The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-16

professor Of art ut Yale Charles d. Roe,
now commanding tho National Guard
OF New York, and u number OF boys
among them Grey Henry, who became
In timo noted soldiers or sailors
There were attractive features in
thoBo dayY about tho auperintendentD
yard Among theao was a pond, which
In times Of mountain fresiets was ~
line sheet upon which to raft, and IN
winter Il fan place to skate. With
Colonel Lees earnest approval, as Rob.
CRIT pleasingIy tells in his Life and
Letters" OF shis father he and J. were
taught swimming by my father. For
this purpose we rcsorted to washing
TOMS Valley, sort OF bay, now filled
In by tho West Short Railroad.
TO return to Colonel Lees yard,
remember there was there a hugo pile
or packing boxes. such as officers nee
esaarily keep In readiness Tor sudden
departure AZ they change stations.
for such fierce brigands AS Rob and
myself Again. upon the roof OF tho
W oodshed had been placed by former
Colonel Delafield.t a
good-sized model of tho library build
ing as 1t then was. This we made a
magazine for such powder as we could
amass from stray cartridges dropped
by the cadets in skirmiBl1 drill.
Ono time, when we had really quite
a dangerous amount Of powder stored.
unknown 10 any one but ourselves, lt
accidentally caught fire and exploded
heard round tho world" Wo were
well scared. Robert especially (and IT
Is tho only time ! ever saw him SOD.
as he had reason to fear his fathers
stern rcbulke or punishment, ! re-
member his putting the colored waiter.
who happened to see the performance.
under solemn promise of Silence. For
some days. however. VIC Stunned my
Oldest brother, who also had seen the
accident, and provokingly held over
ter of fact, lie would never have be-
TRACED us.
The Venerable g. w. r. Custh.
1t Will be recalled that Mrs. Lee
ington Parkc custis. adopted son OF
George Washington. Consequently. the
house was full ef furniture from Mt.
Vernon and Arlington the last the fa-
NOUS Ice estate near Washington.
Some OF the higli-post bedsteads ] still
remember. and a nearly full-length
portrait of Washington in regimen
tails. and with the silver crescent borne
on ribbon around the neck. which. I
think, denoted I'm those times. the of
hcer OF the day" / believe the picture
represents MIN at the time of Brad
docks campaign. Some magazine OF
late years reproduced II and I recog
nized 1t at once. Old Mr.. Custis. a
striking and venabie figure. / can Just
recall, and like to think that Wash
ington. on whose birthday 1 was born.
mad also, OF course. seen him many
tinles 1t seems TO connect me some
public. cannot recall Mrs. Lee. ex-
cept as gracious Virginia lady and
hence. for my mothers sake, a very
dear memory.
When the Colonel and Mrs. Lee re-
cefved. as, OF course. they often did
VIC boys lowered on the outskirts like
the peri ar the gate of heaven, hoping
for furtive tastes OF Virginia sweets
have quite vivid recollection of a
certain graduating day. perhaps that
adjutant or first captain OF the corps
cannot recall which. though recall
him and his brother, .'Roouey.' dis
tinctiy. The graduation exercises were
held in tho beloved old chapel, soon to
be removed. and Colonel Lee. walking
down tho aislesA think. with an aide
or orderly, personally distributed the
diplomas with Il gracious word TO each
recipient.
Lees Picture Not at Academy.
The only visible aud tangible monu-
mont Of Colonel Lee at West Point is
the l-known, riding hall built under
his direction and which is now to give
way to newer and grander cdifico.
Filtration Walk had Its southern ter
mination. l sadly miss among the
portraits of former superin.endents
the stately form of Lee. the most ia
nous of them all. I earnestly hope
that ere long he may be appropriate
,y represented. 1t would in these
days of union and good feeling. be
a most gracious and proper rccosni-
ton OF beloved Superintendent. an
heroic and skilful soldier.
afsr .
in 1855. as he waved sood-by to me
from the top of the omnibus that took
hinla to the wharf. / saw his father
once more. several years later. when
lie had returned to the academy In
connection with some court-martial. At
the adjournment OF a session. as he
came down the library steps where IL
had been held. he met me. With one
hand upon my head. as If in benedic-
ton. he assured me should ever be
longed to greet me. Alas! the only
time ] ever saw Arlington / passed
1T IN arms in a war which separat ed
both relative and friend.
After the war r received through
Robert, his son. a most kindly mes
sage, RECALLING the old days. and. so
faithful was his memory. even inauir-
ing about my old negro NANNY"
None OF the portraits of the wartime
recall him to me. and even the ante
bellum ones give 10 idea OF the noble
presence that my retentive memory
preserves. 1 feel 1t was rare priyi-
lege to have known him, a still dearer
one to have had his blessing.
.lIinnIAlIA nrnnnnn