo, N. Y, an
nouncing the death of their father)
There was no wire to Lexington. 1 was
younger then than in 1898. swung
myself into the saddle on fayorite
animal that carried me through diff
culties during the war. galloped her
pretty briskly to Staunton. After the
telegraph operator bad sent the message
to Miss Lee he asked me if he might
not give the news CT the death Of the
greatest Confederate to the world. l |
gave consent. In five minutes the
bells of Staunton were tolling, tor the |
first bystanders darted down the street |
and the tidings spread. The operator
told me presently that the bells were
tolling in the cities all over the South.
I think Savannah, he said, was the
second city to ring tie mournful note.
On my army saddle Il dotted on it, for
it was an imported English one), and
N my old cavalry boots, astride Of the
fiery mare that bore me through Gen
eral Kelly's blue troopers that Christ
mas morning on the South Fork of the
outh branch of the Potomac, 1 deliy-
red the las dispatch from Lee. h
HuMoB IN LIE. II
1 am quite sure General Lee had Il
much latent humor in him. He kept {
curb on it. He told an anecdote too c
tiffly, but he enjoyed good story. '
Holland, who left us for the Episcopal a
ans, bright fellow withal, made a I
ip-top address at n commencement
lie was the guest of the General, and a
onvulsed him by relating a camp t
leeting scene of the stout sinner and @
he "old ship Of Zion" "Come on, d
lister; get aboard, if you sink herl" @
houted the eccentric old pioneer /
reacher, as large woman waddled r
owards tie altar in response to his APP S
cal. Holland, apt at descriptive anec- v
otes, made vivid the anti-clima1 OF p
his 'rousement sermon, to the unusual o
lerliment of his host.
The rooLI of the Generals secretary
Captain James VI. Leech, now Of Nash
ille) was opposite bis own. Here stray Il
lembers OF the faculty at times gather
d for exchange of "new ones" 1t was
arm. The doors were open. l gave u
ne, somewhat amusing (nstigated "
hereto by dear old "Nick" Harris, of n
40 Latin chair, and we heard the r
ieneral laughing, for he had caught "
ne story. No man could look, or act a
18th deeper earnestnsss. 10
GREATNESS OF LEE. Isl
He rarely talked of The war. Pro- ="
9ssor James j. White, OF whom Gen "
raj Lee was fond, rode with him horse =
ack to the Hot Springs from Licking =,
On. At point on the route General
zee alluded TO the battle Of Gettys- >,
urg. He described his plans. the
lovement Of the troops, the delay Of
ne cohorts he had ordered to the bat 3
e line in early morsing, the charge.
White, turing fell around in his sad 7
lie to see Lee, found him standing up :.
| his stirrupi the fire of battle blazing y y
| his eyes. the whole form dilating
nj the features ahame Lee no4;ced v