Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-01-30
RockbridQer Writes from Land
of Flowers and Sunshine

cA EiOWcIS anu SunSdiuc
SAFETY HARBoR, FLA, Jan. %
| EDITOR GAZETTE: The occasion
Of the anniversary of General Lee'
birthday, as observed throughout
the South and especially at Lexing
ton, has passed. Lexington, being
the last home Of this illustrious
Amerlcan--the last place in which
he labored for the training of oul
young men for the great work Of
reconstructing and upbuilding Of
the South-attaches to this place
a degree of interest unlike other
sections of the South. 1t 10 here
in Lexington that che sleeps bis
last sleer, and no sound can awake
him to glory again" Ellis good
deeds live after him." and strange
things we have seen today. His
enemies of former days, after the
lapse of 40 years, now, since the
dark clouds have rolled away, see,
and praise the purity Of the man.
How much pleasure was denied
the writer, in not hearing the
speech of Mr.. Adams, words fail to
express. The honesty and SINGER
ity Of the speaker could not be
questioned, knowing his lineage
and that his only purpose was, in
the interest of truth and history.
The life and character of one
like General Lee cannot fail to i'm
press generations who will come
after us. The young people of the
present day should receive fresh
inspiration in the study of his life.
A model life ! to whom our teach
ers can point with pride and say,
IS the Romans-"Ecce homo"
the embodiment of virtue and
valor.
This leads up to the thought
that the man who regards the line
of duty as the highest incentive to
action, will always find those who
will criticise and oppose.
Our President, doubles thought,
when he disbanded the negro regi-|
ment at Brownsville, Texas, for
their savage and diabolical behav-
ior, that he was simply discharg-
ing his duty, and yet there are
United States Senators today. if
they had the backing OF the people,
would institute articles of i'm
parchment.
A Southern Senator of some
prominence, it is a pity to say it,
would, 1 dare say, unite in this
frenzied action. There are two
senator's who particularly delight
In keeping matters at fever heat,
one from Ohio and one from South |
Carolina. The two extremes meet
N these characters, one is "bloo-
iy-shirt squealer', the other,
,eguler fire-eater; disturbers, each,
II the peace and contentment of
,hs citizene of our country. Each
nay possess some good qualities,
,ut much "stuff" will have to be
emoved to find them. Some take
his mode of advertising them
elves. They pull down others to
'uild up for themselves, and gen.
rally fail in the end.
1t is pleasant to hear good news
rom our public schools, and the
General interest shown among our
'eopls in improved methods In the
onduct and management there of.
outh River and Buffalo have un-
eItaken to advance the primary
chools to limited extent, by
certain schools. and
orming graded and high schools. {
he necessity for this is apparent {
D all who have givea thought to 6
ne matter, end who really favor y
)rward movement in education. c
The death Of Mr.. John w. Bar c
ay, so long familiar figure on t
he streets of Lexington, about 8
ompletes the list Of the many t
rominent and active citizens of 4
exington, whom | recall in the O
t0's of the last century, many of v
hon have long since passed c
way. What loyal citizens they d
ere, ardent lovers of their native Il
'wn and county, end jealous of |,
le honor and good name of Vir- s.
mia. True men in all of the re C
tiOrs of life, peace to their ashes, t,
"a honor to their memories. e
However mech we enjoy the
1T air, the sunshine of this de. :,
yhtful peninsula, embraced as it Il
by the Gulf on the north and a.
est, and old Tampa Bay on the D
st, our minds constantly revert 9,
the rock bound hills of Rock II
idge, her grand old mountains. v
70 lonely valleys intervening, the a
untain streams, clear as crystal, In
ID 10 be exact-the snow and h,
eet, rain and mud, but above all p,
II many good people. W
Formerly it took four days for o,
tiers to reach us from Rock -
idge, now it requires six. So +,
UGH for the new order. of r. F. al
Tell Mr.. P, your P. NJ. that r.
is all right in theory, but not in g
actice. w. B. F. LEEoH Il