The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-02-27
GENERAL ROBERT e. LEE.
King Edward VII and President
Harry St. George Tucker, of the
Jamestown Exposition, Dis
cuss His Fame.

/ 1he following editorial taken from
! the Providence. r. l., Journal, Sunday
February 4, 1906, shows how close the
sections of our reunited country have
grown, and what pleasure it gives to
all to hear our great men of either
side praised by foreigners:
: King Edward and Jamestown.
: It is always interesting to read 4
firsthand account Of meeting be-
tween a royal parsonage and a plain
American citizen, especially when
: they come together in a friendly, in
; formal way. when it is permissible to
lay aside official ceremony and talk
without the restraint whichit imposes.
Then it is that opportunity is afford
ed to take the true measure Of the SOY
ereien and see what kind Of man he
is beneath his royal robes.
This pleasure was enjoyed very re-
Gently by Professor Harry St. George
! Tucker, Of Washington and Lee Uni
versity, formerly Congressman from
Virginia, who in his capacity Of Presi-
dent Of the Jamestown Exposition Of
1907 had an interview with King Ed
ward of England. The nature Of Mr..
fuckers mission to Europe, which is
to seek the cooperation Of various
sovereigns in the Forthcoming cele-
bration Of the three hundred ami
versary Of the founding Of the first
white settlement in America, as we'll
as the especial eordiality Of his let
ters of introduction and his own Win
ming personality, brought him to the
notice of the King under the most
favoring auspices. Possibly to these
causes was due the disposition Of Ed
ward to put his best foot forward.
However that may be, he was most
gracious to his untitled visitor and,
what is particularly to the point,
spoke admiringly of our great men,
and expressed a willingness to do
what lies in his power to make the
approaching celebration at historic
Jamestown spectacular, sentiment
al and financial success.
Skillfully but somewhat slowly run
ming the gauntlet Of official flunky-
ism, Mr.. Tucker was greeted with the
utmost eordiality by the King, who,
after the hand-shake, said, with pos
sibly more cordiality than is always
shown by a Seventh Assistant in
Washington: "Sit down; sit down. -
He stated that Great Britain would
be properly represented at Jamestown
and, after conversation reminiscent
Of the memorable days when as Prin-
ee of Wales he visited the United
States, spoke of certain American
soldiers, dead and alive, and gave his
opinion Of their genius as compared
with that of other military chieftains
Of history.
What will be apt to cause surprise
and perhaps provoke controversy Is
that when reference was made to
Lord Roberts as the foremost soldier
of England Nh. Tucker compared him
to General Joseph F. Johnston, whom
he thought he closely resenbled.. 1t
is evidently tire opinion Of King Ed
ward, as indicated by an observation !.
dropped in the course of the inter-
view, that Lord Roberts is more COM !
parable to General Robert E. Lee. |
But Mr.. Tucker, true to Southern |
tradition, and with the loyalty of the
genuine Virginian, replied: "No, |
Your Majesty, We do not think any |
body resembles General Lee.'
One must admire the ingenious
good nature with which the King re-
ceived this frank, if excusable, boast, |
and the kindliness of his nature which |
led him to reply that he hoped Lord !
Roberts would attend the exposition |
50 that Americans would have an op-
portunity to judge for themselves of
the estimate put upon him by the
English people. Having in mind the /
frienlliness Of Edwards reception of |
the Jamestown Commissioner there is !;
justification for the hope. moreover,
that the King was sincere in respond !
ing to the suggestion that as he had !;
planted an oak beside Washington's !
tomb at Mt. Vernon one Of his house !
should repeat the compliment at i
Jamestown. for he scratched on Ii !;
tah1ot noar at hand a memorandum, !