The San Francisco call., 1909-02-21
Robert E. Lee, the Southerner"

like chastity IN a weman's face. is it's
best advocate; its simplest presenta-
tion In its strongest proof
1T IS then, not 10 Lee the victorious,
that the writer asks his readers at
tention, but to that greater Lee, the
defeated"
The portions OF the book dealing
with Lee the man are admirably done,
Mr. Page presents TO US a living per-
sonGlity and one sees that his Judg-
ment of Lees career Is oolored by his
few years experience when he was
under him in college. He pictures Lee
as always dignifed. never irritated by
any sort OF annoyance and with the
kindliest possible disposition.
Thus, in simple duties and simple
pleasures, untouched by the sings and
arrows Of outrageous fortune, he
passed life's close among his own peo-
pie, halloWed memory to those who
knew him, an example to all who lived
in that dark time. or who shall live
thereafter; the pattern OF Christian
gentleman, who did justice. loved mer-
cy and walked humbly with his God"
IN the part OF the book which treats
OF Lees generalship there are many
extravagnnt statements, which, how
ever, show plainly that the feeling Of
40 years ago Is not dead. After a ref
erence 70 Napoleon's battles, read this;
so, as I have immersed myself I'm
the history OF this great captain and
noble gentleman, there has appeared to
come before me out from a misty past
that other army, inspired by higher
motives-by the highest motive-iove
OF liberty. on whose jmperishable deeds
Is founded the fame OF an even greater,
because a nobler, soldier; that army of
the south, composed not only OF the
best the south had, but well nigh of all
she had
Mr.. Page has done one thing in the
pages OF his book which no other
southerner writing of Lee has done.
He has paid most graceful tribute to
Grant, whom he very evidently ad-
mires:
I love TO think of Grant as he ap-
peared that April day at the surrender
the simple soldier. the strenuous
fighter. who, though thrashed, was al
ways ready to fight again; who now
though he had achieved the prize for
which he had fought so hard and paid
so dearly. was so modest and so un-
assuming that but for his shoulder
straps and that yet better mark of
rank, his generosity. might not have
been known as the victor. South
erners have generally long forgiven
Grant all else for the magnanimity he
showed that day to Lee. BY his or
ders no salutes Of joy were fred, no
public marks of exultation over his
fallen foe were allowed. History con-
tains no finer example of greatness. y
The closing paragraph of the book
Is what would be expected from so
ardent southern partisan. 1t will
not be realized in this generation nor
the next. for the great union can not
as a whole do honor to a man who
took so prominent a part in the at
tempt to disrupt it. Mr.. Page in his
enthusiasm hopes that;
Some day, doubtless, there will
stand in the nations capital a great
monument to Lee, erected not only by
the southern people, whose glory 1t Is
that he was the fruit of their civiliza-
tion and the leader of their armies.
but by the American people, whose
pride II will'b be that he was their fell
low citizen Meantime he has a nobler
monument than can be built of marble
or OF brass. His monument Is the ado
ration of the south; his shrine is in
every southern heart"
The book contains fine photogray-
ure portrait OF Lee and is attractiveiy
printed and bound.