The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-13
TRIBUTE TO THE LEES
Last Master of Arlington
Living in Retirement.
GENERATIONS OF NOBLE LIVES
The Only Surviving Son of Gen. Rob-
ert L. Lee Spending His Declining
Yenrs Mt His Home I'm Fairfax
County, Wallis Long Connection
with Virginia University Life.

There is living IN retirement in Virginia
the man who may be called the last mas
ter Of Arlington. though he was never
actually in possession OF the historic es-
tate now converted into the national
cemetery.
Representative Of some Of the most
famous names in the past OF our country,
Gen. George Washington Gusts Lee,
reat-grandfather Of Martha Washington,
grandson of Light Horse Harry Lee, and
also OF Washington's adopted son.
George Washington Parke Gusts. great
nephew OF Richard Henry Lee and
Francis Lightfoot Lee, signers of the
Declaration OF Independence. and eldest
son of the great Confederate chieftain.
Gen. Robert Z. Lee, Gusts" Lee. as he
IS Familiarity known. is entering the
autumn Of a dignihed and noble life. a
career too little known to the American
people. who would not be slow TO estimate
AZ its true value its high sustained and
even quality.
BY the viii Of George Washington
Parke Custis. the grandson Of Martina
Washington and adopted son OF the
Father Of His Country, Arlington Heights
was left during her lifetime 10 his only
child, Mrs. Mary Custis Lee. the wife of
Gen. Robert Z. Lee, together with all
the Washington and Gusts furniture.
plate. paintings. and other family memen-
Jos. ~ her death these were to pass 20
her eldest SOL. his graudfather's name
sake, G. ". Gusts Lee.
G. ". Parke Gusts died in ISIS. Mrs.
Robert (. Lee in 1872. and Arlington was
conhsceted by the government in 1853.
Yet as in 1886 Congress appropriated
S.510C0 70 settle with Gen. Custis Lee for
Arlington, thus recognizing him IS lega-
tee under his grandfather's will. Gen.
Cus,is Lee may be termed the last mas
ter Of the stately old manor and estate.
Descent from Washington.
II is historically known that Martha
Washington was IA wealthy young widow
with two children when she welded the
hero Of the Revelation. one Of these, John
Parke Gusts. died, leaving a son and
daughter, George Washington Parke Gus
lis and Eleanor Washington Parke Gus
It's. who We're adopted by the chndless
Washington as his own children.
Eleanor or Nellie" Custis married Law
renee Washington, his nephew.
George Washir~' rke Gusts mar
ried NJ Of the Virginia
zhuga Lee and
n. r. z. Lees
ere named.
andolph Gusts
Lee. third son
Horse Harry.
Carter.
zen purchased
--..45ton himself for
son. who had Inherited a for
,ane from his grandfather, Martha Wash
lngton's first husband washington took
great interest in planning this future
home for his adopted son, Of whom he is
represented IS being very fond. Indeed,
he Is described as being most induigent
toward his wifc's grandchildren. who are
portrayed with Gen. and Mrs Washington
in the painting Of Washington and his
family
George Washington Gusts Lee. follow
ing the choice Of his father and line OF
soldier ancestors. elected the military
profession for his calling. and was grad
uated, standing first in his class. az west
Point in IN4. At the outbreak or the war
he was a Lieutenant in The United states
service. young, handsome. heir TO an old
name and an historic estate What a
bright future opened before him. -Four
years later he was a ruined major gen
eral In a thnned. ragged. starving army.
The general who was almost the last TO
repulse a charge upon Richmond; a few
days later, and he had laid down his
sword forever worn by battle. pennilcss:
a ruined man in a ruined country: the
sole man in all America whose home and
estates had been cCnhscated. since even
his brothers retained the land bcqueathed
them by their grandfather, Mr.. Gusts;
but Custis Lee. heir % Arlington, had no
rood Of ground 20 call his own Yet he
was the son Of a hero. the brother Of
heroes.
Work After the War.
Quietly the Lees took up the work that
came nearest 10 their hand Vhe,. ,,-i.-L 1.