Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-19
LEE NOT A TRAITOR
Charles Francis Adams Praises
Confederate Leader.
SOUTH'S IDOL WAS RIGHT
Observance at Lexington of Centenary
of Gen. Lees Birth.
SOUTH'S IDOL WAS RIGHT
THE CEREMONIES IMPRESSIVE
Orator of the Occasion, a Massachu-
sets Man, Praises the Unselfish
Devotion Of Great Virginian.

LEXINGTON, Va, January 19-The Gen.
tennial of the birth Of Gen. Robert Edward
Lee was fitting celebrated today in Lex
ington, his home during the closing years
Of his life and the resting place of his
ashes The occasion was distinctly a con-
federate celebration, in which Confed-
crate Veterans, Sons Of Confederates
and Daughters of the Confederacy Wed
with each other in doing honor to the name
and fame of the souths chieftain. The dis
tinguished orator of the occasion, however
was an honored son of Massachusetts,
Charles Francis Adams, lineal descendant
OF two Presidents Of the United States,
himself distinguished citizen, noted his
torian and man of letters.
The formal exercises were held at II
O'Clock this morning in the Lee Memorial
Chapel at Washington and Lee University,
of which institution Gen. Lee was presi-
dent from 1860 to 1870. DIR. George H.
Denny, president of the university, presided
over the meeting and introduced Mr..
Adams, and in concluding announced that
the board of trustees had conferred the
honorary degree of doctor of laws upon Mr..
Adams.
A number of alumni who were students
under Gen. Lee are in attendance besides
numerous other alumni and confederate
veterans from various sections of Virginia
fran" Paxton. Sons of Confederates, i'm
mediately following the address of Mr.
Adams was an enjoyable affair.
President Denny's Address.
President Denny in introducing Mr. Adams
said:
1t would be impossible to picture in
imagination a more appropriate spot in
which to celebrate the centennial of the
birth of Robert E. Lee than on the campus
of this institution, the heir of his fame and
the guardian of his dust. Standing here in
this building, conceived in his own mind,
constructed under his own eye and conse-
Grated forever to his memory, in full view
of the recumbent figure, representing him
so faithfully In majestic repose, would
inaugurate this impressive function with
the candid avowal that whatever of sacred
meaning this day and this hour may have
for others the wide world over it has for
this institution and for those who love it
inexpressibly beautiful and profound signifi-
canoe.
ITO the alumni and friends Of Washing
ton and Lee it brings to memory something
more than a mighty name and mighty
drama in the nations history. To some of
us it brings to memory a great and Won
derful personality, moving among us daily
and becoming so much part of our lives
as to make us feel that we knew him just
a little better and loved him just a little
more than did those who we're farther re-
moved from him than we during those
years of simple devotion and of unsurpassed
dignity, when he was writing that splendid
closing chapter of his career. To all of us
it brings to memory our great president,
the greatest man who has ever adorned the
presidency Of an institution Of learning, not
merely within Virginia, not merely within
the south, butt dare also to say-within
the limits of the American republic. We
believe that whatever immortality is de-
stined to attend his great career as COM
mander of armies. this work which engaged
the last energy of his life and upon which
he pronounced his final benediction. will
rest like capital upon the solid shaft of
his civic and military renown.
81 know of no more splendid spectacle in
human history, no surer evidence that Vir-
ginia is loyal to the national flag, than the
spectacle that we behold today. know of
no greater expression of human sympathy,
of human courage of heart and of human
sincerity of spirit than the coming of a
man, distinguished in the service Of his
country and no longer young in years, from
the capital of New England, in mid-winter,
thousand milee, to the tomb of Robert E..
Lee, in order to strew fresh flowers upon
his grave"