The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-06-18
LETTER FROM LEE.
EpiStle Written Fifty Years Ago BY Great
SOutherner to His Son.

hlpley, Ienn., May 3l.-Ihe follow
ing is. the text of letter written by
Robert E. Lee to his son in 1859, the
original Of which is in possession of
DR.. j. 7. Fry of Galveston, Texas. At
the recent meeting of the Confederate
reunion at New Orleans a member of
the local camp here secured a copy of
it, and as there is much wisdom and
sound logic embodied therein, and in
view of the fact Shat Lee was so much
admired throughout the country it is of
sufficient interest to claim space. The
following is the letter:
Arlington House,
April 8, 1859.
My Dear Son-I am just i'll the act
of leaving home for New Mexico. My
fine old regiment has been ordered to
that distant region, and l must hasten
on to see that they are properly cared
for. | have but little to add in reply
to your letters of March 26, % and %.
Your letters breathe true spirit of
frankness; they have given myself and
ynur mother great pleasure. You
must study to be frank with the world !;
frankness is the child of honesty and
courage. Say just what you wish to do
on every occasion, and take it for
granted that you mean to do right. If
friend asks favor you should grant
it il it is reasonable; if not, tell him
why you cannot; you will wrong him
and yourself by equivocation of any
kind. Never do wrong thing to make
a friend or keep one; the man who re-
quires you to do so is dearly purchased
at such a sacrifice. Deal kindly but
firmly with all your classmates; you
will find it the policy which wears best.
Above all, do not appear to others
what you are not. If you have any
fault to find with any one, tell him,
not others, of what you complain; there
is no more dangerous experiment than
that OF undertaking to be one thing be-
fore mans face and another behind
his back.
We should live, act and say nothing
to the injury of any one. tits not only
best as matter of principle, but it is
the path to peace and honor.
In regard to duty, let me, in con-
clusion of this hasty letter, inform you
that nearly one hundred years ago
there was day of remarkable gloom
and darkness-still known as the dark
day-a daw when the light of the sun
was slowly extinguished as if by an
eclipse. The legislature Of Connecti-
cut was in session, and as its members
saw the unexpected and nnaccountable
darkness coming on they shared in the
general awe and terror. It was sup
posed by many that the last day, the
day of judgment, had come. Someone
| Al OhO OOADbCA VI LIONOu
an adjournment. Then there arose an
old Puritan legislator, Davenport OF
Stamford, and said if the last day had
come, he desired to be found at his
place doing his duty, and therefore
moved, that candidates be brought in
SO the house could proceed with its
duty. There was quietness in that
mans mind, the quietness Of heavenly
wisdom and infexible Willingness tc
obey present duty. Duty, then, is tht
sublimest word in our language. Dc
your duty in all things, like the ole
J Puritan. You cannot do more; yor
} should never wish to do less. Neve,
! let me and your mother wear one gra,
! hair for any lack of duty on your part
! Your offectionate father,
} r. e. LEE.
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