The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1907-02-27

that, although engaged in war, we may
have human regard for the sacred
ness Of life. To sacrifice an army
without hope is heathe nish, and the
higher our civilization the less it is
done. So we see that when Gen. Lee
surrendered his army to Gen. Grant
instead of sacrificing it to him, he ap-
preached the ideal by showing his re-
gard for his men and taking one step
toward disarmament after the settle
ment of all great questions by arbitra-
ton
To give you some idea of the strict
honesty of Gen. Lee, | will tell you
about his dealing with his youngest son:
The boy wanted to enter the army,
and Gen. Lee permitted him to do so
upon condition that he would enlist as
a private. How vastly differ ent that
was from some modern methods by
which We would expect the boy to be
given an official position and be promot-
ed rapidly by the ''pull'' process. In
reply to request of the boys mother,
that he should be kept near his father,
Gen. Lee said ne wanted him to be
among strangers and merit promotion
and receive it by recommendation from
others than his relatives.
Just before the close of the war
some men were sent TO the Southwest
to purchase horses for Lees cavalry;
the war closed before the purchase was
made. 1t had been necessary for each
of the men to carry five thousand dol
lars in gold On hearing Of Lees sur
render one of the men returned with
his money, but was at loss to know
what to do with it. One man suggest
ed that they divide it. Another said,
"Giveit TO an ordnance When Gen
Lee was consulted, he said, 1T is a
part of the Spots of war;" and direct
ed it to be turned over to the Federal
government. 1t has been said of Gen.
Lee that, GAS great as he was in war
he was greater in peace Shortly
after the close of the war he was elect
ed president of Washington College at
Lexington, Va. Before the war the
largest enro lment of the College was
one hundred During the war the
school was suspended and the buildings
were used for shelter for cavalry horses.
Gen. Lee saw the desolation of the
country and knew the way to develop
it most rapidly was to educate its citi-
zens. ne accordingly set about the
work with as great zeal as had ever
characterized him on the battle field.
His success was phenomenal. The en-
roliment soon reached four hundred and
ten. So great was his success that the
name of the College was afterwards
changed to Washington and Lee Uni
versity.
General Lee was man of strictest
Christian integrity. Rev. Mr.. Jones
said of him: ''He was the sincerest
and most consecrated Christian | ever
saw" Gen. Lee said, on one occasion,
that his College work would be a fail
ure if all his pupils were not converted.
during MS presidency OF the College
he s. as more than once offered Z large
salary If he would only allow his name
to be used in connection with life IN
surance companies. He declined by
saying that he could not give value re-
ceived and that his name would mis-
represent matters and be fraudulent.
If we had such men at the head of all
our great life insurace companies and
other great corporations we would hear
less talk of graft and investigation, for
fraud could not exist. If we had men
like Gen Lee to superintend the Militia
ry Academy we would never hear of
''hazing."
Perhaps the greatest test to which a
Continued on Page 81