登陆注册
5240100000063

第63章 Chapter XI The Idol of the South(1)

Photographs and autographs in demand--The General's interest in young people--His happy home life--Labours at Washington College--He gains financial aid for it--Worsley's translation of Homer dedicated to him--Tributes from other English scholars The people of Virginia and of the entire South were continually giving evidence of their intense love for General Lee. From all nations, even from the Northern States, came to him marks of admiration and respect. Just at this time he received many applications for his photograph with autograph attached. I believe there were none of the little things in life so irksome to him as having his picture taken in any way, but, when able to comply, he could not refuse to do what was asked of him by those who were willing and anxious to do so much for him.

In the following letter the photographs referred to had been sent to him for his signature, from a supply that my mother generally kept on hand. She was often asked for them by those who very considerately desired to save my father the trouble:

"Lexington, November 21, 1865.

"My Dear Mary: I have just received your letter of the 17th, and return the photographs with my signatures. I wrote to you by the boat of yesterday morning. I also sent you a packet of letters by Captain Wilkinson [commander of the canal packet], which also ought to have reached you to-day. I have nothing to add to my former letters, and only write now that you may receive the photos before you leave. I answered Agnes' letter immediately, and inclosed her several letters.

I was in hopes she had made up her mind to eschew weddings and stick to her pap. I do not think she can help little Sallie. Besides, she will not take the oath--how can she get married? The wedding party from this place go down in the boat to-night to Lynchburg--Miss Williamson and Captain Eoff. They are to be married in church at eight P. M. and embark at eleven. I wish them a pleasant passage and am glad I am not of the party. The scenery along the river will no doubt be cheering and agreeable. I think the repairs of the house will be completed this week; should the furniture arrive, it will be habitable next. The weather is still beautiful, which is in our favour. I am glad Caroline is so promising. I have engaged no servant here yet, nor have I found one to my liking. we can get some of some kind, and do better when we can. I have heard nothing of the wedding at 'Belmead,' and do not think Preston will go. Mrs. Cocke is very well, but the furniture she intends for your room is not yet completed.

It will be more comfortable and agreeable to you to go at once to the house on your arrival. But if there is anything to make it more desirable for you to come before the house is ready, you must come to the hotel. If we could only get comfortable weather in December, it would be better not to go into the house until it is dry, the paint hard, etc. It will require all this week to get the wood done; then it must be scoured, etc., and the furniture properly arranged. Tell Rob he will soon be well. He must cheer up and come and see his papa.

Give my love to Mrs. Cocke, Miss Mary, etc., etc. Tell Agnes, if she thinks Sallie is IN EXTREMIS, to go to her. I do not want her to pass away, but it is a great disappointment to me not to have her with me.

I am getting very old and infirm now, and she had better come to her papa and take care of him.

"Most affectionately yours, R. E. Lee.

"Mrs. M. C. Lee."

My father was always greatly interested in the love affairs of his relatives, friends, and acquaintances. His letters during the war show this in very many ways. One would suppose that the general commanding an army in active operations could not find the time even to think of such trifles, much less to write about them; but he knew of very many such affairs among his officers and even his men, and would on occasion refer to them before the parties themselves, very much to their surprise and discomfiture. Bishop Peterkin, of West Virginia, who served on the staff of General Pendleton, tells me of the following instances, in illustration of this characteristic:

"It was in the winter of 1863-4, when we were camped near Orange Court House, that, meeting the General after I had come back from a short visit to Richmond, he asked after my father, and then said, 'Did you see Miss ---?' and I replied, 'No, sir; I did not.' Then again, 'Did you see Miss ---?' and when I still replied 'No,' he added, with a smile, 'How exceedingly busy you must have been.'

"Again--at the cavalry review at Brandy Station, on June 8, 1863--we had galloped all around the lines, when the General took his post for the 'march past,' and all the staff in attendance grouped themselves about him. There being no special orders about our positions, I got pretty near the General. I noticed that several times he turned and looked toward an ambulance near us, filled with young girls. At At last, after regiments and brigades had gone by, the Horse Artillery came up. The General turned and, finding me near him, said, 'Go and tell that young lady with the blue ribbon in her hat that such-and-such a battery is coming.'

"I rode up and saluted the young lady. There was great surprise shown by the entire party, as I was not known to any of them, and when I came out with my message there was a universal shout, while the General looked on with a merry twinkle in his eye. It was evidently the following up on his part of some joke which he had with the young lady about an officer in this battery."

My mother had arranged to start for Lexington on November 28th, via the canal, but for some reason was prevented on that day. In his next letter, my father, who was most anxious that she should make the journey before the bad weather set in, expresses his disappointment at not finding her on the packet on the expected morning.

"Lexington, Virginia, November 20, 1865.

