The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-23


adversely. I must abide her iortones and
share her fate" He was requested 10 ao.
Dept the vicc-ohancellorship Of the Uni.
verslty Of the South at Bewanee, Tenn
but declined on the ground that Il waa
UNCONVENTIONAL. To some suggestions tina,
he should connect himself with the Uni.
verstty Of Virginia he objected because
It was q State, institution. No such OBJ
lection was applicable TO Washington COL
lese at Lexington, Va, OF which he was
asked to become the president In An
gust. 1895. This institution. which had
been handsomely endowed by Gen. Wash
ington, had In the summer Of 1855. reached
the lowest point Of depression which 1t had
ever known. IL had only q local reputation.
Its invested funds were unproductive, il
was indiHerently equipped with building
1t had but four professors and about forty
students. The salary which 1t could afIord
to pay Ito president was very meagre
Nevertheless, Gen. Leo accepted the ap-
pointment, and, In October, 1885, entered
on tho duties incident thereto. The only
ground on which no hehtated TO assume
the presidency Of the college was stated
In letter 10 the trustees In which he said.
Being excluded from the terms Of am
nesty in the proclamation Of the President
Of the United States Of May 20, 1856, and an
object Of oensure to q portion Of the country,
I have thought II probable that my oocu-
patton Of the position Of president might
draw upon tho college feeling OF hostility;
and should, therefore, cause injury 10 an
institution which It should he my highest
desire TO advance. think 1t the duty OF
every citizen In the present condition OF
tho country to do all In his power to aid in
the restoration Of peace and harmony,
and In no way to oppose the policy Of the
State or general Government directed to
that object. 1t IL particularly incumbent
on those charged with the instruction Of the
young to set them an example Of submis.
sion to authority, and could not consent
to be the cause Of animadversion upon the
college. Should you, however, take
different view, and think that my services
In the postion rendered to mo by the board
will be advantageous to the college and
country. will yield TO your judgment and
accept It. Tho board Of trustees adopted
and sent TO Gen. Lee resolutions TO the
effect that In spite Of his objections his
connection with the institution would, 10
their Judgment, greatly promote its pros
perity and advance the general interests
OF education. Thenceforth, during the
Ave years that he had to live. Gen Lee
devoted himself entirely to the improve
nent of the institution Of which he became
the head. An offer that he should preside
over q large business house intended to
represent Southern commerce In the Ameri-
reside In New York, and have placed at his
- L.
declined. saying: Il am grateful. but l
have a seli-imposed task which 1 must
accomplish. have led the young men Of
the South In battle; have seen many Of
them die on the field; shall devote my re-
naming energies to training young men
to do their duty In life." On similar grounds
he had declined proposal that he should
become tho president Of the Southern Life
Insurance Company Of Atlanta. Ga.
Gen. Lee died In his house at Lexington
on Oct IL. 1870. His physician attributed
his death In great measure to moral causes.
The strain Of his campaigns. the bitterness
Of defeat, sympathy with the subsequent
sufYerings Of the Southern people and the
effort to maintain calnness under these
accumulated sorrows slowly but steadily
undermined his health and led to his death.
To those, howe YER. who beheld his unwaver-
ing oomposure under the greater and lesser
trials Of his life and his hahitual forbearanoe
under unjust and uncharitAble criticism,
1t seemed scarcely credible that soul
ostensibly 90 serene could be shaken by the
owls that ragged around him. His mind
sank TO It's last repose almost with the
equipoise Of health few utterances
that evinced at times a wandering intellect
were due to the remedies administered.
As long as consciousness remained his will
ruled. and even when stupor laid it's hand
on his intellectual perceptions the moral
nature still asserted itself A Southern
poet has celebrated In song his last eignih-
can't words: Strike the TENT aud many
an old comrades heart has thrilled 10 the
uncertain sound which came from Lees
lips, when he murmured: Tell Hill he must
come upl' These calculations show most
touchingly through what fields the imagi-
nation Of the dying warrior was passing.
His words, however were few. For the
most part. his silence was unbroken He
left his deeds TO speak for him.
NJ " II