The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-01-20
ARLINGTON

"At the hour when other schoolboys went
to play he hurried home to order his mothers
drive, and would carry her in his arms to the
carriage, and arrange her cushions with the
eentiencss of an experienced nurse. One Of
his r,iatives, who was often the companion Of
t4Cse drives, still lives. She tells us Of the
e.-er:iOnS he would make to entertain and
Gin;i,c bis mother, assuring her, with the
gravity Of an old man, that unless she was
cheerful the drive would not benefit her.
When she complained OF cold OF draughts
h would pull from his pocket a great jack
knife and newspaper and make her laugh
with his efforts to improvise curtains and
shut out the intrusive wind which whistled
through tie crevices of the old family coach.
"W' hen he left her to go to West Point, his
mot ;cr said: How can live without Roberto
Il both son and daughter to me-
Wears after, when he came homo from
West Point, he found one Of the chief actors
Of lis childhood's drama-hls mothers old
Goldman, 'Nat'-ill and threatened with
consumption He Immediately took him to
the nildcr climate Of Georgia, nursed him
with the tenderness of son, and secured for
him Tho best medical help. But the spring
time saw the faithful old servant laid in the
grave by the hands of his kind young
master"
No man. however renowned In public life,
can be said to have reached q symmetrical
development of character, who is not habitu-
ally courteous and considerate toward those
whom he daily comes in contact. The deh-
ution OF a gentleman given by Princeton
COLLEGE would have fitted General Lee per-
fyctly: Zone who habitually considers the
haDpiness and comfort Of others before his
OWL"
4 ,-1,t ,,t,a, NJ
Leary, OH Irish gentleman, learned and very
Efficient as a teacher. Under his tuition the
future general acquired Il knowledge Of and
foudness for tho classics. The master and
pupil were warm friends throughout life.
When it was decided that lie was to go to
West Point, he entered the school of Mr..
Benjamin Hallowell, who was for many years
q famous teacher i'll Alexandria, in order to
perfect himself in mathematics. Mr.. Halo
well, though a strong Unionist during the
war, always spoke enthusiastically Of Lee.
He was IS years old when he entered
West Point, where he was favorite with
cadets, professors and officers, and was grad
uatcJ second In an unusually brilliant class,
without ever having received single demerit.
! Soon after he was called to the deathbed OF
his mother, whom he nursed to her dying
| hour with the tenderest devotion. he often
! said nat to her he lowed everything"
Eis Marriage and Military Service Un-
der Gen. Scott.
On June 80, 1881, he married Mary Ran
dolpl Custis, only daughter of George Wash
| ElGton Parko Gusts, tho grandson Of Martha
Washington and adopted son Of George Wash
iagton. By this marriage Lieut.. Leo became
frequent resident at Arlington, his wife's
home: the Arlington that had become his
| tUric because of treasures of Washington
contained This antique mansion Il
located on rhe heights opposite W ashlnston
city. The place was also the first camping
ground Of tho Federal army upon its entry
Into Virginia sixty years after Washington's
| death.
! On leaving West Point, Robert E Lee
! received the appointment Of second heuten
cnt in the corps Of engineers, and was first
ordered to Cockspur island, near Savannah.
After his marriage ho was sent to Old Point
Va, where he remained for three years In
1885 he was appointed assistant surveyor