Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-14

4oOO| Il LAO41kO
claimed kinsmans support when up came
the challenger, who wanted her father to
coach him for the fight, but the old man
said that in personal matter he must
by his associations with both the parties
to bring about reconciliation and averted
the duel.
Her Fathers Prediction.
Her fathers efforts to prevent the repeal
were continuous. Among them Mrs. Lee
wildly secalled his concluding words In
conversation with President Pierce, and 1t
was the last time Pierce ever came to Sill
yer Spring: MIR. President he said, IF
you do not cease from this game of leap
frog with Douglas you will plunge the
| whole nation into the deep waters of tribu-
lation, and If you sign this repeal OF the
Missouri compromise you will not have the
following of corporal guard in the next
convention" They were taking by the
spring where afterward some of the wound
ed in Eariys raid were treated, and on the
spot where soldier was killed by shell
from Fort Stevens. The waters of tribu-
lation" were nearer than President Pierce
would believe.
Mrs. Lee herself prevented one duel In
those stormy days General Dunn, chal-
lenged by Virginian, also wen, to silver
Spring to practice shooting. Asking her
ting along, the old gentleman said he had
hit the bulls-eye at the first shot. Mrs.
Lee at once proceeded to make a call at
the house of a relative, very close to the
Virginian who had sent the challenge.
While there she mentioned the duel rather
casually and said Dunn was at Sifver
Spring practicing and that her father SAID
he had hit the center of the bulis-eye at
the first shot Tfis r p ted pr wess trought
a calmer state of mad to the cnaite-.s ger
and a settlement was arrived at The Coo
Of peace will forgive her for emitting 10
say that General Dunn had not hit the
target again. That first good shot and a
quick-witted peacemakeI helped brave
man out of trouble.
The Prophecy Fulfilled.
Mrs. Lee was not only deeply impressed
by her fathers feeling in the scene with
Breckenridge, but also by the personal
way in which the prophecy was fulfilled.
Breckenridge became general in the con-
federate army and saw war at Its worst.
When one of the last desperate efforts to
relieve Richmond was made. Early raid
on Washington, he was second in COM
mand and coming back again to the old
Silver Spring house made 1t his head
quarters the very library where he had
been SO strongly urged to take firm
stand against the repeal which brought
on the war. He repaid the hospitality ne
received there by placing a guard over
the mouse, winch pTOleCtcu IL lIoA iooSSAo
and escaped the burning that DESTROYED
Montgomery Blairs house on the adjacent
hill.
Through the war her husband, Admiral
Lee was fleet commander, at sea or on
the rivers of the west, and her brother,
General Frank P. Blair jr., was in heavy
fighting. commanding finally the nth Army
Corps of Sherman's army. OF him Mrs
Lee often repeated Sherman's saying:
Frank Blair had saved Missouri TO the
Union before Grant and l had buckled on
our swords" -
With husband and brother at the front
and often under fire hers were the night
watches and prayers that came to women
in those days. 1t is a singular fact that
the sound of cannonading sometimes travels
through the ground and can be heard by
listening at a spring or pool of water,
when it cannot be heard in the air. 1t is
a sort of telephone effect. Several times
during the war Mrs. Lee heard thus at
Silver Spring Athe guns in battles near
the Potomac river, and she said that hear
ing such dread sounds from the waters OF
a peaceful shaded spring creates feeling
OF the deepest awe.
In the Effort for Peace.
Without doubt, had he not been assassi-
mated, Mr.. Lincoln would have prevented
the cruelties to the south perpetrated un-
der the reconstruction policy. Some time
previous to Gen. Lees surrender Mr.. Blair,
at President Lincolns request, went to
Richmond and arranged for the peace con-
gress. Mrs. Lee treasured for years Mr..
Lincoln's notes, in the Presidents hand,
beginning Father Blair and asking him
to come to the White House In the eHort
for peace. -+
There was difference of opinion between
Secretary of War Stanton and the B1airs
from the first. and Montgomery Blair was
ultimately driven from Lincoln's cabinet.
Before the war Mr.. Stanton rather assented
to secession Mrs. Lee said, and used the
expression Let the rebelious sisters
(states) go in peace" but when war ac-
activity, but to bitterness, and drove his
old associates. such as w. w. Corcoran and
Bayard Taylor. out of Washington HIS
frequent arrests of citizens of Montgomery
county, who were taking no part in the
war, kept the Blairs constantly going to
Mr.. Lincoln to get their neighbors and
friends out Of the old Capitol JAIL Mrs.
Lee said this was carried sosfar that a boy
of about fifteen years was arrested near
Silver Spring because he whistled Dixie
on his way to get the cows.
Mrs Lee and the Davises were friendly
before the war. having cottages near each
1859, one night Mr.. Davis came for Mrs.
Lee to help his wife, who, he said. had con-
vulsions,s and was threatened with death.
Mrs. Lee went with him at once, and found
Mrs. Davis In great danger. There was no
apparent way Of securing hot water prompt
ly. but Mrs Lee always had presence of
mind in emergency, and the idea occurred
to her to use the hot stones in the open
fireplace to make warm water. In this
manner a bath was secured that Mr. Davis
said saved the life of his wife. and he was
very appreciative in his praises of Mrs.
Lees resources and skill as nurse.
Political AttitudeSof Davises.:
Mrs. Lee could never understand the po-
litical attitude of the Davises. She thought
they were ambitious of limited monarchy
in the south. -,-
After the assassination of Lincoln, Mrs.
Lee, calling at the White House to inquire
for Mrs. Lincoln. met the family doctor
coming out, who surprised her by saying,
"Oh. Mrs. Lee, you are the very person
want That poor lady upstairs is practical
ly alone and nearly frantic with grief You
must come tonight and nurse her." To
this Mrs. Lee objected unless Mrs. Lin
coin should request it, and the doctor
went upstairs to consult her. He came
back and admitted that Mrs. Lincoln first
rejected his offer, saying, Il cannot stand
that laughing woman near me now" Not
withstandng this unpropitious opening,
the doctor persuaded them both and Mrs
Lee was with Mrs. Lincoln every night