Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-11
MOTHER OF FITZ LEE.
WAS ONCE THE BELLE OF RICH
MOND AND WASHINGTON.
NOW BLIND, BUT ALWAYS BRAVE.
AZ Anna Maria Mason, the Uciress of
AunI0ston Island. She Shone I'm
Capital city society and Enter
tanned Princes.

All great men have had good mothers.
| and recent events recall some reminis-
cencos Of We olden days, when F1tzhugh
Lees mother was a young girl, wife, and
matron.
George Mason, one Of the great states
men Of our early American history, and
one OF the trainers OF our American Con-
sttution Of liberty. was at the time Of
his death possessor Of large tracts Of
land in Virginia. and numerous slaves.
so that each one OF his children came
TO a handsome property. His third son.
John. inherited Analostan Island with
| other property in Virginia. There he
| built q beautiful home. and furnished
| ii with luxury and comfort, making the
grounds around it a perfect bower of
flowers and beauty. Thither he brought
| his young wife. nee Munay, from the
Eastern Shore of Maryland. and this
| lovely island home soon became the cen
tire Of attraction, where wealth, aristo-
| cracy, and genius crowded its halls and
| partook of its generous hospitality.
To this couple, nearly ninety years
| ago. was born their youngest child, Anna
| Maria, the subject of this sketch.
Brought up on almost the outskirts Of
| Washington. she tells many an interest
| ing story of those days. when our ma
| tiOnal capital was comparatively new
! and insignificant. AS a school girl she
was the intimate friend and confidante
| Of Louise Morris, the darling child of a
| proud and wealthy family, and during
| that school time her little friend aoped
! with billy" COrcoran. then poor and
/ unknown, afterward the great phlan-
| thropist. who, for the sake and love of
| his girl wife and her daughter. founded
| that beautiful charity, the Louise Home
/ and enriched Washington with his grand
! art gallery. She was also friend and
neighbor Of the unfortunate Mexican
| eXiles, the Iturbides, of whom she had
/ much to relate, and also of the escaped
/ nun, SISTER Agnes who. after fleeing
/ the convent walls, renowned her faith
and entered the social whirl of the city.
| one of the most interesting stories she
| tells of those days was that on one Occa-
| sion her father, General Mason, who had
| spent much Of his life in France. brought
! home with him I'm his carriage two young
| Frenchmen, whom he introduced as Mes
sieurs Egalite; her mother and the older
| members of the family were requested to
| treat them with great consideration and
| honor
After several days. spent pleasantly,
| the young men left with sincere thanks
| for Kindness received. Nothing more was
| thought about IL. as guests I'm those days
| were no uncommon Occurrence-Old
| homes being centres of abundance, hOspi-
| tally. and welcome. Some years after
the French Minister drove up to their
door, and after entering. desired to meet
| the entire family, and to them rendered
! the thanks Of Louis Philippe and his
| royal brother for the generous kindness
| they received as Messeurs Egalite. He
| also presented. in their name, to General
| and Mrs. Mason a substantial and eX-
! quisite service of silver.
BELLE OF ANALOSTON.
! Anna Maria grew up to be a great
beauty and belle. and was known as the
! beautiful Mamie Mason, Of the island"
! She spent many of the happy days of her
| girlhOod at Mount Vernon and Airing
| ton, and it was at the latter place that
| she met Lieutenant Sydney Smith Lee.
| United States navy. an elder brother Of
| Robert r.. Lee, who was at that time
married to Mary Gusts, of Arlington.
| This meeting resulted in cOurtship and
] marriage. the ceremony being performed
| in old Christ church. Alexandra, Va.
| General Joseph f.. Johnston was one OF
their groomsmen, and afterward remark
| ed that there never stood before a min
lister a more beautiful couple" Por-
| traits taken Of them in those early bridal
! days represent Lieutenant Lee as a strik-
! ngly handsome man, dark as a Spaniard
in style costumed in full naval uniform,
while his bride has a lovely, piquant face,
| with rosy cheeks, brown eyes, and clus-
| tering. dark-brown curls. She is attired
| in crimson velvet, trimped with white
| swansdOwn. They at first made their
| home in Washington. where her beauty
| great wit and vivacity soon made her the
| admiration and centre of the social circle.
! During Buchanan's administration Cap
| tain and Mrs. Lee were intimate friends
| and frequent guests Of Miss Harriet
| Lane, then the accomplished and grace
! full mistress of the White House. When
! the young Prince of Wales paid that
! long-renembered visit to the United
| States, of course, the President had 10
| give him a State dinner Mrs. Lee. being
one of the guests, went in on the arm of
| the Duke of Newcastle, and was seated
next TO the Prince. She relates many
| amusing incidents of that dinner, of AL
| bert Edwards bOyishness and gaucherie.
| He greatly desired to have a dance after
ward. but the President had TO politely
decline. as it was not customary.
At their country home. "Claremont,"
| near Alexandria. on the 18th of NOvem-
Der. 1885. their oldest son was born, and
named Fitzhugh, after a beloved friend
! Mrs. Fitzhugh, of RavenwOrth: five Other
| sons were born to them, and all grew
| to manhood and were gallant sailors and
| soldiers during the civil war Mrs. Fitz
! hugh became the godmother and devoted
! friend and patron of the young Fitzhugh
| and no doting mother could have watched
over his welfare and development with
more pride and devotion.
LEES STAR OF HOPE.
When the civil war commenced Captain
! Lee resigned in the United States navy
| and. like his illustrious brother. Offered
his sword to his native State. Mrs. Lee
went with him to Richmond, leaving al
! their property i'm the hands of the enemy
| During those four years Of hardship
honor. and carnage Mrs. Lee was never
! Respondent. Always bright and hopeful
| she was the comfort and sustainer OF al
| around her. Robert +. Lee often spoke
with great admiration of her courage
and brightness in those gloomy days, and
! called her the star OF Hope" With heI
, sons and husband and many other be-
| loved relatives in the front of battle, she
never once lost heart. James Mason, sc
! long prominent as a United States sena-
| tor. was her brother, and during the wal
was sent as the Confederate Minister To
| England. and was engaged in that IA
NOUS escapade, "the Mason and Slidell
affair
when the war ended she returned with
| a IN a