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

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A unique and attractive evening of en-
tertainment, In connection with the Lee
celebration. was given last night by the
Mems Club of Richmond at the Second
Baptist Church. Story. song and sculp-
ture. as Mr.. S. w. Meek, the president,
happily stated 1t. were represented on the
program.
The lecture-room OF the church was
crowded to OVERLOOKING twenty minutes
before the scheduled time Of the meeting.
In fact, as many people were standing as
the ushers would allow in the building.
The two staircases were lined with a
charming representation from the Wo-
mans College. On the platform were
President Meek. Mr.. Edward v. Valentine,
Mr. Polk Miller. and DR.. Thomas Nelson
Page. Mr.. Meek presided. and introduced
to the audience Mr. Polk Miller. who open
ed the evenings entertainment by singing
"Suwanee River" as only he can. Mr..
Miller was Joined In the chorus Of each
verse by his negro quartet, and at times
was assisted by the whole audience. Sew
eral members of the audience conceded
before the close of this song that Mr..
Miller's coored quartet contains the best
bass voice in Richmond.
Speech by DR.. Page.
Mr.. Meek then presented DR.. Thomas
Nelson Page, now OF Washington, as one
who should need no introduction to a
Richmond audience. and Dr.. Page was
greeted with prolonged cheers. His ads
dress was forceful tribute to Lee. the
man." and was given close attention by
the largo audience. He spoke in part as
follows:
IT am not here with the expectation. or
even the hope that I can add anything to
the fame OF Robert Z. Lee. but rather In
obedience to feeling on my part that
as the son Of a Confederate soldier. as a
Southerner. and as an American, owe
something to him and something to the
rest of my countrymen which l should
pay though 1t be but mite cast into
the treasury OF abundance.
The subject is not one to be dealt with
in the language of eulogy-to attempt to
decorate 1t with panegyric would but be-
little 1t. 1t Is too high for any one to
attempt to magnify it. He should deal
with it rather in the chastened light Of
sober truth.
II have sometimes thought that the
cause OF the South has suffered because
we have allowed rhetoric to usurp the
place OF history. We have furnished
many orators, but few historians, and
after all history must be the work Of the
historian. Truth simply stated, like
chastity in q woman's face. needs no
advocate. Its simplest presentation is Its
strongest proof.
Fruit of Virginia Civilization.
1T is not of Lee. the soldier, so much
as of Lee. the man, that desire to speak
on this occasion, though incidentally
shall endeavor to direct your thought In
passing to one especial phase of his work
as soldier for 1t appears to me to
Illustrate the peculiar fibre which dis.
tinguished him from other great captains
and other great men. 1 choose his char
acter for my subject because | deem ii
absolutely the fruit of the Virginia civil
ization in times past, and the model To
which the youth of Virginia should aspire
in the present and in the future.
There are one or two points connected
with Lees history to which l wish nar-
ucularly to address attention, because
his action has not been universally un.
derstood. And, first Is his action at the
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