Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-03-07
GENERAL r. E. LEE
King Edward and H. st. @. I ucker
Discuss His Fame
Py0DTdeacf, r. l., IoNvnaI

1t is always interesting TO read a
first-hand account of a meeting be
tween royal parsonage and plain
American citizen, especially when
they come together in a friendly,
informal way, when it is permissible
TO lay aside official ceremony and
talk without the restraint which it
impOses.rhen tits that opportunity
is afforded to take the true meas
ure of the sovereign and see what
kind of man he Is beneath bis royal
robes. This pleasure was enjoyed
very recently by Professor Harry
st. George Tucker Of Washington
and Lee University, formerly Con.
gressmOn from Virginia, who in
his capacity of President of the
Jamestown Exposition of 1907 had
an interview with King Edward Of
England. The nature of Mr..
fuckers mission to Europe, which
is to seek the cooperation of
various sovereigns in the forthcom-
! iEg celebration of the three
hundredth anniversary Of the
founding of the first white settle
ment in America, as well as the
especial cordiality Of his letters of
introduction and his own winning
personality, brought him to the
notice of the King under the most
favoring auspices. Possibly to
these causes was due the DISPOSE
ton of Edward to put his best
foot forward. However that may
be, he was most gracious to his
untitled visitor, and, what is par
ticularly to the point, spoke ad-
miringly of our great men, and
expressed a willingness to do what
lies in his power to make the APP
preaching celebration at historic
jamestown a spectacular, SER
timental and financial success.
Skillfully but somewhat slowly
running the gauntlet of official
aunkeyism, Mr. Tucker was greeted
with the utmost cordiality by the
King, who, after the hand-shake.
said. with possibly more cordiaIity !
than is always shown by Seventh
Assistant Secretary in Washing
ton: "Sit down sit down." Hel
stated that Great Britain would be
properly represented at James
town, and after a conversation I
remir iscent Of the memorable days
when as Prince of Wales he visited
the United States, spoke of certain
American soldiers, dead and alive,
and his opinion of their genius
IS compared with that CT
other military chIeftains of mis-
tory.
What will be apt to cause sdr-
prise, and perhaps provoke con
troversy, is that when reference
was made TO Lord Roberts as the
foremost soldier of England, Mr..
Tucker compared him to General
Joseph E. Johnston, whom he
thought he closely resembled. 1t
is evidently the opinion of King
Edward, as indicated by an OBJ
seryaticn dropped in the course Of
the interview, that Lord Roberts is
more comparable TO General Robert
4. Lee. But Mr.. Tucker, true to
Southern tradition, and with the
loyalty of the genuine Virginian,
replied: ''No, your majesty, we
10 rot think anybody resembles
General Lee."
One must admire the ingenious
good nature with which the King
received this frank, if excusable,
buast, and the kindliness Of hie {
nature which led him to reply that
he hoped Roberts would attend the
so that Americans woIld J
have an opportunity to Judge for
themselves of the estimate put
upon him by the English people. T
in mind the friendliness of +
reception Of the James G
own Commissioner there is justi- /
ication for the hope, moreover, s
hat the King was sincere in c
to the suggestion that $
Is be mad planted an oak beside e
W ashington's tomb at Mt. Vernon t
me of his hoSse should repeat the n
at jamestown. for he I
scratched on tablet near at hand
| memorandum, saying as he did v
o, THAT Is a capital idea" d
1t was Lord Roberts who in the v
o urse of many courtesies person O
lily extended to Mr.. Tucker said q
O him that while Lord Wolseley v
,laces General Lee ahead of any v
older since the days of Bonaparte, d
n estimate which his guest did u
Ot dispute, he believed that "tbs u
lost remarkable product Of the o.
7ar between the States" was g.
tonewall Jackson. However true
hat may be, and whatever it may ?,
lean, it seems sSfe 10 say that the J,
equation of America, the fare Of h
er great men and the c)mmendable II
ause Of Professor Tucker'e foreign u
our gill not suffer as result oil II
ne off hand chat between the King .,
+ England ard this true-blue Vir- .,
milan. a.
Try 1t Yourself y
An exchange prints the follow "