Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-03-20
General Lee, on "Duty."
A Characteristic Letter Written To His
Son In 1852.
New York SUM-

New York Sum-
The death Of General G, W C. Lee,
eldest son of General R. E. Lee, chroni-
cIed in the Sun of February 10. recalled
to mind private letter of the famous
General written to this son, under date
of April 5, 1852, when Gusts Lee was
a cadet at the United States Military
Academy at West Point, and which was
found at Arlington House during the
Civil War. The letter throughout is
characterized by sonciseness, concennity
and clarity, and on this account should
find place in any anthology as mas
terpiece of correct English and model
of parental character-building advice:
darlington House.
April 5, 1852.
my Dear Son-I am just in the act
of leaving home for New Mexico. My
old regiment has been ordered to that
distant region and must hasten to see
that they are properly taken care of.
/ have but little to add in reply to your
letters of March 26, 81 and %. Your
letters breathe a true spirit of frank
ness. They havegiyen myself and your
mother grcatpleasure. You must study
to be frank with the world; frankness
is the child Of honesty and courage.
Say what you mean to do on every oc-
casion, and take it for granted you
mean to do right. If a friend asks a
favor you should grantit, if it is reason
abIe:if not, tell him plainly why you
cannot You will wrong yourself by
equivocationfof any kind Never do a
wrong thing to make friend or keep
one. the man who requires YOU to do SO
is dearly purchased at such a sacrifice.
Deal kindly, but firmly, with your
classmates. You will find it the policy
which wears best. Above all, do not
appear to others what you are not. If
you have any fault to find with anyone
tell him, not others, of what you COM
plain, there is no more dangerous ex-
pertinent than that of undertaking to
be one thing before mans face and
another behind his back. We should
live, act and say nothing I'd the injury
of any one 1t is not only best as a
matter of principle. but it is the path
of peace and honor. In regard to duty
let me, in conclusion of this hasty letter
inform you that nearly hundred years
ago there was day Of remarkable
gloom and darkness-still known as
the Dark Day, a day when the light of
the sun was SLOWLY extinguished, as it
by an eclipse. The Legislature Of Con-
necticut was in session. and as its MEM
=bers saw the unexpected and unaccount-
able darkness coming on they shared IN
the general awe ard terror 1t was
supposed by many that the last day.
the Day of Judgement, had come.
Some one, in the CONSERVATION of the
hour, moved an adjournment. Then
there arose an old Puritan Legislator,
Davenport, of Stamford, and said that
if the last day had come he desired to
be found at his place doing his duty,
and therefore moved that candles be
broughtin so that the House could pro
coed with its duty
There was quietness in tn at mans
soul, the quietness of heavenly wisdom
and inffexible willingness to obey pres
ent duty.
"Duty, then, is the sublimest word
in our language. Do your dutyein all
things like the old Puritan. You can
not do more. You should never wish
to do less. Never let me and your
mother wear one gray hair for any lack
of duty on your part. Your affection
ate father R. 3. LEE.
G. w. GUSTS Lee. =
How simple. true and honest R. E.
Lee appears in this letter, what noble
and conscientious character stands re-
vealed in the tenderness of his devoted
parental solicitude and the grandeur of
his tense maxims.