The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
105th Anniversary of Lees Birth Celebrated at Sol
 diers' Home in Chiffon
BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE
 PAID BY SANFORD
Following Address of Sanford Attrac- tive Programme Rendered-The Officers of Camp I'll
 Elected for Ensuing Year

Old Soldiers Home, Mountain Creek. January 19.-(Special) )-The morning broke over this camp on this, the 1O5th anniversary of Gen. R. E. Lee, and but for the energy and patriotism char acteristic of the men who followed the chieftain in the sixties, there would have been something lacking to make the day the success that 1t was.
 MT. I. w A. Sanford was the orator for the day and in delivering his eulogy on the life of Lee caused tears to trickle down the rugged cheeks of the old men when his pathetic remarks in measured voice touched them on points that were familiar.
 MT. Sanford spoke as follows
 Sanford's Address
 "One hundred and five years ago to- uay man child was born in the grand ol1 dominion of Virginia. whose career was destined to mark an era in his tory and whose name is written in the hook of time in letters of living flame. But 1t is with much hesitation and em- barrassment that l undertake to discuss briefly the life and character Of Robert ,ee to you WHO klltW nm tNNhSA than the historians and who added to the lustre of his deathless fame.
 Lees Beautiful Character
 "From the very beginning, in the school room. in the family, at home and abroad, in youth and Yin manhood, In war and in peace, until the end, ms devotion to every duty, private and pub lie his recognition of authority, his tof rights of others marked his character. In his school duties, he was diligent. attentive end methodical; at home, he was his mothers son and daughter, keeping house for her during her invalid days, under her direction. and when he left the school room, it was not to loiter along the way with other children, but to hasten home to minister to his moth ers wants. to attend to the horses, to have the carriage ready for her daily ride, and to go with her and to amuse and divert her in every possible way. His devotion to his mother was beauti- ful, and in her last illness he prepared every dose of medicine given and nursed her night and day. These youthful traits were but the indices of the great character that God was building for mankind and history. When growing boyhood blossomed into youth and it became necessary to consider his future life and vocation, it seems in thorough consonance with the martial spirit of his ancestral blood that he should have chosen a military career His course at West Point was adorned with the same high attributes of character and he was gradua ted with most distin- guished honors and without having re- ceived mark of demerit during his whole sojourn there. He was subse- quently second lieutenant in the en- gineer corps and was detailed to work out the plans for the control of the Mississippi river and the Des Moines rapids and the adoption of his reports and the constructive work that follow ed made possible the foundation. growth and development of such magnificent cities as Minneapolis, St. Paul and St. Louis.
 His first experience in warlike affairs came in 1S46 with the declaration of war letween Mexico and the United States, arising out of the annexation of Texas snd her admission to statehood. Into that conflict he entered captain and by reason of his military genius and dar- ing exploits, the end found him with the ices along the frontier with the war like Comanches and Apaches, where the same unswerving and fearless discharge of duty signalized his conduct.
 Tn February, 1861, the seven cotton states formed an independent republic, known as the Confederate States of America and selected Montgomery, Ala as it's capital. After the fall of Fort Sum ter and Lincoln's call for 75,0OO volunteers other states seeded and entered the Southern Confederacy And on April IT. 1861, when the state of Virginia passed the ordinance of secession, the die was cast for Lee and declining the offer to be made commander in chief of the Fed eral army. he resigned his commission and linked his fate with Virginia and hel sister states. In his refusal Lee said : If I owned four millions of slaves. would ehecrfully sacrifice them to the pl eservation of the Union, but to lift my hand against my own state and people is Impossible
 War Between States
 Then came the war between the states which shook a world and made history that can never die. Into that fnaelsfrom you and Lee cast your fortunes. But | hasten, less. like story twice told, I should become wearsome by recounting details with which you are all familiar and of which you were a part The struggle was not for power. dominion, or dignity. nor for fame, but to resist the palpable and dangerous assumptions of power and to repe wanton aggressions upon long established rights Lee found our country sadly lacking in the things esential for successful warfare, except men, whose blood was all afiame with courage and patriotism, but wizard that he was, shere soon was organized a great army, that for four weary years, held the admiration of the world. His yer sdtility equipped him for every situation and he was equal to every demand. He was engineer, organizer, strategist and tactician. Lee had every incentive 10 greatness, for no soldier ever fought for greater stakes. But after all, dear old veterans, 1t was you who made Lee pos sible, for no matter how marvellous his skill. nor how undaunted his courage, TOT faithful his devotion but for the powerful fighting support accorded him by the heroes of the gray, he could never have achieved such greatnes. For it was through your heorism, through your sac 1ifices, your unshaken faith in the cause and your confidence and love of him. that round by round, he climbed the ladder of fame. It is needless for me to recount here the trail written in deathless glory that leads from Bull Run to Appomattox.
 When the war ended and Grant, win the magiaminity of a great soldier and generons foe, returned the unstained sword of Lee, he accepted the inevitable end with lis people, turned his energies towards the rehabilitation of his beloved southland. In peace, as we'll as war the great character of the man shone with equal and unchanging effulgency. As, a man, he Nas peculiarly free from every vice and the usual faults and frailties of humanity, although he was extremely human in all of his tastes. sympathies and pursuits. He was above envy and Jealousy and self seeking. he was serious and yet ne enjoyed the ludicrous side Of lie and himself had a pleasant vein of