Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-20
The Star of Lee

- to make the birthday of Robert Ed
- ward Lee a shrine in their sessions
of silent thought Life came to that hlgn
soul of his. as it comes to all, with hard ana
hitter issues. He met them as soldier whose
hattie was not of flesh and blood alone, nor
only of earth and time, but OF celesuai
sinews, and of values eternal quietly ne
met them, as one too noble to bluster' LOO
staunch to complain, and went MS way DC
Sorrows knight in arms, child IN hu-
mility.
Any age would do we'll to mediate upon
this communicable and star-like spirit who
came to the Old Souths happy SOIL son
of her COOLEST traditions, and dWelt gently
among his people, and loved his Americas
flag: and then, brought tragically to grips
with an issue that shook and wrenched the
nations soul, chose as neither selt-1nterest
nor self-desire impelled but as the oracle OF
duty inspired. Especially will this age and
this nation of ours, with it's wealth OF things
but it's all too frequent dearth of thoughts
beyond them, do we'll to contemplate one
who turned his back upon the chief honor OF
the hour that he might stand unpretentiously
true to the faith of his heart and to the fire.
sides of his Virginia. Il told him." said Lee,
touching the visit of General Blair who
brought him the presidents offer of the
command of the army of attack, Il told him
3 candidly and courteously as I could, that
hough opposed to secession and deprecating
yar, l could take no part in an invasion OF
he Southern States"
Of Lee, the shining warrior and incom-
arabic strategist, impartial history has left
othing to be said. But that inner hero,
hose sword famed light that "never was
! sea or land!" The world will be many
orerations, mayhap many centuries yet,
,afning the full stature of his spirit, the
III splendour of his life. His intellect COM
;ands instant admiration, and his character,
It'll its sublime note of duty, wins instant
avering. But beyond these and above them,
3fty as they are, stands Lee who battles
,ren while he lifts up these little hearts of
'urs-the Lee who would not harbor bitter
1883, nor hate his enemy, the Lee who re-
ounced high emoluments at home and high
sonors abroad to become a humble school
raster to Southern youth and give them
through the kindling touch of his darby life
message which they and all America sorely
seeded; the Lee who, when urged by Jealous
ieficers Of his staff, in the last flicker of
tAs Confederacy's hope, not to surrender but
D dlsperse his army into guerrilla bands,
spilled with sort of solemn anger as
wilson observes) "You must remember we
re CHRISTIAN people. For US, a Chris
Ian people, there is now but one course to
arsue. We must accept the situation: these
men must go home and plant a crop; and we
must proceed to build up our country on a.
lew basis"
TO that utterance, falling like great light
inon the dark of the South's and the Unions
nost Hateful hour, is due not only the be-
INNING OF new South but of a new America
" well and heritage today of faiths and
aspirations which otherwise might never
rave lowered Mighty of deed. mighty NJ
FIND. noble of character majestic of soul
ms knight of the South, this life that is
Iee, still, "' 10
like star
are" -'01 n"i