The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-01-22


! Washington, owner Of the baronia
manor Of Arlington and possessol
otherwise Of princely for;Yne. HI
had lost all in the cateclysm of civi
war, and when he was thus impover
ished, this is what happened: In the
autumn of 1863 the city council o.
Richmond voted him a house for hi.
family, but he declined it, suggesting
! that whatever means the city coun
Gil may have to spare for this purpose
may be devoted to the relief of the
I families of our soldiers in the field.
After the war an English nobleman of
fered him a country estate with an
annuity of 5000 pounds; but he de
! clined, saying, Il must abide the FOR
! tunes and share the fate of my peo-
pie" In 1865 he accepted the presi
dency Of Washington College at a
salary of $500 year; but when Cen.
eral Ewell in 1868 gave $500 to the
college on condition that it be added
10 General Lees salary, the latter de-
clined it, writing General EweH: 4
already receive from the college a
larger amount than my poor services
are worth" He was invited to be-
come the head of a firm in New York
to represent southern commerce, with
a salary of $4,000; but this, too. he
declined, saying: 4 am grateful, but
have a self-imposed task which |
must accomplish, | have led the
young men Of the south in battle;
have seen many of them die on the
field; shall devote my remaining en-
ergies to training young men 20 do
their duty in life" The presidency
of the Southern Insurance Company,
in which Hampton, Gordon, B. H.
Hill, and other distinguished ex-con-
federates were directors. was offered
him at a salary of 10000; but this,
also, he declined, saying: Il feel that
ought not to abandon the position |
hold at Washington College at this
time, or as long as | can be of service
to it." The distinguished ex-COnfeder-
ate officer, who was sent to make him
the offer, said: We do not wish you
TO give up your present position, Gen
eraL or TO discharge any duties in
connection with our company. The
truth is, We only want your name con-
nected with the company. That would !
amply compensate US for the salary /
we offer" General Lees face flushed. |
and he replied: 4 am sorry, sir, that !
you are so little acquainted with me /
as to suppose that my name is for .
sale at any price" 4 found" says /
DR.. J. William Jones, his Ietter-book
filed with replies to offers of this
In May, 1870, when Gen
eral Lee was away seeking health. the
board of trustees of the college deed
ed the presidents house, which had
been built under General Lees SUI
DersiOn, to Mrs. Lee, with an annuity
Of $4,000. But he declined. saying: Il
am unwilling that my family should
become tax to the college, but de-
sire that all its funds be devoted to
he purposes Of education. | know
hat my wishes on this subject are
equally shared by my wife" After
he generals death, the trustees sent
Mrs. Lee check for the first quar-
er of the annuity; but she promptly
it, with a letter of thanks,
saying that she could not accept the
annuity, and was ready to give up
he house to the new president whom
hey should select. The new presi-
lent elected was her own son, and
'he died in the presidents house.
Surely to our hero Tennyson's
words are as appropriate as to the
,reat Duke: (
The INSTRUMENTATION, moderate, res
olute. ;
Whole in himself, a common good.
man of ampleSt influence.
Yet cleanest of ambitious crime.
Dur greatest. yet with least pretense. {
treat in council and great in war. i
foremost captain of his time.
Rich in saving common sense.
IND as the greatest only are.
n his simplicity sublime. f
good gray head which all men ,
knew, o voice from which their ,
OmenS all men drew.
iron nerve to true occasion true, L
fallen at length that tower of v
strength
Which stood fOur-Square to all the :
winds that blew. I
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