The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
Able Address Of Charles
Francis Adams atLex-
ington Celebration.
WOULD HAVE DONE
AS GEN. LEE DID
VI That Is Regarded as Traitorous
Language Distinguished Rep
resentatiye Of All That Is
Best in New England
Says He Accepts
the Homage.
Special to The T.mes.p,,p,,eb. /,

Special to The Times -Dispatch.}
= LEXINGTON. VA, January 1s-The
story OF the life OF Robert T. Lee was
eold to-day at his tomb in Lexington. Tho
orator was a distinguished son OF New
England. whose ancestors for Ave genera
flons have adorned the pages Of Aneri-
can history. The Hon. Charles Francis
Adams OF Massachusetts,, grandson OF
Presidents, himself the head Of the Mas :
sachusetts Historical Society uttered
thrilling words to-day before cultured
Virginia audience, In reciting the deeds
OF Robert e. Lee. The representative OF
New England culture and environment
addressing Southern audience on the
nte and character OF the great Confeder-
ate captain is OF itself dramatic situa-
ton.
And when tnat orator. with fervor and
emphasls, declares that after "much pa.
tient study and most mature reflection.
under similar conditions. would myself
have done exactly what Lee did," his
audience was carried off It's feet. thrilled
by the very audaeity OF the utterance,
and whom he added, as II to give EN-
phas's to the association. ''such an ut.
teranee on my part may be traitorous.
But here render that homage" the
vast thong appiauded to the echo.
Tho celebration NJ Washington and
Lee University OF the centennial OF the
birth OF General Lee. held In the Lee
Memorial chapel this morning. was
epoclal. The time. the place. the en-
vsronment, the visitors present the par
ticipants, all combined To make the oc-
carton memorable, and the Impressions
of the exercises. sacred to many and
interesting 30 ALL will iinger like a
b.nediction through all future life.
The old Confederate soldiers were pres
eDt in Roodly numbers. and many a
trasnulous lip and moistened eye bore
mute testimony OF the love and venera-
rion with which General Lee. was held
by the men who followed him through
the fiery ordeal of battle. and who with
Snpuestioning faith, dared execute isis
pvery order. To them Lee was the Ideal
Soldier, the rnatchless captain. whose,
ytern commands OF duty were always
poftened by the loving tenderness OF u
Aympathetic comrade.
Distinguished Audience.
Promptly at II o'clock the line of Con-
federate veterans. numbering 90, filed
INTO the chapel at Washington and Lee,
followed by the sons of Confedera ties,
l6 in number.
The Daughters OF the Confederac,,.
while not marching as such. we're seated
together in the chapel. Following thcse
organizations, the board of trustees OF
Washington and Lee, headed by the rec
tor. DR.. G. B. Strckler. OF Richmond
and Judge w. p. Houston, OF Lexington.
marched from Newcomb Hall to the
chapel, the student body 4l5 ahong. form
ing lines on each side of the walkway.
Then followed the members OF the fncuI-
~, in cap and gown. headed by Presiden,
George II. Denny, who escorted the dis
tingulshed orator OF the day Charles
Francis Adams, of Massachusetts, with
members of the graduating classes, also
capped and gowned and the student
body. Shortly thereafter every available
seat IN the large auditorium was taken,
and many persons had to be turned
away.
Tho decorations were simple, but in
entire harmony with the spirit OF the
occasion. Confederate and United States
flags were intertwined with Virginia
3iags; palms, evergreens and cut flowers
decorated the platform. together with a
handsome steel engraving of General Lee,
the gift to the university students; also
the beautiful bronze wreath from Gene
ral smythe, OF England.
Unexpected Honor.
Tho formal exercises opened with
prayer by DR.. Strickler, VINO was cap
hahn of the Liberty Hall volunteers,
company organized from among the stu
nents OF the institution. General Lees
{avor,te hymn, .How Firm a Foundation,
Se Saints of the Lord was sung by a
choir OF students.
address In which he paid deserving
tribute to She memory of General Lee,
md closed by announcing the action OF
the board of truatees in comforting the
degree of doctor OF laws on Mr.. Adams
Chen followed the address OF Mr..
Adams, which consumed considerably
more than an hour in delivery. The
address is printed below in full
President Denny, at the conclusion of
Or. Adams's speech announced that the
board of trustees had decided that the
Lee Memorial Chapel in future would
be devoted more exclusively as de-
pository of Lee mementoes.
Following the chapel exercises, the
banquet given by the Sons of Confed-
crates, assisted by. the Daughters of
the Confederacy. was held In the Uni
verslty gymnasium, in honor, OF the
Confederate veterans and visitors. NJ
w. Paxton was master OF ceremonies
Following are the toasts: 1.-THE Confed-
rrate Yeteran.' Attorney General William
a, anderson: The Union Veteran" f. d.
Mlllett, of New York; ''The Confederate
Navy" DIR. r. n. Fleming. ofLynchburg; OF
1.-THE Confederate Solder.' Colonel j. HI.
ID. Ross, A toast was drunk, standing
and in silence to the memory of Gen
eral Lee, and n toast also to the linton
soldier About $50 covers were laid at
the banquet.
Dr.. Denny's Reception.
A reception was held from to- o'clock
at the home of President and Mrs. Denny.
Yormer home of General Lee, in honor Of
the veterans and. sons of veterans, by
the Mary Gusts Lee Chapter of the
Daughters Of the confederacy, and to-
AContinuad on Fourth parei