The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20

Massachusetts. who Is this evening de-
livering at Lexington, W., the memo-
rial address on tho life and character
Of Robert Il. Lee.
Greatest Of the Great.
Though he failed of final scenes to
the student OF history who weighs OPP
portunities and compares resources,
this In no wise mars his fame as q
soldier. Tho Judgment of eminent
foreign critics has been quoted. and
am minded to cite one nearer home
who dome might think would be ina
clined to tip the wayering scale rathe1
against than for the South. The
world" says his critic "has never seen
better soldiers than those who follows
ed Lee: and their leader will undoubt>
eddy rank, without exception, the very
greatest OF all the great captains THAI
tho English speaking peoples have
brough forth, and this although thu
last and chief OF his antagonists may
himself claim to stand az the full equal
of Marlborough or Wellington" Thpa
wrote Theodore Roosevelt. in his 'Lif<
of Thomas Fl. Benton" (p. $50
THE war had scarcely ceased, and hik
condition OF narrow circumstances became
known, when offers OF places OF hono1
and profit began to come to him. Ofer4
of the presidency of insurance companies
posals that he should allow his name to
be used for the highest office in the stfe
of tho State. Even offers from admirers
ir. the Old Country of an asylum on THAI
side of the water. where handsome esq
tate was rendered him.
This reply to all these allurements waf
that which we now know was the onl1
one he could make: a gracious, but irreS
vocable. refusal.
"The General was approached with 6
tender OF the presidency of an insurance
company at salary OF $4,000 year,
He declined 1t on the ground that 1t waA
work with which he was not familars
but, General" said the gentleman who
represented the insurance company, 'yoS
will not be expected to do any work1
what we wish is the use Of your name.
DO you not think said General Lee
that II my name is worth $4,000 yeara
ought to be very careful about taking
care OF it?'
Amid the commercialism OF the present
age this sounds as refreshing as the oatx
of a belted knight.
"'They are Offering my father everyS
thing. said one of his daughters. 'btt
the only thing he will accept Is q place
to earn honest bread while engaged IL
some useful work That speech. made
to Colonel Bolivar Christian. brought him
the offer of the presidency of Washing-
ton College at a salary OF $500 year
and after some hesitation. due to his
fear that his association with an insti.
tuition might prove an injury. rather than
benefit to 1t, he accepted It.
What Is the lesson, the plain lesson
of this noble life which we have been
considering? It is all expressed in that
, apothegm of LEAFS that duty is the
sublimest word In the English language
Moreover. gentlemen. It Is that we have
plain duty right before us, which is to
be the decision that was made fort,
years ago. In the Providence OF God, thai
this country is to be one in fact as well
as one in name. That our duty Is to
promote, by every means in our power.
complete and absolute reconciliation; NOT
only between the sections. but between
the people OF this country. so that we
may be one In spirit as well as in name.
Standing here with you, engaged In the
contemplation of this lofty life, which
was the very fruit of Virginia's civiliza-
ton, challenge you to put away all
ton whatsoever. and following the lead
of this great Southern commander. who
is our leader row by his example, as
much as when he walked amid the
academic groves of Washington College,
placed before us a nobler ambition: that
of preserving in the South the ideal OF
duty: Of rebuilding tho civilization OF
the South; not upon the new and shifty
foundation Of osG1mercialism. but upon
that sounder firmer and more enduring
foundation OF devotion to duty"
Sculptor Speaks.
AT the close of his remarks Dr. Page
read a new poem on Lee by Mrs. Julia
Ward Howe, author of the Battle Hymn
Of tho Republic" and followed this with
the letter from Mr.. Roosevelt, both OF
which are published in this issue. DR..
Page also called the attention OF the
audience to the offer OF Sir Moses
Ezekiel, the famous sculptor. now liv-
Ing in Rome, native of Virginia. and
a veteran of the Confederacy, to present
to the University of Virginia bronze
figure of Homer and one OF Jefferson.
DIR. Page asked the assistance of tho
audience in providing suitable bases for
these two statues. for which no charge
was being made by the artist. and which
bases. with the cost of transportation,
etc, would cost some $4,000.
Mr.. Polk Miller thanked DIR. Page for
his interesting and instructive address,
and in his own intmitnble way told what
he personally owed TO DR.. Page for his
introduction to Mark Twain and Others
his quartet were received With enthusiastic
applause and repeatedly encored.
Mr.. Meek then introduced Mr.. Edward
V. Valentine, the sculptor of the recum-
bent figure of Lee at his tomb at Lexns-
ton Mr.. Meell's Introductory remarks
were particularly appropriate. declaring
that q people was fortunate indeed whose
memories and traditions could be present.
ed to one audience by the representatives
of song and story and marble.
Mr.. Valentine gave an Interesting ac-
count of his personal relations with
General Lee, his trip to Lexington after
the war and his modelling OF q bust DUR
ing the last year of Lees life. The
sculptor's anecdotes, illustrative OF tha
character of the man. his quaint sense
of hunor and his utter lack of self
consciousness, We're we'll received.
Mr.. Meek then explained the purpose
OF the Mems Club, which he stated was
composed Of men of all creeds and con-
dltions. Through the courtesy OF the
people of the Second Baptist Church
this club has the use OF their lecture.
room for Its meeting place.
Mr.. Meek stated that the next meeting
of the club. early In February would be
addressed by DR.. Lyon G. Tsler, president