Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-28
GEN. LEES NAIL BAG
MS CORRESPONDENTS has As
StMED COLOSSAL. PROPORTIONS.
1T INCLUDES MANY UNIQUE SPECIMENS
over GOO Numbered Letters Answered
In n Few Da>s-Mnny Persons Claim
Mnn-PoIiticians aud the Crnuks

laIen 10 the lot OF General FitZhugn
Lee since he began 20 III such a large
place in the public eye Is an immense
correspondence, which occupies him for
several hours each day, and keeps not
only his private secretary. Mr. j. Adair
Peasants. busny employed. but two
other stenographers. The character of
this correspondence Is many sided. as
may we'll be imagined it includes letters
OF fulsomc adulation. letters imploring
f9vOrs great and small; gathering offers
for magazine and newspaper articles,
heartrending appeals for news Of Ameri-
cans who are believed TO be the victims
Of Spanish treachery in Cuba, and last,
bat not least the humorous, If unwhole-
some screed OF a multitude of cranks.
EVERY LETTER is ANSWERED.
This widespread notorety is decidedly
distastcful TO General Lee, yet he in
sists on answering every letter, either
personally or through his private secre-
tary, and he is often in his library en-
gagged in. this work for six and seven
hours at q stretch. Mr.. Peasants said
TO "a Dispatch man last night
that he had never before been
engaged i'm such interesting work. In
Difference to the wishes of General Lee.
he could not give any particular infor-
nation as to the correspondence, but in
a general way he talked Of his methods
of classifying and disposing OF the I'M
mense volume Of letters.
Since last Tuesday. it has been learned
from Il reliable source that Mr.. Peasants
has written and dictated no less than
six hundred letters. From Tuesday to
Friday he took q great many from dc
tatiou. and on Friday General Lee gave
TO Mr. Peasants the historic bundle or
letters from the state Department, tell
ing him 10 do the best he could with
them.
The list includes communications from
some of the most prominent men IN the
country asking for appointments TO as
cuss affairs and sending CONGRATULATIONS
Roosevelt. Wade McNeigh. CleVeidnu'
Long. Corbiu. and McAdoo among the
number. and OF course, OF Dr. Inomas
| Nelson Page. over four hundred apph-
cations have been received for positions
on General Lees staff many OF them
from persons of whom the COnsul-Gene-
raj has never heard, and these writers
appear to think that the main qualli-
cations TO fill such positions are com
pretended in physical points. But theIe
| are other letters from men VINO are
prominent in all the walks OF NE ana
not a few from men who are among 'he
recognized leaders Of public thought ana
opinion I'm these United states.
incidentally. il may be said that there
will only be nine places on GeileIal
Lees staff and these will be filled by
practical men. who are best adapted TO
the positions
WOULD IMMORTALIZE HIS PEANUTS
There WAS one letter received yester-
dav that is quite unique. 1t came from
large grower of peanuts, and contained
request for permission To brand a GER
tain species of the festive nut with the
name Of Fitzhugh Lee.
Then. too, there are many aspirants lot
a share i'm the fame which General Lee
has achieved, and people who rejoice III
the name Of Lee have written from ell
parts Of the country claiming kinshlp
and stretching the branches of the family
tree until it apparently gathers every
family of that name beneath its renOWh-
ed shade.
Until few days ago General Lee re-
ceived I'm his correspondence numbers or
/ checks. intended for the relief of the re-
concentrates. but during the last day or
So checks received for this object have
! been returned 10 their source for obvious
reasons Innumerable offers have been
made TO induce General Lee TO write arti-
/ cles for newspapers and magazines on
/ the Cuban situation or descriptive Of the
country and its inhabitants. one Of the
most nattering of these WAS from a we'll
! known magazine, and the money conside-
ration was no less than 80 cents word.
After General Lee had declined this OF
fer ne received another letter from the
l h. rfF4ff inn IN
slider the matter and suggesting that the
editor himself should write Ne article
which would be submitted 10 General Lee
for revision IL is needless to say that
this offer was also declined Mr. Plea
SAINTS could give no information as TO
the truth or falsity Of this statement.
An old German soldier has written ask
ing that ne may have the privilege OF
taking charge of General Lees horses
during the prospective campaign, ana TWO
American boys, aged, respectively. Is and
II wears. seek information as TO 'vacan-
cies in th~ American navy or soldiers
WHAT TO ELECT HIM PRESIDENT.
The Chicago people in particular, are
loud i'm their praise of General Lee ana
many of the most enthusiastic letters
come from the Windy city. cubs WIN
OUT regard 10 political atiiliauon' nave
written from all parts OF the country
for the sole purpose of piedging their
e,nnort n. General Lee should perchance
receive the presidential nomination 40
tho next election Others assure him
maj ne is bound TO be elected if he VIII
hermit himself 10 be nominated, ana Oh
Ter ~ exert their influence TO the utmost
TO tins end LII, %
Ladies write. expressing their desire 10
obtain positions as nurses in the cam
naien against Spanish dominion in CUBA
and the General is petitioned 10 use ms
influence I'm behalf of many men ana
,,,roen who are anxious for preferment
of some sort. -.-...a
General Lee remains utterly unmoved,
and indifferent 10 all the praise ana
tad,hation that is heaped upon him. lie
10 the hero of the hour, without, as he
savs knowing the reason why. In MS
genial way he does not take the susso9
lions as 10 the presidency seriously, ana
an the eXtravagant expressions OF au-
rniration pass by him without so hiuch
as disturbing his equanimity IN the ieast
degree. a.
Cuba he will take his private secretary
Win him as one OF his aides, but IN inns
connection Mr.. Peasants said last night
81 have no idea that ] would be conpe-
tent 20 fin such a position. General Lee
win select soldiers and men OF techhSai
stU have no official or formal con-
,,octiop with General Lee at present.
,,as his secretary formerly, and during
,ts visits 10 Richmond l have always Of
fered my services to assist him with ms