Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-28
SHRINE
URGED BY R|TCH|E
AS NATIONAL NEED
Lees Birthplace Typifies
Best in U. S. Ideals,
He Declares.
FEARS STRANGE DOGMAS
GAINING IN DEPRESSION
Architect Reveals Plans for Re.
tanning Original Simplicity of
Historic Virginia Home.

Stratford- on-the-Potomac, the his
toric birthplace of Gen. Robert E. Lee
should be preserved to represent the
ideals and traditions upon which Amer
lean life and government were originally
based and from which We have fallen
in some respects of recent years. Gov
members Of the Washington Committee
of the Robert E. Lee Memorial F'ounda-
ton at an informal luncheon at the
home Of Mrs. E. Brooke Lee, near Sill
yer Spring, Md, yesterday afternoon.
Speaking as a "son of Virginia" the
Maryland governor called for the re-
dedication Of Stratford to the sturdy
ideals and traditions which made Vir-
ginia the cradle of the Nation. of re-
ligious liberty and sound governmental
principles.
Gov. Richie digressed from his
speech on Stratford to warn against
direct Government aid to the needy.
except as last resort. He asked that
completely by the community and the
Government not be saddled with direct
relief.
Represents "Soundness."
"Of late" he said. I'VE have espoused
strange gods of government, strange
policies. Stratford represents the
soundneSs of the American life Of its
day, and 1t is to the fundamentals that
this old home, which sent so many dis
tinguished sons out into the world,
represent that We should return
There is talk" he continued. "of re-
distribution of wealth. Probably wealth
is unevenly distributed. but every man
Is entitled, in my mind, to the fruits
of his honest toll. If there were redis-
tribution Of wealth today, I venture to
say that in five years there would again
be unequal distribution, with more
wealth in the hands of those indus
trious enough to apply themselves to
the acquisition of it.
The present bad times suggest bad
remedies. The urge to co something
about the present panic leads US into
uncharted seas. We should stick to
the remedies that have in other times
proved efficacious'
A thundershower forced the more
than 200 guests invited to the luncheon
to scurry to the house just as Gov.
Richie prepared to speak.
Later, during the talk of Fiske Kim
ball, architect and director of the
pennsylvania Museum Of Art. lightning
the lights, but did no further damage
Selected as Architect.
Mr.. Kimball, who has been chosen
architect for the restoration and preser-
vation of Stratford. outlined his plans
for the work. He urged immediate in
stallation Of a fire-detection system, re-
roofing to save from further weather.
ing the interior Of the old house and
suggested that in restoring tine house,
where it is found necessary to put in
new work, not to attempt By artificial
means to make it appear old. but to
leave it to age with the rest of the
house and in time to merge itself with
the personality of the house itself.
He said that there have been those
who criticize Stratford as being
crude, bare, plain and clumsy in some
of its details.
In its simplicity lies its beauty. he
declared. Stratford. he said. has come
down the historic times Of Virginia in
such shape that few changes will have
to be made in it in the preservation
program. While from the point of view
Of the builder it is in bad condition, its
beams rotted, its walls cracked, its
woodwork weathered, from the point of
view of the historian it is in prime con-
dition There are few places where the
restorer will have any guesswork. In
practically every detail. the house
,, stands today as it did when Robert E.
Lee first saw the light of day in it.
The first speaker following the
! luncheon was Mrs. Charles D. Lanier,
who originated the plan for restoration
of Stratford three years ago, who
pushed it until there are organizations
of the foundation in % states, and who
is now president of the foundation.
Mortgage Is Lifted.
She explained that through the gen.
, crosby of a. friend. who will be repaid
later, the foundation has lifted the
mortgage on the house.
She also outlined the plan of the
foundation to raise from 100000 ad-
mirers of Gen. Lee throughout the
country a dollar each to carry on the
restoration program.
Mrs. Cary T. Grayson presided at
the luncheon and introduced the
| speakers.
At the conclusion of the affair, Mrs.
Cazenove Lee, who heads the Wash
ington Committee of the foundation,
| called upon all guests to take an active
interest in the foundations work and
| to further the restoration and preser-
walton Of Stratford.
HosteSSes were Mrs. Woodrow Will
son. Mrs. Montgomery Blair, jr., Mrs
William Cabell Bruce, Mrs Andrew
Christian, Mrs. John w. Davidge, Mrs
Grayson, Mrs. Louis S. Greene, Mrs.
McCook Knox, Mrs. Fairfax Harrison,
! Mrs. E. Brooke Lee, Mrs. Cazenove Lee
Mrs. Breckenridge Long and Mrs, LLOYD