The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-12-19

sketch than the statement that the
name chung to him not only long af-
ter he reached manhood but until
the very day Of his death.
1t was as Jack Lee that he was ad-
mitted to the bar, became a dominant
and militant figure in our courts, held
many positions of honor and emolu-
ment in the community and repre-
scented our district with brilliant abil-
ity in the legislature.
And when death claimed him long
before he had reached the allotted
span of human life Il was Jack Lee
me lovable, loyal, loving friend, the
simple, modest, singularly gentle and
chivalrous man, rather than the pub
lie parsonage that he was universally
mourned and wept. s.
In the public library building
stands on a lofty PEDESTAL marble
portrait bust of Jack Lee. Who did
it l don't know, but fancy it must
have been our sculptor, Fritz Triebel.
Often as pass hastily in and out
of the library | find myself inyolun-
tarily pausing before it. Not that it
is a particularly imposing creation or
that it possesses any arresting quail
ity of beauty or distinction. Portraits
ir marble seldom do.
But it is rather good likeness, as
such things 60, giving better idea
than most of those busts of how the
subject really looked. Indeed the ar
fist has limned quite startingly the
patrician delicacy of the features, the
fine modelling of the brow and head
has even caught a little of the exalted
look which to my youthful imgain-
alton at least, always gave Jack Lee
the appearance of Sir Galahead.-
Whether to others he wore this
look Of poetic detachment OF not ]
cannot say. But he was certainly ro-
mantically handsome with regular
features, fine dark eyes and a skin az
fair and fine as a girls. There are
doubtless official documents and au.
thentic and guaranteed documents In
abundance which can give Mr.. Lees
life and career in detail. :,
But for detail there is little room
in these necessarily limited aIit
somewhat hurried sketches of our i'm.
portrait men. To give Peorians 9
glimpse of the personality and per
haps peep into the heart of a mar
who did so much to mould the life o.
his period is the most can hope fol
and would be to me most congenia
and agreeable task.
The Lees came from Kentucky an(
both the father and mother of Jacl
Lee were of fine old southern stock
The father was a lawyer and fol
Giany years he was a magistrate II
this city.
In appearance. manner and his old
fashioned, manly, square and straigh
forward methods of administering
Justice he was typical squire" o
the cd school. Respected not onl!
by the community whose laws he en-
forced but also by the lawbreakerl
whose fate he decided, he held cour
for many years in the old City Hal
building which then shared with tn
now vanished central market house
the site at present occupied by on
stately and sizeable municipal build
iIs.
But he, too, died before his allotte
time and his death left Jack, as tn
Oldest son, the head of the family.
never knew the older Mr.. Lee bu
remember Mrs. Lee very well in
deed. Even in her old age she was
strikingly handsome woman with
fine bold profile, fiery dark eyes,
nimble wit and terse, poignant, al
most epigrammatic way Of putin
things which made her pungent flo,
of talk inexpressibly fascinating t
me.
Attic undeniably indebted to hi
father for his legal mind and stron
sense Of justice l fancy Jack Lee mut
have inherited most of his wit an
charm of personality as he undonbt
eddy did his good looks, from hi
mother. She was Immensely proud {
him and he layished upon her an a
lection and solioitious care. which an
mother might have envied her. Thu
his devotion to his mother and b
solicitude for his younger brother
and only sister were the handspring
Of his life can be no doubt
Jack Lee never married.
Whether there ever was a love a
fair In his life ! do not know. Prol
ably In his boyhood he may have Il
dulged in discreet nirtation with
pretty girl no wand then. But at n
time ! knew him women seemed
have no place in NJ life whatever.