Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-21
HENRY LEE, OF VIRGINIA.
Half-BrOther OF "Marse Bob"-Mem-
hers of that IIIustriOus Family.

Ex-Governor Wise, I'm the Seventh De-
cades Of the Union" relates that Henry
Lee, OF Virginia, was, we may say, resi-
dent for the time with him General
Andrew aJcksom at the Hermitage, as
he was engaged in writing for his cleo
ton Qn 1929 some of the finest campaign
papers ever penned in this country. one
Of Lees fugitive pieces, on the death OF
an Indian youth, the son of a chief, who
was killed at the battle of the Horseshoe,
whom the General Gackson) had taken
as godson, an orphan OF one Of his VIC
tories, is a precious pearl OF poetry in
prose.
He was not handsome as his half
brother General Robert r. Lee, but
rather ugly in face-a mouth without
line OF the bow of Diana about it, and
nose not cut clean and classic, but rather
meaty, and, If we may make word,
"blood-beety"; but he was one or the
most attractive men in conversation we
have ever listened TO. Alas! Alas! that
such a man, so gifted, should have had
to write as he did, long afterwards, from
Paris. where he was not allowed 10 be
consul, that everything had turned 10
the bitterness OF ashes in his taste" He,
Harry Lee, who was so severe upon Mr..
Jefferson. and his writings, because or
mis- "Arcana," about his father, Light
Horse Harry Lee, of the Revolution was
then. In fact, the entertaining host or
the Hermitage and attracted the crowd
of visitors around his glowing words Of
commentary on the election"
WHERE Is THIS PEARL.
As the Dispatch is supposed to be full
headed on all subjects, and on many that
are not treated by the encyclopedias,
will It be good enough to look for the
pearl so admrngly suggested by Nir-
ginia's heroic old Governor and tell me
where IT lies hid?
This Harry Lee / know 10 be a prolific
writer. There are two or three books
Of his He was an erratic, like Poe
regular and supreme only when ne
breathed the atmosphere OF art.
BY the way, what remarkable men
nearly all the Lees have been. Then
take Charles Carter, eldest brother OF
Robert. who was probably the bright
est OF them all. He was a writer, an
orator. politician. He sat in the Vir-
ginia House of Delegates, a member from
the county of Powhatan. When an angry
debate had taken place in the House be-
tween the East and the West, on ques-
ton of suffrage, and the West, oyerborne
nv the East. threatened secession,
Charles Carter Lee arose amid the dis
cord. his eyes softened with tears, his
lips quiverng with emotion, and begged
the members to remember they We're
Virginans. George Wythe Munford,
Clerk OF the House. ceased his labors
at the desk, and looked admiringly at
the orator with a smile l shall never
forcet-it was as sweet as the smile OF
a woman who loves and is beloved.
Lee concluded his appeal to the MEM
bers with the well-known passage from
the Lay Of Last Minstrel
Breathes there a man with soul so dead,
Who never 10 himself hath said,
This is my own, my native, land!
These lines. down TO the sixteenth were
rendered I'm a most affecting tone that
charmed. so it seemed to me, all VINO
heard them.
| see that chiyalric man now-near the
right Of the main aisle, midway between
,he Chair and the main door. All eyes
are fixed upon him, the House Is on tip
toe no more noises. no more angry ges-
ticulations. kind feeling at length pre-
vails and motion to adjourn is carried,
nobody dissenting. = NJ W.