The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-14

personal danger, arrived in Topeka to-
day at noon from st. Joseph.
There is little in the kindly face and
merry laugh of the old warrior to indi-
cate the resolute courage of the man.
He is mOdest-much more so than most
soldiers and has little to say about his
personal experiences even when pressed
to discuss them.
This is General Lees first visit to To-
peka. He did spend some time when
young soldier just out of West Point,
fighting Indians in the southwest but he
says that he does not remember that he
was in Kansas at that time. One would
gather from conversation that General
Lee was not certain about what kind of
a reception he would meet. 1t is certain
that he did not anticipate that there
would be much of a scramble to see
him.
He was therefore greatly surprised
when the Rock Island train drew up at
Horton short time before u o'clock to
see at least 500 people on the depot
platform waiting for him. The crowd
was made up of men, women and child
rem who had heard that General Lee
was passing through and who were
there to get a glimpse of him. Ed 3.
Jones was the chief figure in the crowd
and had much to do with plotting them
to the depot to see the distinguished
visitor
Gen Lee was chatting with ex-Gover-
nor Morrill, when the train came in.
Hello. what does this mean?" he in
quired. Mr. Jones, who had secured an
order FOR the train to be held five min
utes rushed down the aisle of the car.
They want to see you, general said
he.
oh that is it, responded the veteran.
Where shall 1 go?"
He was piloted to the rear platform
of the car and the people gathered
around in a dense throng.
Ladies and gentlemen" he said, "it
gives me great pleasure to see you here.
am deply grateful for the honor you
do me. 1 am not unmindful of the fact
that you are here to meet a man who
did his best to make two unions grow
where one had grown before but | am
satisfied that l did not succeed to any
alarming extent L am glad that the
union still lives and let us all do what
we can to make it the greatest and the
grandest union on the face of the
earth. L am now a soldier of the United
States and am proud to wear the blue
uniform of union Soldier.'
General Lees brief speech was fire.
quently interrupted by applause, and as
he spoke the last word the conductor
shouted "All aboard" and the train
started.
A delegation of Topeka people, head
ed by Major A. NJ. Harvey, commander
of the Spanish-American war veteran
camp, met the train at Holton to escort
General Lee to Topeka.
There was a touch Of WEAKNESS in the
face of the old soldier. He explained
it by saying that he could not sleep the
night before on the way from Chicago
because the Pullman was too hot. II
am glad" said he, that 1 will meet the !
governor and citizens of Topeka this
afternoon but if l can get away L would
like to get at least forty winks of sleep
before the lecture
DO you know" said General Lee. |
Il left home in Virginia ten days ago |
and everywhere the ground has been |
covered with snow. 1t is pretty hard !
of Cubano. What would they say down |
at Havana if they could get a snow like |
this? 1t is likely if it had come while |
the Spaniards were there it wouldn't |
have been so hard to get them out
do you think that Cubans are pre-
pared for Independence" asked ex- |
Broderick who had board |
ed the train at Holton.
well, that is entirely problematical." !
responded General Lee I'VE will soon j
know after the republican government !
is instituted on May 1. 1t will soon De |
Of self government OF course Cuba Is |
one of the richest countries on earth If
the government is a success 1 would |
not be surprised to see a strong annex |
alton party spring up. If we admit |
their sugar and other products free |
there will be no limit to the develop I,
ment of Cuba"
H. G.. Larimer who was one of the |
party who met General Lee remarked |
the absence of the beard usually seen |
N General Lees pictures.
'.Oh it got too hot for a beard while |
was in Cuba and l cut it off" replied |
General Lee.
..You met General Funs+o, while Vor |