同类推荐
  • 浪迹续谈

    浪迹续谈

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Penelope's English Experiences

    Penelope's English Experiences

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 诗辩坻

    诗辩坻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 闲窗括异志

    闲窗括异志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大乘要语

    大乘要语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 失控冷男香

    失控冷男香

    这对他也太不公平了吧?明明他是家里最小的儿子,明明他上面还有两个哥哥,为什么事事都选中他?逼自己接过家族企业的总裁位置也就罢了,现在还硬塞给自己一个未婚妻,而这个未婚妻居然还是个智力只有五岁的白痴!大名鼎鼎的“万花丛中过,片叶不沾身”的他颜面何在,让他沈子御情何以堪?哼,以为用一个美丽白痴就能管束住他吗?那你们的算盘可就打错了。他沈子御照样还是流连花丛中。可是为何看着她纯净的面孔,纯洁的眼睛,他会有内疚的感觉?而一年之后病愈的她已经有了与年龄相符的智力,外表也变得更加的成熟与美丽。面对这样的她,他居然有怦然心动的感觉,难道他爱上了这个小白痴?绝对不会的!可是为什么当她却与其他的男人说说笑笑,亲亲热热时他又会觉得烦躁不安?别忘了,她可是他的妻子,这辈子都别想逃出他的手掌心!即使不爱她,也不放开她。
  • 法师故事2

    法师故事2

    半身人说:好奇就是力量。矮人会说:团结就是力量。精灵会说:魔法就是力量。侏儒会说:创造就是力量。兽人会说:杀戮就是力量。人类会说:权力就是力量。龙一直说:知识就是力量。神曾经说:信仰就是力量。奥索斯站在全知高塔的露台上,俯瞰安瑞尔大陆,轻轻地说:我,就是作者。
  • 佞相之妻

    佞相之妻

    前世穿越为贵妃的楚岫玉为了家族斗了一世,最终被人暗害,她醒来后发现自己重生成了太师府懦落无能的胖子嫡女苏映雪,她发誓这辈子要为自己活,不再受人掌控,本以为这一世可以隐藏身份发挥经商天赋,安静当一个女强人,没想到被世人口中的佞相给盯上了,身不由己卷入了朝廷纷争中……
  • 皇后养成记

    皇后养成记

    他目睹父母惨死,举目无亲,在宫内的心计中长大,密谋多年绸缪推翻两国政权建立新国,他心思异常缜密欲要统一天下。她受父亲之命成为监视他的线人,他深情相付,她温柔沦陷。一边是父母遗命,大业宏图,他不得不隐藏感情。她的情,他的爱,何去何从?情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 帝国吃相

    帝国吃相

    新书《大宋很野蛮》上传,轻松种田打造不一样的大宋,请朋友们多多支持! 陈旭一场车祸穿越到秦朝,而此时秦始皇刚刚统一六国失去了人生的奋斗目标。在考虑抱项羽大腿还是抱刘邦的大腿之中纠结迷茫很久之后,他给秦始皇敬献了一个地球仪。有一天他忍不住指着地球仪说:“陛下,东胜神洲还有一道美味,叫做香辣小龙虾!”这是一个吃货的故事,也是一个不正经的秦朝故事。考据党勿进,毒死不负责。VIP交流群:833761690(全订的书友加,有粉丝值验证。) 普通交流群2:560559202(请加此群)
  • 剩女恋爱手册

    剩女恋爱手册

    论长相,论家世,论学历……无论哪样,陈薇在“合适”的年龄,能够把自己顺利嫁出去,按道理说应该是件非常“轻而易举”的事的。然而,初恋男友弃自己而去;“数个”爱慕者也都陆续娶了如花家眷;就连那个一直苦苦追求自己,自己当时最看不上的“弱弱小男生”,都如愿娶了娇妻……他终于出现了——完全符合陈薇择偶标准的那个他——睿智、沉稳、魅力无限……陈薇毫不犹豫地沦陷了——没错,她爱上的,是个典型的“霸道总裁”!然而,此“霸道总裁”非彼“霸道总裁”,他有妻,有女,有家室……
  • 溯雪曲

    溯雪曲

    【四海游龙系列二】被火葬前,她是试验失败的植物人;醒来之后,她成了被丢弃的婴孩,并强行失忆过往。当皇宫御用画师遇到医术精湛的精灵医者,当备受忽视的皇子遇到重视自己的女子,当九五之尊再遇救命恩人……一切,因她,纠缠不断。入皇宫,成御医,却被卷入宫斗之中。遇太后,见妃嫔,却不知身世多离奇。御医不易做,绝代御医更不易!雪落天山情动,可会再次无影无踪?请君落座品茗舒心听一段《溯雪曲》!
  • 学术辨

    学术辨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE NEW MAGDALEN

    THE NEW MAGDALEN

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无法呼吸

    无法呼吸

    江都大学旁的滩涂上,发现了一对年轻男女死状惨烈的尸体。恐怖阴云笼罩在江都市上空,令刑警周渊易感觉到无法呼吸。令人惊恐的事件不断发生,心中有鬼的孕妇不停产生恐怖幻觉,大厦十三层发现美丽的无头女尸,医药公司副总葬身于离奇的车祸。在进一步的调查中,更发现所有的一切竟与四年前的一段隐情有关。真凶究竟是谁?杀人的动机又是什么?