The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
COLUMBIA HONORs
MEMORY OF lee
L-----.---
DR.. Edward S. Ioynes, Of Uni
vcrsity of the South, Princi-
pal Speaker.
WAS PROFESSOR UNDER HIM
Knew the Great General Init
rlately When He Was Presi.
dent of College.
WAS PROFESSOR UNDER HIN
tsp.c,a, 70 TIM r,m.,.p,.p..ch,,

of Robert E Lee, held mere Tonight. the
! principal speaker was Or. Edward 8
Joynes of the University Of South Caro-
lima, who knew General Lee intimately
at Lexington.
DR.. Joynes. virginian, and a master
OF nrts OF the University OF Virginia, and
professor ut Washington College. was Ms
intimate with General Lea as any. man
now living.
His speech contained the personal tone
which made It exceedingly interesting to
the large audience present, apart rom
the scholarly nature OF the address
DR.. Joynes said In part:
Il am TO speak OF General Lee ns n
college president only--not at all OF his
larger life or achievement In military SER
vice. In this humber capacity It was MY
privilege to serve him and to know him
irtirately-a privilege. ah how great!
&C. great that I did not realize It until
he was gone. Yet. ever since. look back
upon It. with increasing estimate. ns the
golden age of my life-and with ever in.
creasing regret that could not know him
better and serve him better than did.
Such. know, was the feeling Of all
of us who were privileged to serve with
him Of whom I am now, with one ex.
ception, the sole survivor. To-day, all
over tho South, in many colleges and
elsewhere. this centennial Ia fifty cello
brated: for General Lee. as college
president. has ennobled every college in
the land and the memory of his great
example will be cherished so long as re-
curing centennials shall come.
In what T shall say to you. shall
speak without ornament or oratory, but
SIMPLY and OF intimate personal know
ledge. shalt make large use OF material
written by myself Immediately after Gen.
eral Lees death, when recollection was
fresher than now. Much Of documentary
evidence which. though interesting, has
already been widely published. I shall
omit: and II. on other somewhat techni-
cal points. I seem to go too much into
detail my apology must be that. In my
opinion, all authentic facts concerning
General Lee. as a college president. are
OF permanent interest and Importance
Here followed q somewhat detailed
sketch OF General Lees activity and in
huence as college president. and OF
the progress OF Washington College I'M
der his administration, which the speaker
claimed anticipated and surpassed any
thing then realized or even conceived In
American colleges" This sketch con-
cludes in these words. I'm addition to
all the other reasons for mourning tho
death of General Lee. 1t Is to be deeply
regretted that he did not live to complete
his great designs. Had he done so, he
would probably have left behind him an
Of learning which would have
been not less illustrious monument OF
his character than his most brilliant MIL
itary achievements. As It s. he has left
n university which, lowered with his
memory and his name. and inspired with
his ideals, will always remain his noblest
The Personal Side.
Continuing, Professor Joynes said: "Out-
side OF these more official statements
there Is much that might say OF Gem
eral Lee In his more personal and private |
relations. Yet such detail might be
wearisomo and, besides. mitch OF what
! would say might be unsuitable for pub
lie utterance. But no one who ever en-
toyed the privilege OF intercourse with
General Lee can forget that splendid and
personality. He was the
man I have ever seen. Be-
sides the utmost perfection OF form and
feature. he had n mingled sweetness and
dignity OF expression-an unconscious
grace and majesty OF appearance-'the
Ike of which, says Lord General Jvolse-
ley I have never seen in other men.
His familiar conversation was kind md
gracious. and often liglitened by the play
OF genial humor. He enjoyed a 1oke,
and could tell one with keen zest, but
never was there any approach to levity,
ana no man could have dared 10 take
liberties with General Lee
In his home, where ! often met him |
IN ms ramily circle. he was most loving |
and lovable. and especially his de-
meahor to Mrs. Lee, who for some
Years had been disabled by rheuma-
tism. was marked by a visible and
'ouchihS tenderness OF this dear and
gracious lady, who to my wifo and chill
dren showed the mingled love of friend |
and mother, and whose memorials are |
among the dearest possessions of our
household, l may not speak here. ex- |
cept TO say. that sho was worthy to be |
the wife OF Gen. Lee and the mother of |
his children or his devotion to her
ana OF his affectionate and beautiful |
iamlly me- the richest proofs are given
IN ms published letters, the most intl-
mate OF which exhibit, most uncon
sctously, the finest traits Of his char
acter. 10 all women he always show
ed the most chivalrous and delicate
or children he was affection
ateiy Iond. and to them he was ire
slstioly attractive. They We're often
seen gathered around him on the
campus. or In his quiet walks
Always Courteous.
In what Is called Society" General |
Lee mingled but little: he had neither
time nor inclination. But he was never
lorSetrul OF the small, sweet courte-
sizes Oh life" A stranger visiting Ley
lngton, father or mother visiting n |
son at college, was sure of q call from
General Lee. and with scrupulous |
courtesy he repaid the social atten-
tons that he received. At his table he |
presided with his accustomed sweet
and gentle dignity, and shared fully in |
social often playful, CONVERSE ton. On
special occasions he offered rare wines
remember once, some that had
been bottled by his father in the year
OF his own birth. OF this he partook
Eparingly. but never--so far as
know--of any other intoxicating drink.
He was fond OF riding-almost every az
ternoon, when he had time; and General
Lee, on Traveller, booted and gauntleted,
In winter with his military cloak, and ac-
oompanied, as he often was, by his favor.
lite friend, Professor White, like himself
q superb horseman. was tN finest sight
on which the eye could rest. How often
ah, how often,-I have watched that
splendid spectacle!
In business matters. private or official, |
General Lee was accurate and method.cal
ana MS annual reports were models OF
clear and comprehensive statement In 4
he was careful and scr,lpu-
iously punctual. On this subject l can