The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-20

greatest pleasure to hasten from the school room each day at the noon hour to take his invalid mother in his arms to the cushions of the carriage ana ever sought to cheer her during the drive. It was during the young schoo. boy days that 10 use the language oi Professor White the moulding hand oI the mother was giving shape 70 .na. ~. moral character which stands yet in our annals unriyailed for earnestness and self sacrifice There never was yet and I doubt If there ever VIII pc great and noble man. who did no. have a good mother and to whose gen tie influence and unselfish example exercised over the plastic young mlna' the after acquired greatness IS que. Truly then we say. the hand Una. rvsAs the cradle is the hand that rocks .he
 world. for as has been said the cnsi acter of the man is formed in the crauie. Tn reading the life of General Lee | one cannot but be impressed with the exalted grandeur of his mind ana lhe sublimity of his character. He was a lcheerful and agreeable companion yet with a dignity which commanded re- spect and we cannot imagine any one taking a liberty with him. He spos- sessed, we are informed, a quiet nu- nor which occasionally manifested 1t- self. For instance. in the winter or
 1887. in a letter to his dausn.ef aite, '. referring to household affairs ne writes. I must leave to your sisters a description of all the gayeties and also an account of the Reading Cluo. AS far as I can judge. it is great in- stitution for the discussion or apples and chestnuts. but is quite innoceht of the pleasures of literature. Wno would ever think of General Robert F, Lee with his quiet dignity and reverence trying to be funny and attempting eo I create laughter by perpetrating joke
 asIn statue he was tall and well pro lportioned. nI feature. beautiful as Ap- polio, but he seemed not to kno" ne | was one of the handsomest men m the | world or if he knew it, no one cpuio | tell from his acts that lie knew 1t. lie was absolutely unselfish and intenseiy patriotic. With sincere regard he sa" his mother State of Virginia come to the parting of the ways with her sister States of the North, but he saw plainiy his part of duty and he did not hesi' tate. He at once resigned his command
 as an officer in the United States army to follow the fortunes of that mother through all the trials of strife and des- lolation and he never faltered. He Knew full we'll the sacrifice he was making in severing the ties which bound him Ito the army of the North and of which he was offered the supreme command hut without a murmur ne surrendered his commission and immolated. him self and all he possessed on the altar of Virginia and the South. An eternity of love and fame shall be his recom- penses.
 l "After the war he was offered the
 most lucrative positions at the North land though in need of almost all the ne-
 cessaries of life, he refused them. He
 remained with his people and cheerful lily shared their sufferings and hnmiii-
 ation.
 who can look upon his majestic
 countenance and not be moved to ex-
 claim:
 "tsee, what a grace was seated on this l brow
 Hyperion's curls; the front of love
 An eye ike Mars, to threaten and com | mand:
 A station like the herald Mercury. l New x-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill; A combination. and form, indeed, l Where every god did seem to set his | seal,
 To give the world assurance of a man
 ,.on the twelfth day of October. 1870, 1 when nature Hdu oGCAC0 hOA SSSAA AaA SAte l sombre robe of brown his immortal spirit took its flight to the God who | gave it and he went to receive the | reward of a well spent life, the grand | est and most beautiful 1t has been the l privilege of mortal to know.
 Tt was his prerogative to set us an
 example, it is for you, young gentle men, and for me and for every one to emulate his virtues and to follow his example"
 ''The Sword of Robert Lee" was re- cited by the children in concert. and | .Dixie" was sung by them with rousine enthusiasm. All the children of the
 grade appeared on the program in
 readings and recitations' ana acqult' ted themselves with dignity.
 The little girls made pretty pic ture in their white dresses and crim' son ribbons. The red and white car nations used in the decorations ant worn by the children, were presented
 to Colonel Troy at the close of his address. .-