Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-01-23
MEMORIAL TO RCbERT f.
LEE

ran gements in Washington for the
centennial celebration of the birth
of General Lee, expressed his re-
gret at bling unable to be present,
and pays just tribute to the memory
of the great Confederate captain.
In closing his letter, President
Roosevelt suggests the establish
ment of n permanent memorial to
General Lee in the following time
ly utterances:
81 hope that you will take advan-
tage OF the one hundredth anniversary
OF General Lees birth by appealing to
all our people, in every section OF bis
country, to commemorate his life and
deeds by the establishment at some
great preventative educational insti'
tuition of the South, OF permanent
memorial, that will serve the youth ot
thu coming years, as he. in the closing
years of his life, served those who 30
sorely needed what he so freely gave"
Washington and Lee University
is in peculiar way.the most appro-
pirate educational institution In
the South for such memorial. 1t
was at this institution that the
closing years of General Lees IL
luetrious life were spent, and here
his duet is sacredly guarded. Nu-
merous relics and memorials are al
ready gathered at the University,
including many historic and val
liable paintings. His name ls
lin ed with..that of Washington In
the title of Washington and Lee.
What filter memorial than to
continue the work which Lee te-
gan and which was 80 near to Els
hearth Indeed from the connection
"a his letter, it would seem that
this was what President Roosevelt
had ir nind. Certainly it would
be difficult TO imagine that he
could have anything else iii his
thoughts.
1t is interesting to note that the
establishment of such memorial
was inaugrrated by the trustees OF
Washington and Lee University
the day before the publication OF
the Presidents letter, and the
fret contribution wac announced
by President Denny at the memo
rial meeting on the 10th, from a
lady of Pniladelpbia.
The first undertaking should be
to complete Lee Memorial Chspel,
where rest the remains of General
Lee. 1t would seem little short OF
a dissertation of his memory to
undertake anything else until this
is done. The building has already,
by the action of the trustees on the
18th, beea set apart for the pre-
servation of all that pertains to
Lee.
But this is not enough. Lee had
a belief In the future OF Washing
ton AID Lee University, and
planned TO make it great repre-
sentative institution. Anything
that would be true memorial OF
hin, therefore, must be in line
with his own plans for the institu-
ton which he loved and served.
Much has been done toward
carrying out the ideas of Lee.
Washington and Lee ia today the
most represent, tive educational in
stitutlon of the South. 1t has a
larger percentage of students from
without the borders Of its own
State than eny other Southern
echcol. After the death Of Lee it
suffered reverses which for the
fime hindered its growth, but its
course during the last decade has
been steadily upward, and 1t has
now the lergest attendance in its
history, no. excepting the time
wter Lee was it's president, and
TO one needs to be told that stu
derts focked from every part OF
the South to the standsrd OF
thei, great leader.
Where else could be found
place 80 fitting for memorial OF
Gererai Lee, ss the ore University
with which his name is already IL
d;ssolutly connected, TO which he
gave the Iast, best, end most iuit-
full years of his life, and where
rests bic sacred Gust ard that OF
bic family. and where above ell
would be carried out in such
memorial the very rlars which
we e the dream Of his life? Indeed,
vaNa it rot b. an au award en-;
in.xplics bde3thing even TO suggest
a memorial ia any other spotY
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