The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-03
A LVOMAN,S VIEW OF GEN. ROBERT e. LEE
Paper Written by Woman to be Read to Women.

Madame President and Daughters OF
the William r. Terry Chapter United
Daughters of the Confederacy. and
ladies of the Memorial Association:
1t Is with great modesty and diff
dence that I shall cndeavor to present
few facts concerning one OF the
greatest men this world ever saw
viz, Robert f. Lee.
Some men are born to greatness and
some men achieve greatness and when
when we trace back the ancestry OF
Robert E. Lee through his long line
of illustrous ancestors, we are apt 10
| think he was born to greatness; but
after mature thought We have arrived
at the conclusion that he achieved his
own greatness.
1t was with him, as 1t is with all
great men. the home training that lays
the foundation of character. The father
of Robert e. Lee rendered conspicuous
service during the Revolutionary War.
and was assigned independent corps of
| infantry and cavalry, and was known
as Light Horse Harry" Lee. In 1911
he moved from Westmoreland county
to Alexandria to educate his children,
and in 1917 III health caused hIm to
visit the West Indies, but deriving no
benefit from the change he started
home, and died at the house OF n friend
on Cumberland lSlhnu, OH the coast OF
Georgia, and there he was buried.
Thus you sec that Robert Il. Lee, who
was born January 10, 1907. and whose
anniversary we commemorate to-day.
was at the age of eleven years. left
fatherless, and his mother a confirmed
invalid There were two sons older
than himself, and one sister; one of
these brothers was a Harvard student,
the other one was in the navy. and
the sister was delicate. At this tender
age of eleven years, many household
duties and domestic cares fell upon
Robert. In a letter written by his
father from the West Indies he speaks
of him in these words, Robert. who
was always good, will be confirmed in
his happy turn of mind. by his ever
Eatchful and affectionate MOTHER and
there is no doubt thai the lessons of
this judicious and loving mother bore
an important part in the formation of
the character of our great hero.
She taught him in his childhood TO
practice self-denial, ,self-control. and
the strictest economy in financial mat
tors. AT the ago of eighteen years he
entered West Point as a cadet; in the
course of four years no graduated with
second highest honors; during these
four years he never received demcrit.
Immediately after his graduation, he
lieutenant in tho United States Army.
June so, 1881, lie had the rare good
fortune to marry his first love, Mary
Curtis, the granddaughter of Mrs.
George Washington. They We're mar
red by Rev. Mr.. Mead. who was af-
forwards Bishop Mead. AS Mr.. Mead
was jogging along on horseback with
his surplice in his saddle bags, on his
way to the wedding. he was caught in
a sudden thunderstorm, and was
drenched 1t was impossible for him
to perform the ceremony in his wet
clothes. so he had to put on suit of Mr..
Custls's clothes and as Mr.. Gus
| It's was short and very stout,
and Mr., Mead was long and
very thin, you can Imagine how
he looked. but the surpicc saved tho
wedding. Lieutenant Lees profession
obliged him to be nearly always from
| home, and at the time of John Browns
raid 1859. he was ut home from Texas
| to see his family: his rank at this
| tary of War put him in command of
I Il battalion of marines and sent him
| to quell tho insurrection at Efarper's
! Forty On the 18th of April. 1861, Vir-
| ginia secceded, and Colonel Leo cast
| his lot With her. AS soon as 1t was
| known that Colonel Leo had retired
| from the United States Army, the
! Governor OF Virginia rendered him the
| appointment of Encouragement and COM
| mander-in- chief of the forces or Nir-
| GINA, AT this time General Lee was
in the prime OF henlthful, and vigorous