The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-01-15

her eyes after a hard cry and solemnIS
admonished her: You must never rub
your eyes. my dear. except with your
elbows" then walked away, leaving the
small weeper so absorbed In attempting
the impossible that she quite forgot her
troubles On another occasion. when be
came upon a lad who was littering the
college campus with stones. Ge=eral Lee
remarked: "Yeu throw well. Harry.
Now see II you cannot hit the road with
all those stones you have thrown on the
grass
Another historic locality which win
doubtless be the mecca Of many visitors
this week Is the birthplace Of Gen.
Robert E. Lee, which survives In its old
simplicity. Famous old Stratford on the
Potomac is one Of the best preserved OF
the colonial homes Of Virginia and makes
an impressive picture as II stands in the
glow OF a winter sun, ruggedly simple
and unique In architecture. 1t Is a pile
Of English brick, contracted somewhat
In the form Of a fattened letter II, and
from the high basement to the two clus-
tiers Of chimneys on the roof no orna-
mental features or decorations mar It's,
simplicity.
Stratford, which was named after the
English estate OF one of the early Lees,
was built in the early years Of the eight
zenith century, but was burned down,
only to be rebuilt In 1729 on its original
-pa<tern- through tha-aidl OF Queen Char
lotte. who gave $4,000 for the purpose.
The house and grounds are surrounded
by a high brick wall, now broken In
many places. The two original front
gateways were most elaborate, but now
only the remnants Of carved sandstone
columns and caps remain. Some distances
from each Of the four corners of the
house stand small brick outhouses. Ona
was the kitchen. as Is evidenced by the
open fireplace, Il feet In width, with it,
huge crane still over 1t for swinging the
pots and kettles into place. Some dis
lance to one side Of the mansion stand
the stable and barns. all in fair condi-
ton
The manor-house contains 1s large
rooms The front door ushers one Into
the central hall, which Is about 30 feet
square. and serves as a connecting link
between the wings. 1t Is paneled In oak
from floor to ceiling, with decorative de-
signs In plaster relieving the panels at
from the one mentioned opens upon
flight Of stone steps which lead down to
the garden Each door Is hanked on
either side by large window. and roomy
bookcases with glass doors line the walls.
The drawing-room is on the river side OF
the mansion-a spacious. high-ceilinged
room; with generous hrepleces and two
deep recessed windows. A corner room
in the right wing is that IN which. accord
ing 10 local tradition. Robert e. Lee was
born. 1t Is a large chamber, with many
windows and a cosy fireplace. over which
Is a colonial mantel.
After all, however, 1t Is at Arlington,
on the Potomac, that the present-day Wis
itor Is most wildly reminded Of General
Lee and the life he loved so well. This
beautiful estate-now a national eeme-1
terry, where 1900 Union and Confederats
soldiers are buried-is located opposite thsl
city of Washington. and II was here, a.
has been explained, that General Lee
spent all the happiest years Of his hfe- I
No person can visit this splendid domain.
with its INF gnincent trees, its panorans
of the river winding Ike a silver ribbon
in the distance, and its quaint mansion
rendered distinctive in appearances by
massive Doric columns and not gain @
new conception Of the matchless peace
and charm md restful content Of the life
on the old baroniaI estates Of the South
in the halcyon days before the war. )
The stately Arlington mansion. which
was modelled after the Temple of Thesus
at Athens, was erected 10 1904. Il Is Of
brick, covered with stucco. and with fts
two wings has a frontage Of more than
I40 feet The Sgrand portico is 90 feet
In width and Is feet IN depth. Features
of the manor house are the remnants of
the old deeora tons, including the hunting
scene fresco. which was painted By Gen.
eral Lees father-in-law, Mr. Gusts, who.
with his wife, Is buried In a quiet nook
In the woods on the Arlington, thef
graves Being marked by plain marble
shafts. This historic home is IN an excel
lent state OF preservation and visitors are
shown all the apartments Of especial In
terest, including the room IN which Cen
erai Lee was married. There Is no rec
ora that General Lee ever returned TO
arlington after the war, although toe
veteran servants at the mansion nave
long been wont to declare most steso-
lastly that Colonel Rob" was seen aoour
DUSK one evening slowly riding through
ne grounds in company WITH 0eneni
Grsnt, and presumably bidding izss
farewell TO bis old home
-WALDOz FAWcETT.