The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-03
LOVERS

who knew and appreciated her merits,
enjoyed her confidence. and notwith-
standing the widest divergence of politl-
cal views and feelings maintained social
Intercourse with her. during the war as
well as before it and after it. /, with all
due respect to her memory and to the
sentiments of her distant adniring
friends. dissent from these statements.
As TO friends: Her father. a man
of business, who stood we'll in the COM
nercial class and socially. came from
the North. He prospered. and by the
| patronage of a siave-holdirg people. 10
whom is his hardware store. he sold
thousands of implements for shares to
work with. He built a comfortable
! home, handsomely furnished and sur
rounded by grounds which were gene
rousy beautiful Before the war tho
family was enabled, hy the profits de-
rived from patrons who lived upon tina
products of slave labor. to entertain
handsomely their Northern and their
southern friends Intelligent and re-
fined people found congenial society at
their home. and distinguished strangers
from foreign lands were. with commen-
dable public spirit. invited to partake OF
the attractive hospitality there dlsouEsed,
without regard to their scrupieS aoout
enjoying bountes derived from the toll
family had friends and relatives among
the people of Richmond. But their friends
and relatives at the North were nurne-
rous and their associations very intimate.
and there Miss Elizabeth spent mucn OF
her time. Therefore her pronounced
opinions. when the war began. while
they deprived her of Southern friends.
drew her Northern ones more closely to
her
AS TO risk of fortune: These opin-
ions procured for her the favor OF the
United States Government, which brought
TO her pecuniary advantages far exceed
ing any that she lost, besides the emolu-
nents of the Richmond post-ottice whicH
she held for so many years after t-ta
war. It is probable that others came 10
her. -
AS to comfort. health, life itself" Sc
Was never ulolested in her home. ~
never threatened. her property "
ccnfscated, as was the property OF Nh.
is,er of the gospel. in frer vicinity, no
went away. while she remained and d.
fed the Southern Confederacy - Nc.
rcunced it on the streets and b.
It's enemies in her house, and secTe-'-
furnished information to the commando!
of the invading army. Her inflanlmas9T3
speeches were made known to III
yost marshal by one or more witnesses,
whom he summoned, and her secret pro-
ceeCiings We're suspected, but he TOOK 70
t.stsps for her arrest, and 1t was SenetaitH
believed that the commanding general o.
| the city. out of respect to her sex and
| her Southern associations. protected her.
| She did and said what she pleased Sha
vas allowed to visit the prisons. "hefs
| officers and privatss OF the Northern army
| were confined. apd the most that | ever
he. rd her complain Of was lie indifferent
| peIiteness of the Southern officers In
;,t,
diligence in searching the interior OF a
chahng-dish, on which she had sent some
Ceucacy to Federal officers. to see IL
comrnunicaa tons for General Grant. or
President Lincoln, rather than hot water.
Mere net hidden In the secret place.
which watchfulness on the part q thess
functionaries was very corlmeudahle.
I claim that by the protection received
from the Confederate Government. Miss
Elizabeth was bound to withhold aid ana
comfort from it's enemies. | dare say
l,she was conscientious. because think sne
was fanatical. But place in contrast the
| rahavior of Southern merchant ~Ho'
OF account of his business and ms fanny.
w:.r compelled to remain in New forE
Civ during the war He was known 10
he in full sympathy with the South. oue
his prudence and sense OF honor vera
so we'll known and so trusted that ne was
permitted to visit Southern prisoners III
Northern prisons. and. with otheF south'
eraers 70 minister to their wants. oHa
night there came to his mousse Seuns
Southern soldier. who had escaped from
prison. and asked for protection and for
assistance to return home. Such an ap-
peal 70 sympathy and patriotism natufd.y
touched the heart OF the merchant. nal ne
cardidly ted the young Confederate tuat
he vas bound in honor not to aoass ina
privileges that he had received. anu thete-
Ito az hoT GG.
AZ further illustrates the forhearanca
of the Confederate Government towards
| tha van Lew family. may remark that
en- Far as know there was no conhsca-
ton OF the property of MISS Etizabe
brother when he went away through the
lines during the war
n NAV be argued that the use OF the
VOID ..rfsked" in the epitaph. implies
siref,,r consequences that would have
| orsf,ad TO Miss Elizabeth il the Southern
C,1nfeIeracy had been victorious. But
II 60 active and jealous an enemy was
nat rolested during the war, it is sats
IN saw that she would never have been
disturbed after it had ended in our favor.
She lived 10 the age of eightytwo: a
lorr life for martyr. out she had
god constitution and a yivacious tenn
neranent, and was very kindly defended
bv the two g-4ernments under which
she resided.
Many regretted the loss to the social
circle in which she moved before tho
war. but social separation was inevita-
t!e. YET while criticising her public
character. the writer and others may
claim to have never failed in sympathy
for her in the personal sorrows OF lie
Of which she had her share. The thu
sion OF the epitaph will carry to pos
terity some great mistakes.
Some IN Richmond may remember
commodore Of the United States navy.
who was detained within our lines on
his parol ef honor. and who for con-
siderable part of the four years OF inc
war was a member OF the Van Lew
family. He walked our streets. mingled
with our people. but never by act or
--ord excited the least suspicion OF any
sertic;pasion in any proceedings N.Y.
|. rious t, the Southern Confederacs.