The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-01-27

Ldt1IiS A1S iONc VI the OIlOI, tIldt his
fathers had been mighty in establish
Ing. his soldiers love for the flag for
which he had spilled his hood on
many a battlefield, and his convic-
tions against the institution of slav-
cry, to his higher convictions Of duty
to his native State and her people and
his deep-rooted principles of consti-
tutional liberty and State sovereignty.
Having seen his duty at last, nobly
following its path, alike unmoved.
whether it led to victory or defeat,
to heights Of glory or through val
leys Of humiliation. Lee was sub
lime in victory yonder at ~Chancellors-4
Vile and Cold Harbor and Spottsyl-
vania, and on scores Of other battle
fields won under the direction Of his
matchless military genius, he was sub
liner in defeat yonder at Gettysburg, !
with Christlike self-abnegation. tax
ing upon his own shoulders AL the
blame of failure; yOnder at AppOmat-
tox, at the behest of duty to others, |
the brave fellows VINO had followed
him SO Loyalty for four long years
through fire and blood, and cold and
hunger. with calm self-effacement.
surrendering his army in the field,
n riding down the long thin lines
of his shattered forces. a defeated
general, to receive from them not
Kisses and curses but cheers, and
blessings and tears-more loyal to
their old commander in defeat h
they had been in victory. The heroes
of Thermopylae died for their coun-
try amid the shock and excitement
Of battle; the heroes OF Appomattox,
under the spell OF Lees great spirit,
cheering, accepted defeat with I'M
bowed head and Christian resigna-
ton, wept only because they could
not die for theirs. Which is the sub
Inner spectacle?
Most Sublime After the War.
But Lee was most sublime after the
war, quietly putting behind him all
tempting offers Of wealth and luxury
and ease, coming to him from many
quarters, and at the high call Of duty
again, with firm reliance on God,
quietly riding alone one day on his
old war horse n the little noun
tain town Of Lexington to accept the
presidency Of a college without money
or equipment, with only forty stu
dents, at a salary of $500 a year,
there to devote the remaining years
OF his life to the training of the sons
of those l-e had led in battle and to
teach them and all the people of the
South, by his example and precept,
how to live for the land for Which
they had fought and fallen, to teach
his students and his people lessons OF
silence and patience, Of loyalty and
uuty " Ii1S lSulllCu[ oDlOI CI1OOSiGS
, rather to suffer with them that he
l might the better lead them in the
t ways Of peace and truth and right
t e~ousness, Of obedience to law and OF
( resignation to the decree Of fate and
the will Of God. Only the South
f yet Knows how much the Union owes
: to Lees example and advice to the
t Southern people during the dark days
that followed h war. The who'll
. nation is beginning to understand
e and will some day fully understand
: it and honor and revere his memory
e as we Of the South do now.
The last acts Of his life were t.
:, attend a vestry meeting of his church
Z and to ask Gods blessing on his fam
lily at his board. What more fittin.
n close to such a life! What bette.
final testimony to his conservation t,
n duty and his reliance On Cod
= "A picket frozen on duty, a mothe
= starved for her brood,
e Socrates drinking the hemlock an,
~ Jesus on the rood;
And millions, who humble and name
less, the straight, hard -pathwa
Some call it conservation, and other
call it God"
te What childlike faith in God wa
st Lees, what firm reIiance on his low
n and overruling power, what trustfu
le resignation to his will, what calr
is confidence in His wisdom and H
word. These and these alone sus
tanned and strengthened him in vic
"a tory and defeat, in public life an
private, and kept his spirit sweet i
IF the midst of bitterness and hate, an
IN his soul calm and strong in the mid.
- of every storm.
ee How his orders and his address,
s. to his soldiers, his letters to his fan
Of lily and his friends, public and pr
ic vate, his very conversation, we
tn permeated with humble sincere al
and unconscious expression of thes
Ill For the good of your own soul rea
I'D and reread these beautiful letters
his, for through them shine IL
beautiful soul Of the man.
is Lee was a man Of prayer no lie
rs, than jackson, though in a quiet
al way. The Old Book and family pra.
:, orc bod thoip hnpnro6 n1oto -, h