The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-01-31

century, says: "As one of the great
| captains of the world, General R. E.
Lee will pass first in review and inspec-
ton before the criticism of the worlds
history"
And now we turn to General Lee as
the educator. He was offered the pres
idency of Washington College, the first
classical school opened in the Valley of
| Virginia. 1t was the outgrowth of an
academy founded in l749. And under a
succession Of principals, with several
changes of site, the academy at length
attracted the attention of General
Washington, from whom it received an
endowment and from whom it took its
subsequent name. At the time ofGen.
Lees accession to the presidency, the
college had, through the calamities of
the Civil War. reached the lowest ebb
in its financial history. In addition to
the general depression, it had suffered
through the ravages of war, the spoil
alton of its buildings, library and ap-
paratus, at the hands of the Yankee
~arnV-left free to pillage and sack at
their pleasure. 1t was a seemingly
forlorn hope. But such a forlorn hope
appealed to the heroic spirit of Robert
E. Lee, and he accepted the charge.
Bishop Wilmur of Alabama thus de-
scribed a visit from General Lee at this
time:
81 was seated at the close of the day
in my Virginia home when | beheld
through the darkening evening shades
a horseman entering the yard whom |
soon recognized as General Lee. The
next morning he placed in my hands
the correspondence with the authori-
ties of Washington College at Licking
ton. He had been invited to become
president of that institution. | must
confess to a little disappointment at
the proposed change in his history, The
institution was but of local interest and
comparatively unknown to our people.
| named Others more conspicuous which
would become him, with ardor, as their
presiding head. l soon discovered that
noble mind lowered above these earthly
distinctions. | had spoken to his human
feelings. He now revealed himself to
me as one whose life was hid with
Christ in God. He spoke ~eloquently las
| had never heard him speak b~efore) of
the guidance of the Holy Ghost the
great teacher. His words ear never be
effaced from my memory, and nothing
can be more sacred than my recollec-
ton of Them"
Suffice it to say, he accepted the re-
sponsibility and quickly set to work
availing himself of what assistance the
professors and trustees could render
him in maturing and executing his
plans, and important changes were
made in the system of instruction. He
seemed never to forget anything, no
matter how insignificant. Until the
last year of his presidency (when from
failing health he would be sometimes
be absent from his otiice) he knew ev-
cry student by name and would greet
them whenever they met. For in
stance, at one of the faculty meetings,
reviewing a roll of the students, a name
was called which he did not remember.
Instantly he said, 81 do not remember
that name; strange if have forgotten
him. An investigation afterward
showed that the young man in question
had been admitted during the presi-
dents absence, and, in fact, General
Lee had never seen him. Such was his
attention to detail that upon another
occasion when a visitor entered his Of
flee and inquired how a certain student
was progressing. General Lee said:
He is a very quiet and orderly young
man, but seems very careful not to in
jure the health of his fathers son. He
got last month only 40 on his Greek, IS
on his mathematics, AZ or his Latin and
so on his English, which is very low, as
100 is our maximum. Now | do not
want our young men to really injure
their health by over-study; but | wish
them to come as near it as possible"
Surprising, was it not, that he should
remember the class standing of one out
of 400 students? DR.. kirkpatrick says:
After an association Of five years
with him, | became convinced that
General Lee was not only the best SOL
der, but was also the best college pres
ident this country has ever produced"
One of the finest eulogies ever pro-
nounced upon r. E. Lee was that of
Rev. DR.. Z. T. Winkler of the Citadel
Square Baptist church, Charleston, S.
c., who concluded his wonderful eulogy
with the words: General Lee estab-
lished new claims to the reverence of
his countrymen when he exchanged the
camp for the college and the sword for
the pen
Did you know that General Lee,
among the many munificent offers
which he declined, he refused a prop
osltion from a large and wealthy corpo-
ration in New York, of $50, 0Oo per
year, if he would become their presi-
dent? And repeatedly when offers of
increased salary were rendered him by
Washington College trustees, replied:
MY salary is as large as the college
ought to pay When a proposition
was on foot to build him a handsome
residence, he insisted instead that other
buildings for the college were more
needed.
So much for his loyal and s~elf-sacri-
ficing nature, Of his love and affec-
ton for his soldiers, thousands of in
stances are preserved in historic rec
ord. His social and private life was
sublime; his christian character most
luminous, and holy his firmness as ada
mant; and yet his mercy and consider
alton like that of his Divine Master.
Soldier, scholar, christian, patriot;
what shall we say more? What more
can be said than is summed up in these
titles? Let US honor the name of Rob-