The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-18
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Lee" has completed its washing ton engagement. Despite its ob- vious flaws--obvious but very minor-it is highly deserving of the support of all Southern peo-N pie.
 It is probably the first interna- tional attempt, certain of success, to present the cause of the South, and the great Southern chieftain, in historical colors. That the work is that of an Englishman. an unbiased outsider" cannot be regarded as other than singular. ly significant.
 The case is stated as fact not subject to dispute. and without a semblance of apology. It Is in its essence the case of the South. and indirectly assails and destroys all ideas based on Uncle Toms Cab bin" and the propaganda of abo- litionists and carpetbaggers.
 Tn Richmond, where the drama was first presented. there was criticism based on the fact that General Lee was presented as a sentimentalist as we'll as a great commander. To an extent Lee was a sentimentalist. All other great and good men have been. Unquestionably 1t is true that Lee was moved by emotion when re- signing his commission in the United States army. when fore- seeing the ruin to be wrought by approaching war; when actually observing the slaughter Of soldiers at Antietam
 But even if the picture in this respect is overdrawn, 1t detracts very little. And that Lee, in the beginning of the war. was pre- scented with gray hair whereas 1t is said that at that time his hair was brown. and that one of the soldiers indulges ins English rather than Southern idiom, cam not be considered as serious in view of the historical inaccura- cies. inimical to the South. which the drama will eliminate from the subconscious mind of thousands of American people.
 Old soldiers of the South, who witnessed the play in Richmond, declared that Lee on the stage was not as noble in face or figure as
 
 on the stage, in the person of Ber- ton Churchill, Is of dignified and distinguished bearing and mien. It is to be doubted that any man now living could appear as glo- rious as Lee appeared. He was the very god of war.
 The drama makes plain the fact that Lincoln offered Lee the com mand of the Union armies; that General Scott did not so seriously regard the secession of Southern states until Lee resigned his com mission to follow Virginia; that in battle after battle Lee, with few, defeated the stars of the North with many men; that near the end Leo. with starving, bare footed. lily armed hundreds held | off from Richmond the we'll | armed, well-clothed, well-fed | thousands of Grant; that Lee, as a | general, had no equal in the Un- | ion armies; and that the soldiers, | even at Appamatox, when their | physical distress was terrible, | begged to be led again against | the enemy, that they might be | permittedxsto strike another blow | for "Marse" Robert and the South. |
 That Is about all of the story. | As to the causes leading up to the | war. Drinkwater had little to | contend. He intimated that Lee followed Virginia out of the Un- | ion. but carefully refrained from | committing his character to a dec | laration that he would have fought l the South had Virginia not se- ceded.
 The picture of 'Stonewalr" Jack son was fairly accurate. He was presented as dynamic, as a soldier | determined to carry his point irre- spective Of the hardships imposed | on his men, That other character | istic, probably the most predomi- | nant, his childlike trust in God, was neglected. General |, Stuart was captivating. He was the Fdashing cavalier with a roaring song and the banjo. the hard rider laugh and an untutored love for | and hard fighter, and idol of his | followers.
 Perhaps the one outstanding | error does Jefferson Davis an in- justice. He was improperly made | to appear so vindictive, so stub born in the face of impending dis- | aster, as to be obviously and fool | ishly unreasonable.
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