The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-04-05
ROBERT EDWARD LEE.
incidents in the Life Of the n ation's Great
General.

leral.
Journal.
his subsequent life. Robert did the
marketing, attended to housekeeping
duties, managed outdoor affairs, look
ed after his mother horses and acted
the olittle man to an extent and with
discretion unusual in boy OF his
age. His warm affection for his moth
er undoubtedly had It's share in this
devotion to duties usually distasteful
to growing lads, and it was particular
/ " shown in the pathetically earnest
care which he took Of his sister inva
lid. Discarding schoolboy frolics he
would hurry home from his studies to
/ see that his mother had her daily
drive, and might be seen carrying her
to her carriage, afectionately arrang-
ing her cushions, and earnestly en-
deavoring to entertain her, gravely as
suring her that unless she was cheer
full she would derive no benefit from
her airing.
One of the near relatives Of Robert
4. Lee said Of the youthful character
and habits Of the boy: II remember
him we'll as boy ats school to Mr..
Leary at the Alexandria academy and
afterward at school to Mr.. Hallowell. J.
when his school was in the house now
occupied by Mr. Turner. and his
mother lived next door. J. recollect
his uniformly correct department at
school and elsewhere and his atten-
tion to his studies. What impressed
me most in my youthful days was his
devotion to his mother who. as you
know, was for many years an invalid.
She used to say he was son and daugh-
ter to her. He was her housekeeper,
relieved her of all domestic cares,
looked after the horses, rode out in
the carriage with her aud did the
marketing for the family
HIS SCHOOL DAYS.
When it was fully decided that
Robert should prepare himself for ad-
mission to West Point he was sent
with this object to the school Of Mr..
(, Benjamin Hallowell, an able teacher
of mathematics and we'll suited to
give the youthful aspirant the neces-
sary preliminary education. His re-
cord in this school can best be shown
by the following letter from Mr.. Hal
lowell:
"Robert e. Lee entered my school
in Alexandria, Va, in the winter of
1824-25 to study mathematics. He
was most exemplary student in ey-
cry respect. He was never behind
time at his studies; never failed in a
single recitation; was perfectly OBJ
servant Of the rules and regulations of
the institution: was gentlemanly, un-
obtrusive and respectful in all his de-
pertinent to teachers and his fellow
students. His specially was finishing
up. He impaired finish and neat
ness, as he proceeded, to everything he
undertook. y
In the year 1929, at the completion
of Roberts four years course at West
point, he graduated, carrying off the
second highest honors Of the institu-
tion. During his whole course he had
never received demerit mark for any
breach Of rules or neglect Of duty. He
was highly esteemed by his comrades
and was noted for studious habits and
commendable conduct. He avoided
tobacco and Intoxicating liquors, used
no profane or immoral language, and
throughout his whole student life per-
formed no act which his pious mother
could not have fully approved.
Immediately after his graduation he
received the appointment Of second
lieutenant of engineers in the army OF
the United States and was employed
for several years thereafter on the sea
coast defences in engineering dut6.
!, A letter from relative Of Robert
Lee says:
''There is one trait in Gen. Lees
character which I must mention here,
which was his beautiful neatness and
love Of order. Young men are very apt
to think it beneath them, and little to
give much attention to these small
matters, and l have often brought up
to those Of my own family the beauti-
! full neatness of Robert Lee. His wife