Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-02


in the solid gold of tobacco and cotton that
were to dominate the industrial future OF the
South It's Underwater rivers were open invita-
ton to sea craft, bearing vessels well up into
the land itself Means of exchange and COM
muncation before the era of canal and rail-
way Later much later, when the planter had
grown discouraged over the problem of seeding
his cotton through the slow and laboriouS ana
improbable hand process there came the
Yankee schooimaster, Eli Whitney, with his
invention, the gin. In no long time cotton
became a crop of gold And the South was
on its way. That is the crop was on its way,
provided only that workers of the right skin
and Drawn to stand the moist heat OF the
South could be found They could be found.
The SLAYER grew feveriShly active. And the
black man-thousands of him-took an ocean
voyage, all the way from Africa to America.
In the course of time there grew up in this land
of the free a curious NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. at
base, political in eventuality, social in many
dire reaction. However, with the advent OF the
Negro in great numbers the Southland settled
into domain of lord and Serf. Among the
lords were those of direct descent from the
English nobility. Among them also many
new-rich lord many a parvenu, such as in
our own day the familiar boom has produced
land, oil, Mines war even and, in the case in
hand, the boom in cotton. Very little is said
about this new-rich class of the cotton rush,
but there it is, nevertheless. No harm DONE
for few nowadays are interested in the pre-
hensile sport of climbing genealogical trees
And, besides, it is not the story of interest at
this point. That which does count materially
and spiritually is that Virginia came to be a
flower of great beauty and merit among the
Communicates of the New World It. for
example, specialized in Presidents for the
Republic in philosophers in men of letters in
political theorists in orators and in many
other calling of high prominence and worth
The list of the great Virginians is long one,
bearing many names of world renown. And
chi 11oua hoar got da-
voted to the memory of and another,
shrineS TO which the world itself pays homage.
Notable among these and within an hour of
the Capital itself are three-Mount Vernon,
Monticello, Arlington. Washington Jefferson,
Lee And, suppose, just for fair and true
measure, we, at this point include Lincoln
Memorial. Perhaps not strictly and exactly
within the other group-but, yes, it belongs
right here. Arlington is the least distinct
OF the three named as a Virginia shrine
great Virgnian, Robert E. Lee, yet-well
Arlington is better known as the great bivouac
OF the dead" than as any other thing. Never
theless the story of Robert E. Lee, Virginian
and American. is great story from more than
one point of view. And here we have
MARSE ROBERT KNIGHT OF THE CON-
FEDERACY. By James c. Young Illus
trated New York: Rae D. Henkle Co.
THE title of this book gives fair impression
of the deep affection. of the general es-
e.
And in his death there has been no change of
heart toward this great man. It is this spirit
of devotion that anmateS the author of the
Lee story. And far as reading and study
carry one, there is no spot where there could
be any diminution of that sentiment by any
one. The biography follows the common pro-
@cedllre of time Sequence-birth, youth man
mood, old age. But here there are many pallses
Justifable and rich pauSes, for emphasizing
conduct at certain junctures since such con-
a 10 linn of a17a ro1fAT
Saent. Always the good boy Always the good
man. Indeed, as with Washington himself the
unchanging freedom from flaw either in be-
havlor or convictions, makes Lee, like Wash
lngton, shade removed from the COM
plete understanding of frail human nature
Gen. Palmer, in his great new war book calls
Lee "the splendid Virginia" and proves the
title as well by laying down definitely, as SOL
der would be able to do all the proofs and
buttresSes to such title. And this book does
the same 1t is not war story-yet every story
o. Robert E. Lee is bound to be a story of the
Civil War, where this man, at the start took
so valiantly hard position and having taken
it, devoted his excellent training, his fine mind
and his conscientious devotion to his native
commonwealth to the cause which, from its be-
ginning, was destined to be lost" While the
soldier stands out here, and must, it is the
obvious desire OF the author to give the full
slDicture OF Lee by putting such emphasis as the
man himself permits upon his part in domes-
tic AFFAIRS, in matters of immediate concern.
Such treatment serves to round the character
of Lee, to bring out his simple tastes, his love of
home, his quiet preoccupations with books and
other unwarlike matters, his methodical habits,
the routine Of his days whether the business in
hand were peace or war, his dignity, his con-
vincing self possession. Probably nowhere in
history is there a more dramatic picture
more solemnly dramatic picture-than that of
the two men, Lee and Grant, at the crucial mo-
mient Of formal surrender That is the picture
that every American holds, in equal homage to
c0nqueror and conquered. The spirit of this
De Tho ORarf for he hoolr