Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-01-29

Gus privilege OF having krown
personally our great Commander
and | believe the feelings of every |
body were expressed few days
ago by Veteran Miley, who said
that when once asked by some
stranger here, who had never seen
Gen. Lee, how he would describe
the impression made on him, he
replied that he believed II Gen
Lee could have walked unheralded
and unk nown before an assemblage
of 10, 900 people, every eye would
az orce become riveted, and every |
one who saw him would have said
that he had the most splendidly
strik ng appearance of any human
being they had ever seen.
Gen. Lee was called to the Presi-
dency of Washington College or
Aug. 4. 1855, which he accepted
Aug. 20, 1855 in conditional let
ter couched in terms Of the great
eat modesty aud he was installed
with simple ceremonies on Octo'
Der 9, 1856. the oath OF office be-
ing administered by DR.. White'
the pastor Of Stonewall Jackson.
Gen. Robert +. Lee became a pri.
yate citizen Of Lexington, ana
lived as such until HE death Oclo-
Der ~, 1870, since which time we
have been the guardians and keep
ers of al! that lie mortal OF him.
The priceless heritage and charge
is ours TO watch over his tomb and
cherish the vestal fire of his fame,
which is never to expire through
al the cons ana ages which a me:-
ciful God will vouchsafe TO the
human race.
As citizen in our midst d1ring
the last five years of his life, his
Influence for good, not only with
this community, but through the
students Of Washington College on
all the people of this country, es-
pecially the south, cannot be meas
ured and can only be known to the
lOmniscient Mind.
Not only did the care OF the
students personally hold his at
tention, but every detail In the
management Of the institution
showed his care; even the streets
and walks were objects OF his In
tense solicltude, and the shrubs on
the cam pus. Comrade Mcdowell
also told me illustrative of this,
that while playing foot bail, ht
ran by an evergreen, which stooo
near the front of the chapel, anc
t lust beyond the fret bsse. anC
broke a piece off as he passed, try
, ing to turn. The General called
, him back and told him that b,
: had noticed him break piece of
and that he he'd planted the ever
} green himself, and felt an In inter
( est in it, and when Mcdowell
Il .omised to be more careful there
5 after, he expressed the hope tina
d he would be more careful.
g Oh. w. +. Poague told me tina
8 he wac a member of the Board o
n Trustees of Washington Colieg
v when Gen. Lee was President, ant
d that he would make mis- reports t
the Board in writing, with all tn
d air and appearance of a soldier
t hut with the most ceferensia
r. manner that could be imagined
!. and that at every meeting h
h would invite the Board to dinner
N and at his table he was the mos
a genial aud delightful host and h
g. had much humor. He recalls Ger
d Lee having fun with Mr.. inc
p Alexe nder about being a bachf
d. lor.
y This great man passed away
,r Lexington as peacefully and calm
" as If be was going to sleeI
y without a fear or thought of sell
t. hut az his mind was loosening fro
is its earthly mooring, it swept ev'
the couree of his life and rested
W some great and critical stage
n. his military Greer, and his la
words were "Strike the tent. lie
ds Hill he must come up" Offerir
a strange coincidence In that tf
last words of both Lee and JacksC
referred to their great lieutenan
r. Hill.
at He Law in state in the chap
@ which he built. Comrade W.
II. Shields was one of the cadet sent
D nels who stood guard over hlr
s.. and he was buried in the baseme
e. of the chapel until the splend
or mausoleum in It's rear was Col
pleted.
I'M Gen. Lee did not leave Lexin
Mt ton after he took up his life VIC
ed here, but on several occasions
We went to Baltimore, or Richmon
ar or Norfolk, and once to the Sou
n. for his health; and when he pass
a along the streets of the cities, m
g. would step back, take their IA
off. and stand uncovered until
had passed. There is no paral!
for this. We have seen perha
an or read of at times the great al
ir, powerful shown this mark OF d
ed tinction, but where in any countr
49, anu ,kme has 81