Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-02

4
most characteristic feature OF General
Robert T. Lee. who sat for me for n
bust In 1870. my answer would be. "a
complete absence OF the melodramatic
in all that he said and did" And may
add that an artist. above all other men,
ls'Quick to observe the faintest sugges-
ton OF posing: the slightest indica-
ton OF n movement or an expression
which smacks Of vanity he is sure to
detect. Such weaknesses (Which. as
far as know. are shared by many who
are called the great ones" OF the
world) were totally lacking in General
Lee
In my diary (Which. with the omis-
sion Of single entry. have kept since
1850 l have endeavored to note down
the very words of my sittcrs at times:
and only on one occasion did General
Lee make the slightest remark in re-
gard to the likeness which would lead
me to believe that he had critically
been watching the progress Of the
work. and this was when the bust was
in an unfinished condition.
On the c5th of May, 1870. General
Lee was at my studio in Richmond. and
II was my privilege to make accurate
measurements OF his face for the bust.
His stay In the city was a short one
! was able to take only this important
preliminary step. yet II was on that oc-
casion that | experienced for the first
time his quiet sense OF humor. During
the conversation had with him on
that day spoke Of how my fortunes
had changed since the war. possibly
with the expectation OF hearing some
very sympathetic words from him: but
to my surprise he simply remarked that
IAN artist ought not to have 90 much
money" | am sure that he had at the
moment no conception OF the condition
OF my purse. for In less than ten days
after this conversation had 10 borrow
from n relative the necessary funds to
go to Lexington to model the bust
which l have mentioned. Maybe. how
ever. IL was for my consolation that
later ia the conversation he said. Mis-
fortune nobly borne Is good fortune"
AT the moment I thought the sentiment
was original with him, but some time
after his death while my wife was
reading aloud the "Meditations of Mar
Gus Aurclius." ] discovered that II was
a quotation from that author. At any
rate. no more appropriate cpitaph could
he carved on the tomb of the great Vir-
ginian.
Just before parting with the general
I remarked that would go TO LcXing-
ton then or in the fall. and he replied
that he would have more time at the
latter season, but that ] had better so
then. The fact of his appointing an
early date for the sittings made the i'm
preston on my mind that he was at
the moment thinking OF the uncertainty
OF life. Had l waited until the fall.
possibly 1 should never have had him
pose for me- lie died October u.
On June 3. 1870. left Richmond for
Lexington by way of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad. going via Goshen
Pass made ever memorable by the words
of another great Virginian. Comma nder
Matthew Fontaine Maury. who on his
deathbcd asked that his remains he
taken through this beautiful dcfilc
when the laurels are in bloom" | ar
rived in Lexington by stage early the
next morning,and called on General Lee
at his residence. He was very kind in
his manner; showed me the portraits
hanging on the wall: and then ! start
ed TO seek room where might model
the bust After an unsuccessful search
for this temporary studio. ] reported TO
the general. who possibly from my
manner saw that was disappointed in
not finding one. At any rate. he said.
You can work in here" speaking OF
the room on the left In the front hall.
! at once remarked that there vas a
carpet on the floor. Il Will have that
taken up" said. But ! preferred
not to accept his kind offer. and in a
further hunt I found vacant store
under the hotel on the main street. I'm
fortunately. It had been closed I know
not how long, and feared the damp
ness Although 1t was in June, l had
fire lighted. for | had noticed that
the general would put his hand on his
breast from time to time. probably suf-
ferinG with a heart trouble that fol-
lowed an attack Of pneumonia after the
battle of Fredericksburg.
The day OF my arrival the general
walked with me up into the town.
stopping at a store where he espied
an acquaintance tMr. Archibald AleXt
ander). he said. "Mr. Archie. here is n
young gentleman from Richmond who
has come to make bust of me. l wish
you would sit for him."
All such jokes could but be reassur-
ing to me. and I began to feel less
dread at being closeted for days with
this great man.
After the sittings began we were In
reality cioseted. I had been requested
by him not to allow any one to come
into the room-"no one but Professor
White and my son Custis." he said.
That suited me exactly. Seeing the
earnest maner in which I went to the
work, he gave me every advantage. 1
carefully studied the face. and told him