The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-25


week recalls to my msnd an interview = J
had with him when travelling round the
southern States shortly after the close
\ OF the great Confederate var OF 1875.
i III which he had commanded the cavalry
OF Northern Virginia. 1t was IN Rich
nond that met him. He was In the
prime !, Of life--a tall. stout. florld man.
With certain loneliness OF carriage Of
tener met with In the South at that time
than III the North.
4 The war had set the negroes free, III
he course Of conversation with him. !
asked him about Southern feeling on the
subject. He said: ut is not 50 much
emancipation that we complain OF as the
way In which 1t has been brought about
and the uae that Is being made OF IT."
he added 81 think most people In the
south expected that time would come
for emancipation. but It was thing
that needed time and patience. Z,
When i inquired as to his uncle zen IN
I. general Zee docs not say much on po-
lItical questions. But he was always for
gradual emancipation. During the war
Il he was In favoraof arming the negroes
and wrote about it, But his advice was
only taken when it was too late"
\ asked him what the Southern leaders
thought Of the position OF this country
during the war. 1--WE looked arlxiously
in your, direction he replied. we knew
y We had the sympathy OF some classes
there. Rllt we suspected that Great Brit
ain would never recognize nation ike
ours that seemed to commit Itself TO slav-
cry" .5s {. I. . z,
4 Shortly after my Interview with General
Fitzhugh Lee ! went away up TO 1e e;s-
ington to see his unele and to visit the
grave of Stonewall Jackson. Tho great
sx-conma pder OF the Confederate armies
IN Vireinia was now acting as president
Of washington College. Lees College
+ as 1t had come TO be called, situated IN
what one gentleman In the hotel de-
scrlbsd ms the tout squlrts"Hof Lexlng,
+, ton. When the war was over, General
Lee had told his old. officers and soldiers
3 that they had all done their best and
failed and that their wise and dutnul
course now was to accept the arpltra-
ment OF war TO put aside all hostile feel
K Ing and accept whatever honest calllngs
were open to them In civil life, He had
4 shown a poble example BY accepting ths
presldentship OF the college at Lexing-
ton.
At tho time OF my visit. the number
Of Students, formerly mere handful.
had Increased to q bout -four hundred. The
professors with whom had the oppor-
tlInity OF conversing all spoke OF the
striking Influence that General Lee had
4 exercised for good over them all and bow
easy discipline had become IN spite o.
Z the fiery spirits OF some Of the students.
1T was one of Lees duties as president,
to admonisll defaulters, and one Of the!
professors declared to me that such was
the profound veneration In which Lee was
held Throughout the South that he be-
y Iieved there were students in college. who
would rather shoot themselves than ap-
pear before Lee In disgra CO.
My first meeting with Lee was In the
g room reserved for the use Of the college,
president t4There he was occupied for the
4 greater part of the day In writing.
found him dressed In one Of his old mill
tary coats, stripped OF all Its former de-
coratons: A singularly noble looking
man he was tall, stra ght and soldier like
with crisp hair turning white. short
trimmed heard pointed at the chin and
and searching. Ills manners were quietl
and dignified and there was a good deal
OF the old English cavalier In his look
and bearlng. 5.s;55. 5.4
81 4 knew from, what his sonshad told me
that Lee was very retcent on political
subjects, bit remember to this day
how amused was wheA sitting at table
with Mrs, Lee and himself to tice-as
/ could not fall to do-the admirable DELI
the conversation threatened to become
political. he contriyed to turn II into an,
II other channel, When, e. g,8I preached
the subject Of the colored people. Lee, as
IL he were going tn enter into the sub
ject remarked that they We're hocking In