New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-13
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL.
THE MOTHER OF FITZHUGH LEE WHO
HAS RECENTLY DIED, AND HER
INTERESTING LIFE.
CYRUS ADLER'S WORK IN ENGLAND-rRANS-
FERRING BIG sKELErONS-A NEW
SIAMESE ENVOY.

FERRING BIG sKELErONs-A NEW
sIAMEsE ENVOY
Washington, Nov 1.-THE explosion at the
Capitol Sunday conveys a warning which
Congress would do well to heed. Happily the
valuable papers archives Of priceless worth,
having important and incaculable value to the
students and writers Of history, while damaged
to some extent were not entirely destroyed, and
It is hoped can bs restored but that they
not consumed by fire or soaked with water Is
not owing to any precaution taken by the
thorites having them in charge. The shiftless
manner in which the state papers stored
has long been "A public scandal, and Congress
and the off, ias having the care of these valu-
! able documents have frequently been urged to
gather the precious manuscripts together in
| lireproof building specially arranged for their
preservation. whore they would be accessible to
| scholars and students 1t is a pet idea with Mr..
Young and his staff that these papers should be
deposited in the Library If Congress but it mat
tiers little where they find resting place
! long they accessible TO the students of to-
day and are preserved for posterity.
/ The mother Of Fitzhugh Lee who died recently
/ at the advanced age OF ninety years, before
the days belle in Washington Her
| father. John Mason. the of that il
| lustrous patriot and statesman George Mason,
one Of the trainers Of the American Constitu-
ton. From his father Mr. Mason, who was at
one time United States Senator and an actor in
the Mason -Slide affair. inherited Anacostia
Island. His daughter subsequently Mrs. Zee,
known in her young womanhood as beau
tful Mamie Mason, Of the island and reigned
supreme in the hearts of the aristocratc young
nabobs Of the locality
Mrs. Lees girlhood was passed mainly at Ar
lngton and Mount Vernon. 1t was at the for
MGR historic place that she wooed and won
by Lieutenant Sydney Smith Lee elder brother
OF General Robert f. Lee, who resigned his com
mission in the United States Navy to accept one
in the Confederacy Mrs. Lee was an excep-
tiona woman. Beautiful in persGn forceful in
intellect, spiritual in character. she retained all
those traditions 20 which Southern women owe
their charm.
The friend and companion OF the clever men
and beautiful women Of her day Mrs Lee
whose mind remained clear and uncouded to the
end, was wont to chat interestingly of the hap
penlngs OF a half-century ago to those who
were admitted to her intimacy. One of her
| most cherished experiences was the meeting
OF NJ. Egaite and his brother. who were for
! several days guests under her fathers roof
charming all during their visit by their sprghtly
| conversation and polished manners NJ Egaite
| was will be recalled, Louis Philippe and
years afterward in appreciation OF the hospital
ity shown HIM, Mr.. and Mrs Mason received from
| that royal parsonage the gift OF solid silver
service, exquisite in design and workmanship
Mrs Lee had the privilege also OF meeting the
Prince Of Wales when he visited this country
having been a guest at the dinner given in his
honor by President Buchanan when her friend
and intimate, Harriet Lane Johnston. presided.
Her escort on that occasion was the Duke Of
Newcastle. and she had the good fortune of be-
ing seated next to Albert Edward, Of whose
! vivacity Of manner and gayety Of spirits she
preserved most pleasant recollection.
| With the other members OF her family Mrs
Lee sympathzed with the South, and during the
four years Of the Civil War remained in Rich
mond, cheering those about her during that pc
riod Of dependency and despair carrying COM
| fort and help wherever she went, and winning
| by her cheerfulness, courage and Levotion the
! sobriquet star Of Hope" from her brother-in-
law, General Robert f. Lee. With Mrs. Lee
passed fine soul the best type Of a woman Of
| the last generation.
| DR.. Cyrus Adler, Librarian Of the Smithsonian
Institution, has returned from London where Re
conference held at Burlington House on an In