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


tons only connection with the colleg
/ consisted in the duty of conducting thes
l exercises. He simply criticized the decla
nations and detailed those that were I
, declaim the next time. Great disorde
attended these occasions I do not re
member how came to be In conversation
! with General Lee on the subject. onl!
| am sure that I was not, formal,
summoned to his office. What l a.
remember Is that was emboldenet
to tell him that. while all th'
students had profound respect fol
General Pendleton, still they con
sidered compulsory defamation useless
and unreasonable. Nothing, apparently
resulted from the interview. The decln.
nations went on--but not long. -Four
I weeks later my journal had this Ell
try: Thursday, May 31.-Grand blow-ur
at defamation. Pendleton left in dis
gust and will hear ,,s no more" fu-
tile effort was made to revive .declama-
ton next session. and the absurd old
| custom was allowed to die q natural
death.
| General Lees interest in the stu
| dents has often been described and
| illustrated. and the much-dreaded
summons OF offenders to the presi-
| dents Office has received frequent
| mention. Just how General Lee dealt with
| students on these occasions, am happy
! to say do not know by experience. One
instance however. 4 feel that I know we'll
i enough to record 1t. A student was
| spending money more lavishly than his
means justified. Gen Lee sent for him,
and after an admonition on the general
subject OF living within ones means, he
pointed out the students lack of con-
siderauon for the other members Of his
family, who were stintng themselves that
he might receive an education, and final
ly said. and young man. this money
which you are squandering represents
the sweat of your fathers brow"
That Time the Best.
Though 1 was never summoned before
General Lee for delinquency. 1t was
my misfortune on one occasion to
incur his serious displeasure and to
receive a severe rebuke. My health
seemed to be failing and General
Lee spoke to me about the cause
with great solicitude He suggested that
perhaps was working too hard. I re-
piled: Il am so impatient to make up
for the time lost In the army" 1 got
no farther. General Lee flushed and
clamatory tone. and after a slight
pause, added: However long you
live and whatever you accomplish,
you will find that the time you
spent in the Confederate army was the
most probably spent portion OF your
life. Never again speak Of having lost
time in the army"
The tone in which he spoke made the
rebuke very bitter, and he must have
seen that 1 was greatly mortified, and
detained me when I arose to depart. The
subject of my health was resumed, and
the fact brought out that 1 did not and,
as l maintained. could not wear wooden
Undertaking because of its irritating
effect. lie then said: IF know you,
l can teach you to wear It," and went
out and soon returned with two wooden
undershirts. and said: II present you
these on the condition that you wear
them out They are very historic. The
material ran the blockade. Old Mrs. Lee
made them. and they reached me in
the field of Fredericksburg, when the
battle was raging: but they are too mar
row in the chest for me even to put
them on" l was struck by his calling |
the garments historic" and using the !
expression 'old Mrs. Lee" But this is |
off my subject.
His Sense of Humor.
An illustration. though quite unimport-
ant. of General Lees well-known ilumor. |
will now be given One morning during the
assistant in Latin. I found General
Leo at the chapel waiting for
the service to begin. He asked
me the number Of students en-
rolled for Latin. said: "a hundred and
twelve" He replied. mo. it is a hun
dred and thirteen" There was q slight
twinkle in his eye. which I did not I'M
derstand until Professor White told me,
Just after the service. that student had
enrolled for Latin at General Lees
office the preceding afternoon at
the last moment. and had been
directed to report to me at eight
o'clock in the morning, and that General
Leo had simply added one to the num-
Der furnished by me. White said General
Lee had told him this. and had requested
him to tell me-
General Lees inclination to take a hui
morous view OF a situation has been made
FAMOUS by his remark about General
Wise's war paint on that fateful morn
ing at Apponattox. shall add another
Instance. however trivial 1t may seem
When I was assistant In Latin, Professor
harris and myself We're conducting the
examination OF class. General Lee was
prevent. as always during the oral part
or the examination. Professor Harris
questioned his SON. Writ (who was
member OF the class), long and
and at last asked him
very difficult question. Young
harris Gall unconsciously, as he at
terwards assured me) bent forward
knitted his brows. 1iveted his eyes upon
NINE. ana remained in that attitude TN
General Lee burst into hearty laugh
ana SAID: He is trying to absorb &
from Mr.. Humphreys"
there arc many other Incidents that
might narrate; but my letter, fear. ia
asready TOO long. could tell som. or
Vasuy more interest than any of the
HooVe, but | refrain from doing go. he
cause do not believe that General Lee
would nave consented to their ever he.
ing published. The Incidents that I hava
hafrated, am aware. are trivial In them.
selves nut nothing can be called insip.
h!icaht that adds anything to our l,novl.
edge OF Robert Z. Lee,
Dixie.
IN MEMORiAM.
IN Gays that Qe'er shall he