Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-29
A TRIBUTE TO MRS. LEE.

| printed the folioWlnR:
Despite the modesty and reserve that
have characterized her life, Mrs. Fl q
hagh Lee is becoming an object of ma
tional interest, as the present pre- Carl
Gus position OF her husband, American
consul at Cuba, makes him to-day one
of the most prominent living Ameri
cans. During her married life, Mrs.
Lee has been content to bask in the
sunshine of the honor5 paid to her hus-
hand. She reluctantly came into public
! l'f9 when General Lee, as Governor OF
Virginia, brought her and their child
ren from the family seat, in Stafford,
Va, to preside in the executive man
sion in Richmond. Her first appear
ance there was like the introduction OF
an old time court beauty into modern
society, for, although little over 40
years of age, Mrs.. Lee had preserved
the manner, customs, and even the
voice OF the women of the sold regime" "
7 She had preserved, too, type of beauty
that is unique now, and her portraits
hsve that contour and digaity of eX
preston and pose inseparabfe from the
eals one has tf the grand danes OF
he old South. Artists clamored for
her portrai s, aud Millard Cox, now OF
Atlanta, painted liiesized portrait of
Mrs Lee that in its conception of her
individual type portrays her as one OF
the southern beauties of the day
Though Mrs. Lee is so typically
woman OF the old regime, she is in Ell
ire sympathy with the progress Of
Homen, and has fosteied in her chill
iren those quail les of mind and heart
hat have enabled them TO cope with,
rs we'll as worthiJy fill, the position III
The world TO which their birth and
| pr ominence enti:le them.
Highly educated herself, Mrs. Lee
has personally interested herself in the
education of her children, aud though
living quietly most of ber unmarried
life, she has kept we'll ABREAST of jhe
times and made the interests OF her
husband the p'iaciple of her life. After
removing 10 Richmond she became
greatly courted and admired. She al
peared in her salon so nearly like the
old-time beauties of long ago hat she
inspired men with that chivalry that
breathes of reverence to womankind
and makes them veritable queens ID
the eyes of cavalier men.
Among Mrs. Lees acquaintances in
Atlanta is Mrs. Charles Rad, whose
father. General Brent, was u brigadier
general on Lees staff during the late
war. Though Mrs. Read was but
httIe girl at the time, she vividly re-
calls the picture presented at the we'd
ding of General Lee and his wife
Il was too little," she explained, in
reference to the occasion, ITO be Q
guest, but l remember well peering
through the window and seeing the
wedding party. My older sister wa-
among those in after dance, and |
thought that entitled me to look in
from the ou side.
The wedding occurred at the home
OF the BRIDES uncle, Mr.. Phil Hoce, in
Alexandria, Va, and was one typicaily
southern. The house was of the old
colonial style, with the immense white
pillars in front. The interior was a
| wilderness OF white flowers and pretty
Young womer for the bride, as Nellie
Fowle, was known and beloved by
everybody. She was queenly in her
wedding robes of pure white, and | can
vivdly recall the splendor Of her love
ly brown eyes and that peculiar jovial
clint in the eyes of the rather elderly
bridegroom. General Lee, as you
know" continued Mrs. Read, sis much
his wfe's senior, as she was only Is at
the time of her marriage.
The match was most congenlsl
one, and Mrs. Lee, in her gu ct lite ct
the country seat, typi6ed the woman
satisfied in the happiness of domestic
life.
"I am sure that nothing reconcles
Mrs. Lee to the publicity given her love
present, save the fact that in her t
for and pride in Ter husband she el-
tirely forgets that she, too, is figure
OF national interest,"