The times., 1899-05-10
A Site SELECTED
FOR THE LEE STATUE
To Be Located Oh the Fort
Myer Heights.
An Equestrian Monument to the
Great Southern General.
ID. Il. Trimmer. of Pennsylvania, and
c. l.. Robinson, of This City,
Donate the Ground.

Responsive to the proffer of a site for
the proposed equestrian statue of Gen.
Robert E. Lee, accompanied by an invi-
tation to view the spot, a party of Wash
ington Southern women who have long
been nursing the project of erecting in or
within view of the city a monument to
the revered Southern hero, yesterday after
noon visited Fort Myer Heights. accept
ed the generous gift, and effected a pre-
liminary organization of the Robert f.
Lee Monument Association of the District
of Columbia.
The spot selected is a little less than a
mile from the Virginia end OF the Aque-
duct Bridge and on one Of those numerous
knobs approaching Fort Myer, where one
turning for a look at Washington is
charmed with the beauty of a matchless
panorama. AS seen yesterday from this
point of vantage the National Capital
clothed in its springtime verdure. embrace
ed by the broad siivery band of the Poto-
mac, was a picture of surprising love-
liness. Every salient feature of the city's
architectural eminences loomed symmet-
rically in the clear May sunshine. present.
ing a spectacle of urban comeliness not
to be excelled.
No wonder the interested visitors were
so transported with delight that adjectives
of adulation were well nigh exhausted.
After an ample opportunity had feen
afforded to drink in the beauty of the wide
prospect. with the Washington Monuments s
pure white shaft, the grand old Capitol.
and the dome of the Library of Congress
shining like a big golden star, indelibiy
impressing the memory of the beholders,
the party were called to the place selected
for the monument. Here, responding to
request. John G. Capers, OF the Depart
ment of Justice. in this city, announced
the purpose of the gathering. An election
of officers of the association already named
was promptly completed. They are:
President. Mrs. Florence Vance: Vice
Presidents, Mesdames S. B. Stevenson.
Rusk Smith, Albert Akers and Miss Vir-
ginia Miller: Treasurer. Mrs. Gadsden:
Secretary, Miss Nina ID. Stevenson.
Mr.. Capers was again called upon and
spoke eloquently of the spirit and purpose
of the organization and the object of plac
ing upon this commanding eminence a
fitting statue of one whom Southerners
regarded a matchless example for the emu
lation of all who would do homage to an
American. who was the grandest in war
as he was the noblest in peace.
The donors of the site, Messrs. Daniel
X Trimmer. of York, Pa, and George P
Robinson, of Washington, also spoke ap-
propri3tely. Mr.. Trimmer. being from the
North. his remarks were peculiarly inter-
esting 10 the Southern audience. He made
graceful allusion to the very general re-
spect in which the character of General
Lee is held, saying they all knew there has
been a great change and there is now no
North, nor South. or sectional passion;
heroes on both sides of the old dividing
line were the heroes of all America. He
then formally proffered the site. which was
accepted with applause and many ex-
pressions of gratitude
Among the distinguished Southern
women present, and who declined a nomi-
nation for the presidency of the associa-
tion, were Mrs. Heth the wife of the late
Major General Heth, who distinguished
himself in every great battle fought by
the Army of Northern Virginia 1t is the
design of the association to erect here a
grand and imposing equestrian statue of
General Lee. as he is remembered to have
appeared astride his old white war horse
Trancher. in the last charge at the great
battle of the Wilderness. fought this
month, thirty-fve years ago.
The site is a gloriously beautiful spot.
Two hundred feet above the city. arrival
there discloses just such a panorama of
Washington thousand fold enhanced by
the noble proportions of its growth-as
charmed Baron Won Humboldt three-quar-
ters of century ago. The new military
road, but few hundred feet down the de-
ciivity. winds about the site OF the pro-
posed statue. while the electric railway and
other public roads are almost equally con-
yenent.
When the association had adjourned sub
ject to the call OF the President it had been
decided to meet again this morning at 10
o'clock at the Office of George p. Robinson,
at 1906 G Street northwest. in order fur
ther to perfect the organization. a tele-
gram of greeting TO John B. Gordon, Com
mander of the United Confederate Vet
erans' Association. now in session in
Charleston, was sent last night. 1t an
nounced the purpose TO erect a statue of
General Lee upon Virginia Heights, over
looking Washington.