The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
SCHOOLGIRLS VIEW OF GEN. LEE7
Paper Read at Celebration by
Children Here on
Friday.

to him 100 shares OF stock at par
value Of 800 n share, In company or
ganlzed for the Improvement of the
navigation OF James River. Lee consented
to receive this gift only on condition that
he might use 1t for the Education of
the poor, particularly for the children OF
such as had fallen In defense Of the
country" He gave It to Washington
College, In Rockbridge county. Va In
1865 he became president OF that coll
loge. which has since had Its name chang
ed to Washington and Lee University.
Here he continued his educational work.
performing faithfully all duties, until Sep
tcmber %, 1870, when he was seized with
c severe Illness. After languishing num-
Der of days he died at o'clock In the
morning of October IL, 1870 Well has II
been said OF him.
You offered at your countrys cali
Your life your fortune and your all;
Pledging your sacred honor high
For her to live. for her to die.
With her you cast your future lot,
And now, without one single spot
To dim the brightness of your fame
Or cast a shadow DER your name
You lay your sword with honor down,
And wear defeat as 'twere a crown"
And nobly has that pledge been kept.
In personal appearance, in his prime.
Lee was considered the handsomest man
In the army He was about six feet tall.
wellbuilt. and fond of outdoor life. In
his dress he was always scrupulously
neat. although he was always simply at
tired. Thus, as In his whole life, was
shown the modest humility and simplicity
Whicl characterized the man. Never was
there trace Of pride or vanity displayed
lin his demeanor, although If ever a man
had right to be proud tina; man was
Lee. In character he was gentle dign!-
fed, studious and broadminded. And in
contrast to so many great men, Lees
virtues were even more conspicuous in
his domestic life than In his public ca
reer He was dutiful obedient son,
loving husband, and an affectionate faith
er. He was very fond OF children. and
they loved him at first sight One OF his
most notable traits Of character was his
consideration for others; he was ha-
b.tually courteous and polite to every
one. and 1t gave him great pain to wound,
even ever SO slightly, the feelings OF an
other. AS he expressed it, "a true man
of honor feels humbled himself when he
cannot help humbling others
General Lee was loved by every one
who knew him. but by his soldiers he
was adored- His love for them was very
great also. He never called upon his
soldiers to make sacrifices, brave dam
gers, or endure privations which he was
not willing to share, and often he de-
prived himself Of luxuries sent him by
friends. that he might send them to his
beloved men In the hospitals. His SOL
ders, some war-worn veterans and some
mere boys, were eager and ready to obey
and to follow him into any danger. to
victory or to death And In battle the
general was ever ready to lead the charge.
but several times his men protested and
led their chief to the rear, not bearing
for him to risk death. In the midst OF
all their suffering and want, when the
ragged Southerners were inclined to COM
plain, General Lee had only to assure
them that the commissary department
was doing its best, and their grumbiing
was hushed- The words, "Marse Robert
says So. were TO them sufficient proof
that thing WAS right. The following
incident shows what tender love the army
had for him.
One day General Lee. worn out by his
labors, had fallen asleep by the roadside.
his head pillowed on his arm, smile
on his face, for who knows what dreams
OF home and loved ones were thronging
his mind? Fifteen thousand of his troops
passed along the road that day, and when
the head OF the column saw Lee, like
lightning flash word was passed along
the line, Lee Is asleep. Do not wake
him. And with muttled tread the whole
army passed. The spell, more powerful
than any magic, which hushed them, deep
reverence and love. At another time Lee
received letter from some of his rebels
begging him. II he could not get them
out Of prison, at least to ride by and let
them see him and give him cheer.
Many men are great and good when
at the zenith Of power and glory; but to
this man was given the s,,nre.na +aet
defeat. Well did he stand that test.