The Washington herald., 1907-01-27

IN what is ca led society Cen. Lee
mingled but litile-he had neither time
Inor inclination But he was never for
getful Of the small. sweet courtesies OF
|Hfe." A stranger visiting Lexington, a
father or mother visiting a son at college.
was sure Of q call from Gen. Lee and
with scrupulous courtesy be repaid the
social attentions that he received. writes
II DR.. Z. S. J0ynes. Of South Carolina Uni
versitv in the Columbia State. At his
table he presided with his accustomed
sweet and gentle dignity, and shared fully
lin social often playful, conversation. On
special occasions ne offered rare wines-I
remember once some that had been bot
tied by his father. in the year Of bis own
birth. OF such he part0Ok sparingly. but
never. so far as / know. Of any other
intoxicating drink He was fond Of rid
Iing-aInost every afternoon, when he had
time; and Gen. Lee or Traveler-booted
land gauntleted-in winter with mis- milf
tary cIoak-and accompanied, as he often
was. by his favorite friend, Prof. White
like himself a superb horseman-was the
finest sight on which the eye could rest
How often-ah, how often! l have
watched that splendid spectacle
In business matters. private or official.
Gen. Lee was accurate and methodcal,
and his annual reports were models Of
clear and comprehensive statement in
correspondence he was careful and scru-
. pulously punctual. On this subject / can
5 speak with knowledge. for IL often fell 70
my lot 10 help him-as we were all ready
to do-in answering his many letters. IN
private conversation ne was quiet and
genial. He never spoke-at least not in
my hearing-Of the war or Of politics.
Here his recoIlections were, doubtless, too
painful I never heard from his lips d
word either Of bitterness or Of apology, or
, any criticism Of offers. 1t is known, l be-
Iieve. that he had intended 10, write the
history of his army-but that he desisted.
becaase he thought this could not be done
without causing too much pain" Thus,
for the sake Of others. BE fOTebOre what
would have been his own supreme vindi-
cation. So tender, SO self-dcnying was
this great heart
Simplicity in Conduct.
As look back now through the haze Of
forty years. I can hardly realize. as !
could not then, that this mau, SO quiet anu
so human, so simple in conduct and COS
tune. 50 kind and friendly, so dilisent in
business. so social and cheerful. so unas-
suming and unpretending. as he shared
or cheered our daily Iabors. was The same
that had commanded great armies had
swayed the tide Of battle, had borne the
hopes and sorrows of q great people, and
D IaIike in victory and in defeat had given
Ito his countrymen and 20 the world the
last and highest ideal Of he heroic com
mander And yet, wonderful as 1t was
and Is. it was he, and after all, he was as
great. as unequaled. on that college cam
pus as on any battlefeld-the same every
where and always He was" says Gen.
Lord W0lseley. who knew him when at
the head Of his army. 'the most perfect
man / have ever met" and seemed cast
I'm a grander mold and made OF finer metal
than all other men , II is but small
praise that T. who knew him IN mar
rover and more intimate sphere, should
echo the same sentiment
] has been already said that 70 the indi-
yiduaI professors Gen. Lee was always
kind and accessible In official relations
he bore his authority mOdestly yet always
effectively From each professor he re
. quired stated reports Of his department
which he then transmitted 70 the trustees,
with his own Endorsement or comment.
along with his own report And. after
submitting his report be always retired
20 his Office, to await the pleasure OF the
p board. in order not TO embarrass their ac-
|tiou by his presence.
Relations with Faculty.
In the weekly meetings of the faculty
b Gen. Lee exerted rather an influence
S which seemed unconscious both to him
self and TO Us, than any visible authority.
e Faculty meetings are apt 10 be wordy,
and sometimes a little excited; but Gen.
Lee never showed Impotence and his
= quiet presence Gained every rising
- storm. Enough occurred. sometimes. to
[ show that he had both q quick and a
[ strong temper. but never for a moment
did he lose self-c0ntr0l OF forget either
dignity or courtesy He exerted himself
, to minimize his own authority and to
leave TO each professor the full sense of
b. independence and responsibility. He never
b made a speech; rarely, indeed. spoke from
Z his chair OF attempted by any expression
p Of opinion to influence a pending vote.
Il need not be added. however. that when
Gen. Lees views were known, they were
+ always decisive. and no really important
measure was ever introduced without
r consultation with him. Besides its excep-
/ tionaIly great ability. his was the best
organized and most efficient faculty 1
b. have ever served with Its important
o. work was done (as in Congress- by stand
. ing committees. and Gen. Lee was always
r consulted in every case of Importance
or difficulty. Thus-thOUgh the initiative
often came from another source-he was
! really identified with every important
, measure
I have said that Gen. Lee rarely spoke
in faculty meetings. but his influence was
, not the less felt I have already stated
how strongly he advocated and enforced
the principle of honor in dealing with
. students and his aversion to minute reg
ulations. And occasionally he gave utter
ance to thoughts which ] have always
: remembered and now deem worthy of
, record. On one occasion a professor cited
a certain regulation. 20 which another
replied that it was dead letter
- Then said Gen. Lee. "let it be at once
repealed A dead letter inspires disre-
, spect for the whole body OF laws; but as
long as it stands, it should be enforced. 80
r On another occasion q professor appealed
r 20 precedent and added. we must not
respect persons" I always respect per
f sons replied Gen. Lee, and care little
, for precedent
Discipline OF the Young.
/ AS to his views of discipline enough.
perhaps has been said already. I NAV
b state. however, with reference to an i'm
portant and often recurring question. that
= Gen. Lee held idleness to be not a mega
J tive, but a positive vice. "A young man"
} ne said, lis always doing something-if