The gold leaf., 1911-01-26
NO. 6.
ROBERT E. LEE.
Brief Extracts Taken From Some
Famous Estimates of Gen. Lee
illustrative OF Ills Physical, Mental.
Moral and Spiritual Greatness.

"usuauNc % Ills tn ysiCaIs me6taf,
Moral and Spiritual Greatness.
General Lee was confessedly the
nandsomest man America has pro-
duced; and, in the Judgment of critics,
II not the greatest man OF his age
and time, he looked itl Undoubtedly
he would have been famous merely as
a superb specimen OF manhood, had
he never led an embattled host or
set a squadron in the field.-W. +,
Bishop.
His were the virtues OF Pericles with
out one blsmish, one npot, one stain.
In him duty disdained to yield to
expediency and Aristides himself
would have owned him peer in vir-
tue.-Col. VIM. Preston Johnston.
A model OF manhood worth more
to our nobiest attributes than all
the fortunes spent in the terrible war
that unveiled his grandeur to our
gaze-R. A. Holland.
With all his intensity OF devotion
to the Southern cause. there was
mingled none OF that bitterness and
fierceness that civil war is 80 likely
to engender and oil which ours con-
tains such mournful illustrations.
Under provocations the most severe,
his calm and well-poised mind never
yielded to the impulse OF vindictive
emotion and never allowed itself to
be goaded beyond the rules OF honor
able warfare. -" 1t was this sub
lime elevation above the fierce vindic-
tive passions OF the hour that ex-
cited, even during the war, the won
der OF his enemies. 10 was in
this fine harmonious balance OF head
and heart and the even development
OF the powers OF each without any
exaggeration that we find the beau
tiful and full orbed completeness OF
his nature and the conspicuous ele-
ments of his renown.-T. V. Moore.
He not only possessed true genius,
the "gift that heaven gives and which
buys place next to a king" but he
had what was better than genius
q heart whose every throb was in
harmony with the teachings OF the
Great Captain whom he served. A
spirit naturally robust and aggres-
sive, but he made it Loyalty obedient
to the precepts of the Divine Master.
In the combination OF great qualities
he will be adjudged in history as
measuring up as few commanders
have ever done to Scipio's lofty con-
ception of the noblest soldier, but
who found more pleasure In the pro-
lection OF defenceless citizens than in
the disasters inflicted on contending
foes. Gen. J. B. Gordon.
He was the ablest general and to
me seemed the greatest man | ever
conversed with; and yet | have had
the privilege OF meeting Won Moltke
and Prince Bismark and at least
upon one occasion had Il long and
interesting conversation with the
latter. Gen. Lee was one OF the few
men who ever seriously impressed
and moved me with their natural,
their inherent greatness.
Forty years heve passed since our
meeting, yet the majesty OF his manly
bearing, the genial winning grace,
the sweetness OF his smile, the dignity
OF his address come back to me
among the most cherished OF my
recOllections.-Lurd Wolseley.
He was foe without hate, friend
without treachery, n soldier without
cruelty and a victim without COM
plant.
He was a public man without vices,
private citizen without wrong, q
neighbor W thout reproach, q Chris
tian without hypocrisy and n man
without guile.
He was Caesar without his amEs-
ton, Frederick the Great without his
. tyranny, Napoleon without his self
ishness, and Washington without his
reward
He was as obedient to authority as
a servant, as royal in authority as II
] king. In life he was as gentle as a
woman. In thought pure as a vir-
gin. Watchful as q Roman vestal.
Submissive to law as Socrates, and
grand in battle as Achilles.-B. IL.
Hill
A life upon which the longer we
linger, the more we shall find TO love
! and revere, for it was one over which
] virtue will scarce breathe IA sigh and
to which fame could hardly add a
! chaplet. 1t was life which In every
] season, relation and employment
: was crowned with all that wins the
! affection and commands the homage
: OF mankind whose achieve
J ments ot arms aa brilliant as ever
] blazoned a warrior crest or adorned
nations story, were 80 ennobled By
q the exhibitions of nobility OF soul
y with which they were associated
that we almost lose sight Of the sol
8 dier In gazing on the image OF tht
y grander man.
. It was a life which spanned thf
extremes Of triumph and of calamity
but which was so transflgured bJ
q faith, hope and charity that the line
. OF suffering are even more lustron
). than it's lines OF glory. II other Iise
- have been sown more thickly viii
= the glittering stars Of human honor
p or have rejoiced more abundantly II
s. the gifts OF earthly fortune, non
Z have been more richly lowered Wit
s@ the love OF man. nor more dIvlnei
- radiant with the beatitudes of Tod
D There flows from it's mysterious url
Z a sacred stream, in whose calm dept
y the beautiful and pure alone wer
a mirrored; which though shapes oil !
might hover round its surface, role
= In light it took no shadow fror
e them" Death which withers til
roses aud fades the flowers OF king
= and lays in dust the pride and pom
OF ambitiou, has no power over sue
. a life but to touch it with lines
a heaven and seal il for immortality
Jas. Z. Holcombe.