The Grenada sentinel., 1906-03-10
THE FAME OF GEN.
ERAL ROBERT E. LEE
Discussed by King Edward VII and
HarrySt. George Tucker, Presi.
dent Of Jamestown Exposition

| 1t is always interesting to read a
frSt-hand account Of meeting be.
tween a royal parsonage and a plain
American citizen, especially when
they come together in friendly, in.
formal way, when it is permissible to
lay aside official ceremony and talk
without the restraint which it i'm.
poses. Then it is that opportunity is
afforded to take the true measure of
the sovereign and see what kind OF
man he is beneath his royal robes.
This pleasure was enjoyed very re.
Gently by Prof. Harry St. George
Tucker, OF Washington and Lee Uni
vertity, formerly congressman from
Virginia, who in his capacity Of pres
ident 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
lSovereignS in the forthcoming celebra-
tiOn OF the three hundredth anniverSa-
ry OF the founding of the first white
settlement in America, as well as the
especial cordiality of his letters of in
PRODUCTION and his own winning per-
Sonality, brought him to the notice Of
the King under the most favoring
auspices. Possibly to these causes was
due the disposition of Edward to put
his best foot forward. However, that
may be, he was most gracious to his
untitled visitor, and, what is particu-
larly to the point, spoke admiringly of
our great men, and expressed will
ingneSS to do what lies in his power
to make the approaching celebration
at historic jamestown spectacular,
sentimental and financial success.
Skillfully but somewhat slowly rum
ming the gauntlet of official flunkyiSm,
Mr.. Tucker was greeted with the ut
most cOrdiality by the King, who, af-
ter the handshake, said, with possi-
bly, more cOrdiality than is always
shown by seventh assistant secre-
tary in Washington: "Sit down; sit |
down." He stated that Great Brit /
ain would be properly represented at |
Jamestown, and after conversation |
of the memorable DAYS |
when as Prince Of Wales he visited the |
United States, spoke Of certain Ameri-
can soldiers, dead and alive, and
gave his opinion of their genius as
with that Of other military
chieftainS Of history.
What will be apt to cause surprise
and perhaps provoke controversy is
that where reference was made to
Lord Roberts as the foremost soldier
of England, Mr.. Tucker compared him
to General Joseph E. Johnston, whom
ne thought he closely resembled. 1t
S evidently the opinion of King Ed
ward, as indicated by an observation
irOpped in the course Ofthe interview.
hat Lord Roberts is more compara-
Die to Gen. Robert E. Lee. But Mr..
Tucker, true to Southern tradition,
md with the loyalty of the genuine
ViIginian replied: NO, your Majes-
y, we do not think anybody reSem-
lies Lee"
One must admire the ingenious good
lature with which the King received
his frank, if excusable, boast, and
he kindliness Of his nature which led
i'm to reply that he hoped Lord Rob-
rtS would attend the exposition SO t
hat Americans would have an OppOr- I
unity to judge for themselves of the q
put upon him by the Eng
Sh people. Having in mind the
of Edwards reception of o
he jamestown commissioner there is :.
for the hope, moreover,
hat the King was sincere in respond
y to the suggestion that as he had L
anted an oak beside Washington
smb at Mt. Vernon one Of his house y
lould repeat the compliment at c
for he scratched on tab f
t near at hand memorandum say ]
g as he did so: THAT is a capital y
ea." q
1t was Lord Roberts who in the g
'urse of many courtesies personally
tended to Mr.. Tucker said to him h
lat while Lord WolSely places Gen. 7
al Lee ahead Of any soldier since n
e days of Bonaparte, an estimate %
hich his guest did not dispute, he :
'lieved that 1.-THE most remarkable A
oduct of the war between the
ateS" was Stonewall Jackson.
owever true that may be, and what ge
er it may mean, it seems safe to ~ q
y that the reputation of America, h;
e fame of her great men and the n na
cause of Professor Tuck tn
s foreign tour will not suffer as :,
suit OF the offhand chat between the
ing of England and this true-blue
irginian.
The above article taken from the
Or. L. Journal, Sunday, ~,
'bruary 4, 1905, shows how close "
e sections of our reunited country Tt
We grown, and what pleasure it
yes to all to hear our great men on Oh
her side praised by foreigners. SIasi
>-- alb
Goa! and Wood Dealers. fel