Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-03
LEES DUTY LETTER"
IS PROVED SPURIOUS
Professor Graves Presents Evidence
Which Leaves No Doubt
Of Forgery.
SUBJECT OF LONG CONTROVERSY
Facts Set Forth, After Careful In.
vestigation, Show That South's
Famous Leader Did Not Write
Epistle So Widely Quoted.

tFrom pamphlet written by Professor
G. A. Graves. OF the University OF
Nirginia)
For more than nifty years there has
been frequent quotation of the SEN
tence: Duty Is the sublimest word in
our language" and frequent reference
OF Its origin to a letter supposed to
have been written in 1852 by General
ROBERT h. Lee to his son, General @. w.
Custis Lee. the former being at the
time colonel OF the ''old army" and
the latter West Point cadet.
The original publication Of this let
ter occurred in the New York Sun of
November &c. 1864. with the headlines.
etc:
Private Letter. From General Lee
The original of the following private
found a Arlington House. and is In
teresting illustrating a phase in his
character. The letter follows MS below:
Arlington House.
April 5. 1852.
My Dear Son-I am just in the act
or leaving home for New Mexico My
fne 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 re-
ply TO your letters of March 26. 81 and
-. Your letters breathe a true spirit
OF frankness; they have given myself
ara your mother great pleasure. You
must study TO be frank with tho world;
frankness Is the child Of honesty and
courage. Say what you mean to do on
every occasion. and take II for granted
you mean TO do right II friend
asks favor. you should grant It If II
is reasonable; II not, tell him plainly
why you can not: you will wrong him
and wrong yourself by equivocation Of
any KIM Never do a wrong thing TO
make n friend or keep one. tho man
who requires YOU to do so is dearly
purchased at a sacrifice. Deal kindly.
but frmly. with all your classmates;
you VIII find II the policy which wear,
pest. Above all, do not appear to
others what you are not. II you have
any fault TO find with any one. tell
Nam. not others, OF whom you COM
plain; there Is no more dangerous OK
pertinent than that OF Undertaking TO
be one thing before mans face and
another behind his back. We should
live, act and say nothing TO tho injury
OF any one. II IL not only best as
matter Of principle, but II Is the path
TO peace and honor.
In regard TO duty. let me, on conclu-
sion OF this hasty letter. inform you
that nearly 100 years ago there was
a day OF remarkable gloom and dark
neHs-still known s the dark day-a
day when the light Of the sun was
slowly eNtinguished as II b. an eclipse
ne Legislature, OF Connecticut was In
session, and as It's members saw the
unexpected and unacCountablc darkness
coming on. they shared In tho general
awe ana terror. II was supposed by
many that tho last day-thc day OF
judgment-had como. Some one. In the
CONSERVATION OF the hour. moved an
adjournment Then there uprose an
old Puritan legislator. Devenport OF
stamford, and said that II the last ,ay
had come, he desired 10 b., found at his
place doing his duty, and, therefore,
moved that candles be brought in so
that the house could proceed with its
duty. There was Quictncss in tina,
mans mind, the quietness OF heavenly
wisdom and infcXiblc willingness to
OBEY present duty. Duty. then. is tho
sublimest word in our language DO
Your duty In all things like the old
fGritan. You cannot do more YOU
should never wish to do less Never
let me ana your mother wear ono
gray hair for any lack Of duty on your
part
Your atectionate father