The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-03-30

our poor soldier, her little fingers drop
ping stitches as she goes. And then he
con1mends his wife for the industry and
his delight that she is teaching his
daughters to be busy and industrious.
She was a baby girl following her
older sister, Mary, about Richmond, and
the pet of the distinguished statesmen
that filled the capital city of the South.
She met many of the most historic char
acters, and retained vivid memory of
every scene and incident. Especially did
she remember the day that General Lee
returned from the war. defeated in arms,
but not in purpose, for the cause of the
South still lived The great crowds
thronged the streets of Richmond to
welcome back their hero, their peerless
one. Mrs. Lee and the children stood
behind the latriced windows of their
homes watching his return. How the
people thronged around him, seeking to
kiss his hand or just to get glimpse of
his face. At last he reached his home,
and here, touched by the populace, Gen
eral Lee spoke a few words, and waving
his hand, alighted from his old war
horse, Traveller.
The people cheered, and he passed
within his home, his haven. his place of
rest, and the first to throw herself in his
arms was little Mildred.
General Lees first thought was to en-
ter upon agricultural pursuits and get a
living out of the soil, and here his let
tiers to his wife on the training of young
girls, or, rather. the training he expect
ed to give his daughters, are worthy of
thought from every true-hearted father.
He changed his mind about settling
down to farming, and as he said in one
of the letters given by Miss Lee to the
Picayune, so much of his time had been
spent in teaching young men how to war,
he thought he could not better spend
his declining days than in teaching them
the arts Of peace and how to be indus
trious citizens" And so he settled down
to beautiful quiet life of president of the
Washington University, at Lexington.
He gave his daughters most liberal
education. They were accomplished in
every line, but the old home accomplish
ments were not neglected. The children
all loved Traveller, and none more than
little Mildred 1t is reated once of her
that she had the mumps, and the other
children were getting it, too They saw
the general coming home on Traveller
and went forth to meet him, and he
caught Mildred up in his arms and said:
"Oh. my! She has the mun1ps, and what
if she should give Traveller the mumps
Oh, my, what shall l do if Traveller gets
the mumps!'
The general loved dearly, said Miss
Mary Lee to the writer, to have the chill
dred scratch or tickle his feet. He would
promise at night to tell the incest stories
to the one who would tickle his feet the
best, and Mildred would always gets the
incest story, as the general sat back in
his chair, with the children around.
proud and anxious to do his bidding
And when Mildred was in her beautiful
young wonanhood death came to her
idolized father. She was with him with
her mother and Colonel Robert Lee when
he breathed his last. Miss Mary Lee
was within few miles, at Stanton, but
could not reach Lexington owing to the
floods. Shortly after Mrs. Lee died also,
and then Misses Mary and Mildred Lee
travelled much in foreign lands. Every
where they were received with distin-
guished honors, and Miss Mary Lees
scrap book shows the respect and honor
paid her and her sister by the most illus
rous courts of the East.
Neither married Once in New Or
cans, at dinner given in honor of Miss
Mildred Lee, at the beautiful home of
Mrs. Jennie Washington Story, who is
| connection of the Lees, the question
vas asked why she had never married,
.or Mildred Lee was very beautiful, in
leriting much of the grace. of features Of |
Ter distinguished father. She was born
ristocrat, and rearing her stately head
With queen1y poise, she said:
Il never married because / esteem the
lame of Lee above all other names. !
m proud to be my fathers daughter"
md knowing what father she had, one
ould well appreciate her sentiments.
But she and her sister Mary were the
onored guests Of many camps and most
frequently in this city which they loved
0 we'll They attended the first reunion
! 1892. Some eight years ago Miss
dildred Lee again visited New Orleans.
he was brilliantly entertained by Mrs
'aul Conrad, who is connection of
ers, Mrs. Story at "Saxonholm,' and
Their distinguished ladies. This was her
lst visit to New Orleans ere this which
hronicles her death. At thai time she
poke with deepest feeling of the Con-
ederacy, of the old soldiers and her love