The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1910-01-27

received attention, so that his heart
was trained as we'll as his body and
his head. This symmetrical develop
ment of his character and personality
caused Gen. Lee to feel at home
everywhere. He was at home in
humble society and he was at home
in cultured society. He was at home
On the farm and he was at home IN
the city. He felt at home with
statesmen, with educators, with SOL
diers, with farmers, with his ser,
wants, with his horses, cattle and
dogs. His faculties were so we'll
balanced that he was cool IN victory
and calm and seIf-possessed in defeat.
Even in the most exciting moments
Lee had full control of all his facul-
ties. Gentlemen, the world needs
well-rounded men today. Many
mistakes are being made in develop
ing the mind with but scant respect
to the body. Many are training
their heads to the neglect of their
hearts. Our powers need to be de-
veloped symmetrically.
again, we notice that GEN. LEE
WAS A GENTLEMAN OF THE FIRST OR
DER. Every fibre Of his nature was
true to the highest conception of a
gentleman. He was gentleman in
his home. in school, in the neighbour
hood, in business, in battle, in victc-
ry and IN defeat. He was a gentle
man with his friends, with his enc
mics. with his interiors and with his
.ervants. Wherever you saw him
he bore the marks of gentleman.
His words, his deeds, and his very
"salutes revealed in him a gentle
man Of the rarest type. To be a
gentleman is 70 rare thing. but to
be a gentleman Of the order of Gen.
Lee is rosmall attainment. He was
truly gentleman everywhere and
in every thing.
I'VE notice in the next place, THE
PURITY OF HIS LIFE. This world
likes purity. We desire pure food &,
pure goods, pure gold, pure patriot
ism. pure love and pure religion.
Purity of life was one Of Lees char
actercs. Men may be great in some
respects without purity of life but
they cannot be truly great men with
out purity of life. Joseph might
have had elements Of greatness with
cat his purity of life but these had
to be combined with his purity of
life to make him a great man.
Moses could have been great in some
respects without his purity but the
clements of purity was essential to
the greatness of this eminent biblical
character. Lee could not have been
the great and towering character he
was had his life not been a pure one,
Ga, how the world needs purity of
life and character,
I'VE notice next, LEE S UNFALTER-
ING AND SANE PERSEVERANCE IN
LIFE. 1t was revealed in his student
life. 1t was prominent in his services
for both the Federal Government
and the Confederacy. 1t was seen in
his rising rank as soldier and war
rior. Earth has had her striking eX-
anples of perseverance. | love to
think Of Demosthenes struggling for
his silver tongue of oratory. | love
to read of Warren Hastings striving
t, regain the possession Of his an
cestry. But there is something about
the steady and sane perseverance OF
Gen. Lee that appeals to me. See
him in battle after battle advancing
the interests of his cause with in
ferior numbers. Again and again
he plunges agaisnt the enemy for
four long years until he is overcome
By numbers. At every point did he
meet duty's demands. His son said
Of him MY father was the most
punctual man ever saw. He was
always ready for family prayers, for
meals, and met every engagelnent,so
cial or business, at the very moment.
Then, after the war he took up the
broken threads of success and with