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

struction.)
Among the earliest recollections Of
my boyhood are stories OF the Civil
War and Of "Marse Robert" it's
colossal central figure, told by CON-
federate veterans as they sat around
the Preside Of my old country home
in the long winter evenings. Through
the dim dust of more than forty years
[ can see now the light. Of Owe and
enthusiasm that kindled in their eyes
and giowed in their faces as they
spoke, always in softened tones. and
sometimes with tear-dimmed eyes, of
their old commander.
remember, too, how In those
early days the kindly face of Lee,
the idol of the South, looked down
IN silent benediction from the walls
of nearly every Southern home and
public hall. Lee, in defeat, was still
the sceptered, crowned. white-souled
Southern people.
From that early day Lee to me has
been a magic name, a sacred mem
ory, an inspiring example. What is
trne of me is probably true Of all
nv generation. For us, the ons of
the old soldiers Of Lee, whose blessed
privilege 1t has been to hear from u
IH1utIS hpo IN SRHS
southern Confederacy at first hand.
there is no need for these memorial
DAYS to keep alive the memory Of the
Lost Cause and its heroes and to ex-
pound the sacred principles for which
they fought and fell. But a new gen
Grafton that knew not osepn nave
come upon the stage. and for these
such days are needful lest they for
get, and in forgetting lose their
richest heritage. So it is we'll, 1t Is
wise that the noble women of the
South. Daughters Of the Confeder-
acy. ever more keenly alive thar men
10 the holy influences that mould the
human character, should tend with
watchful care, like vestal virgins Of
old the fires of love and venerdtiOn
upon the affairs of the hearts of each
generation of Southern youth for the
chivalric deeds of their noble ances-
tors and the deathless principles for
which they fought.
By Nature a Man Of Peace.
of Lee, the soldier. l h not
speak today, pausing only to remark
that long ago impartial and cOmpe-
tent military critics Of this and other
lands seem to have agreed in accord
ing 70 him a place among the greatest
captains of the world. 1t has alway
seemed to me, however, that he was
a soldier mainly by inheritance, pro-
fession, and duty; that by nature he
was always a prince OF peace, VINO
ever loved peace rather tina war, who
was willing to sacrifice everything fol
II save principle and honor, and. fo1
their preservation only, to unleaSf
the dogs of war.
OF Lee, the man, the human
hearted man, The gentleman, lovelier
more loved, more easily understood
approached and emulated. more in
mortal thar Lee, the soldier, l low
best TO think, and shall try to spear
today.
To one familiar with his life am
deeds, his character seems SO nearl,
perfect that it is difficult to speak o
him, save in the language Of eulogJ
| shall seek, however, to refrain iron
this. for panegyric is beHttling to sue
81 Lee.
The story of his life is familiar t
you all. To catalogue his shinin
virtues would be but to recount wha
you yourselves do know, what b
become a part of the heritage OF tn
whole South, what is rapidly becom
ing a part of the heritage Of tn
whole nation, and what, in the full
ness Of time shall become a part {
he heritage of the whole race.
Typical Character Traits.
Suffice it then for me to speak, an
briefly too, Of but a few of the mo-
typical traits of his great charactt
that seem to me worthy OF emuli
ton, a few of the forces that entere
into the making Of such a man, al
a few of the lessons Of his life. n
acter is the greatest thing in ma
II is never the result of fortuito1
circumstances. 1t is ever the r
sdltant of many forces, past al
present, potent among which a
heredity and environment. SUE
seems TO me TO have been the cha
acter of Lee. He was the finest frl
of two centuries of the best in Sout
ern civilization. He was the tyr
the best type, of this. He was t
incarnation Of the highest ideals
The "Old South" There must ha
been something very fine in that cl'
lization to have produced so fine
fruit as Lee, something, we W
agree, we'll worthy Of preservatl
and transmission by us of the NJ