The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-02

BIZ Of history, and is vouched for nv
myself. having been told me by sIlss
Lefty Burwell. friend OF my child
hood and maturer years She lived in
beautiful old home called Avenel
an the old town of Liberty. now bed
FORD city, and II was there that Cen
eral and Mrs. Lee ana their gentle
daughter Agnes. received the royai
welcome that an old Virginia hostess
knew 80 well how to extend to her
honorcd guests Not long before the
passing away OF this dear lady OF
tho olden timcs visited her there al
so, and one day as we sat looking at
the cherished photos OF these three she
loved to call her friends, asked her
~ she knew anything of General Lees
boyhood.
Once" She said, Mrs Lee told mo
ne was little BOY the first tim. she
saw MIN, having come to Arlington
Win nus mother to visit. OF rather 10
spend on otd-fash:oned day lie was
dressed" she went on to say. ain -
SUIT Of hor1cspun. ana greatly enjoycu
IRVING around seated in AN oX-cart
beside an old negro" Indeed. he
spent the entire day. she said. in this
wa. Is not this a picture OF the bow
AS father TO the man simple i'm dress
"' aren't lover OF nature. ana with a
deep tenderness in his heart for hum
DC creatures and dumb animals?
/ am glad to think that his mother
GA not see tit TO call him in. and that
duty gave the ox-cart right of woy n.
the boy ana the old negro j0stlcd about
we highways and byways OF Arlington,
one perhaps listening to stories told
BY the other, couched in tho quaint lam
suaSc OF dusky people, that. like
teir lingo have conc from US Cor
ever
Searrn As diligently rs we may. we
hnd little after this concerning him
until at eighteen he entered tho Mill
iary Academy as cadet under appoint
ment by Andrew jackson Now. if Won
VIII read from our iniinitablc Thomas
Nelson Page on Lee the Southcrner.''
and see how, with Duty by his side.
nc TOOK the coveted prize OF the adj
lUtancy Of the corps, how he gradu-
ated second in a class OF forty-six, with
not one mark OF demerit TO blur the
TAR page Of his record Read OF him
IN Mexico, OF that lonely ride attended
by DUTY into the dark and treacherous
mountains forcing = treacherous guard
at the muzzlc of his pistol 10 lead the
way. that he might nnd out for him
self II reports as to the movements of
santa Anna : army were true or false
Read how Dutys eyes ferreted out q
path, mule trail only. a cross almost
impossible beds OF la va, over which he
guided troops to the very gates OF
'ontreras IT was such dauntless ar
dor az this that made General Scott
his commander In chief say OF him:
he is the very best soldier ever saw
In any fcld.' Read how, later on. he
was sent with his corps OF engineers
10 battle with the surging w,ers Of
the mississippi, lasting and cutting
into the very walls OF st. Louis We
are told the city government did not
approve OF Lees way. They withdrew
their appropriation, but Lee. leaning
al fG. 81
not and In the words OF NJ. Page.
Mark now his triumph his work still
stands a mighty bulwarl to q mighty
city"
Bat alas. too soon We must hasten
10 The time when, with hands full To
overlooking with the flowers Of hope,
JOY. domestic felicity. and fame, he
stood at the gates OF Arlington ere
they shut TO behind him forever lie
doubtless looked with just pride upon
that stately mansion, whose doors had
opened to him a. the lord of the heart
OF Mary GUSTS, only daughter and sole
helrcsS OF an honored house. Here as
a child she had been his playmate;
here as q maiden She had listened 10
that sweetest story ever told. from his
lips: here she had been led AS his bride
TO Gods holy altar, and here she had
become the proud mother ~ his sons
and daughters. He looked away from
thos" rlstenins columns OF the great
nortico with enraptured gaze to the
unsurpassed loVeliness OF landscape be-
longing TO the great estate of Arling-
con, it's BACKGROUND of forest taking
on the fcathe-y foliage OF spring its
unit slope shelving down to the broad
Potomac, its waters blue as the skies
they mirrOred. Across the river loonled
the graceful spires and the great white
dome OF the capital city lie could see
the proud banners under which he had
served 50 faithfully haunting 10 the
breeze, and he could see, on river field
and farm, the swarthy forms of the
slaves lie loved, yet pitied. II is said
OF him that in this hour OF trial. this
supreme moment of making q choice
he bowed his head and wept. went
tears Of blood not for Arlington and
the relinquishmcnt OF its priceless nos
session, his soul was too great for that:
not for the laurels waiting TO crown
his brow II he saw III to take command
OF that glittering ho.t marshalcd un-
der the Stars ana stripes: not for those
dark bones OF contention, the slaves. Tor
he had declared If he owned forty mil
lion Of them he would free them all 10
preserve the Union.
The Union, Ave. there was the rub"
The disruption Of the Union was tear
ing a his heartstrings. and "a cry not
unlike that that once went up over
Jerusalem arose TO his lips ana bowed
ed his tear-staincd face duty stood be-
fore him-duty pointing with uplifved
finger 10 the land OF tho southern
cross, and To a spot beneath that star
ry constellation known TO all men as
the dearest spot on earth, within a
state whose sovereign rights he could
not refuse TO uphold. And this knight
of Virginia. without fear though bray
ing reproach, unhcsitatingly made his
choice. He turned toward the land OF
his birth, saying. her people are my
people; her God my God: for her I viii
die: in her bosom | will he buried.
The Lord do so TO me and more also
II auSht but death part her and me.
Ihen 1t was that duty and Lee kissed
each other and smut 10 tho gates of
the gardens OF pleasures forever be
hind them
Now, we daughters Of his followers,
read mark and inwardly digest how
cvermorc they walked tho same path
Follow him through the four years of
blood and carnage. see him victori-
Gus yet never eXultnnt; see him de
featcd yet not cast down; see his ten
der heart suffering because Of it's
b