T

HE birthday month of the Lees of Virginia would appear to be January. On January 20, 1732, was born Richard Henry Lee, one of the leaders in the American Revolution and afterward United States Senator from Virginia. His younger brother, Francis Lightfoot Lee, signer of the Declaration. of Independence, is even better known. January 29th is the birthday anniversary of Henry Lee, the celebrated "Light Horse Harry" of Revolutionary fame and father of a still more illustrious son, Robert Edward Lee. "Light Horse Harry" was born in 1756 at Leesylvania, Va.

January 19, 1925, will be the 118th anniversary of the birth of Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate armies in the "Lost Cause." General Lee,

like the first two Lees mentioned in this article, was born at Stratford, Westmoreland County, Virginia. At the old homestead today Mrs. R. H. Stuart, the present mistress of the plantation, receives visitors with stately courtesy and true Virginia hospitality.

The authentic history of the Lee family, contained in the library that Mrs. Stuart shows her guests, is no more interesting than the incidents related and embellished by William Payne, one of "Marse Robert's" slaves, who tends the sheep, cuts the wood, harvests the corn and "taters," and tells stories of the days befo' de wah.

Westmoreland County is called the Athens of Virginia because the brilliant records of the Washingtons, the Lees, the Monroes and other families dis

tinguished for public service recall the best days of the Athenian republic. Upon William Payne must have descended the mantle of Plutarch. That ancient biographer had no more vividness in characterization than has his dusky emulator when he starts to talk of General Washington, President Monroe and the long line of famous Lees. The main difference is that William never learned

to write, therefore his art must perish

with him.

He tells of the birth of Richard Henry Lee and relates how he was justice of the peace at twenty-five; delegate to the House of Burgesses soon after; originator of the plan of corresponding committees for liaison between the Colonies (Samuel Adams of Massachusetts to the contrary, notwithstanding); and member of the first General Congress. He was the official who issued to George Washington his commission and instructions as commander-in-chief of the American armies.

Concerning Light-Horse Harry, he tells that he graduated from Princeton at the age of eighteen; was made captain of a cavalry company in 1776 when but twenty years old; cut his way out of a British trap set by 200 cavalrymen in 1778, though he himself had but ten men; was promoted to the rank of major and captured Jersey City (then Paulus Hook); defended the Constitution as a delegate in the Virginia convention of 1788; and helped to put down the Whiskey Insurrection in 1794. It was he who was chosen by Congress to pronounce the eulogium after George Washington's death. In it he originated the famous phrase: "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

William Payne adds to recorded history the family tradition that he had been hearing since his own birth in 1837. General Robert E. Lee was thirty at that time and much of his stirring career took place therefore during William's impressionable years. He saw Marse Robert teach his children how to ride and swim. He saw him go off to two wars and come back again, the last time overwhelmed by disaster, in spite of masterful generalship and heroic sacrifice. Whatever hopes William may have entertained for the future of the Negro race, as a result of the Rebellion, his business was to serve Marse Robert and

he did it loyally. To repeat the details with the vigor and finish of William's style is impossible. Stratford awaits those who wish to hear them from his own lips.

Like Washington's birthplace and that of Monroe, Stratford is visited by only a small percentage of the pilgrims that such notable shrines should attract. The reason is that they are a little way off the beaten tourist trails and no paved roads lead to them. But they are easily accessible and a day's drive from Fredericksburg, on the Atlantic National Highway, will take the motorist to all of them and back again. Tourists who have no cars find the bus that runs down pahannock and the Potomac both speedy the well-kept highway between the Rap

and comfortable. At Oak Grove is a little hotel with comfortable beds, good food, and prices that make a day's bill look like a Christmas present to the guest who has been frequenting the regular tourist houses. When the visitor is ready to start for the historic spots in the vicinity, mine host summons a neighbor with a car. A day of delightful motoring costs little more than the taxi bill for a theater party in any large city.

The names of the cars do not all begin with "F."

It is twelve miles from Oak Grove to Stratford. The car turns off the highway into a shady lane and presently comes within sight of an imposing brick house with twin towers. Winding through a sheep meadow, it stops before a Revolutionary cannon set up endwise and holding a sun dial. Beside it is a shell from the War of 1812, and William Payne.

William takes off his hat, bows and scrapes, for he has the true Southern manner. Unobtrusively he awaits the visitor's first question, which opens the floodgates of history. Peripatetically he discourses as he points out the external features of the mansion, one of which is a fish pond on the roof. He mentions the astonishing fact that the bricks all came from England. He does

not call attention to the ruined condition of the ancient grape arbor, nor to the decayed heart of the magnificent beech tree that shades one side of the housebut two of the evidences that Southern hospitality has been too great a drain upon the resources of a plantation that under modern conditions cannot be adequately manned.

If it is around high noon, William may guide his guests back through a tangle of underbrush to the old family burial vault, whence all the bodies have been removed to better quarters. But if shadows are lengthening, he carefully avoids all reference to mortuary matters. The reason, as explained by himself, is: "One time one of ouah boys went down thar in de night. in de night. Hit was aftah de vault tumble in, just lak it is now. Dey was two ghostes standin' thah, jest inside de tomb. Dey didn't hab no heads. Dey

begin talk to dat boy an' he begin to run an' he nevah did come back."

After the visitor has been shown through the house by Mrs. Stuart, who exhibits the great reception room and at multitude of mementoes and curios, William appears beside the gun again to speed the parting guest. His palm does not itch, but it is susceptible to kindness. Rolling his eyes in an ecstacy of gratitude for a piece of silver, he exclaims fervently: "De Good Lawd sh' do take care ob de poor!" Tired from his hospitable exertions, he develops a limp that was not noticeable before. There is a story in that, too, but William does not tell it. The Yankees used to call unexpectedly during the war in quest of horses. William was in charge of the Lee animals and on one occasion had to make a quick getaway. He reached the shelter of a clump of trees down by the river in safety with the horses, but he broke a leg in doing it.

Whatever of decay there may be at Stratford is no reflection upon its owners. Rather it reflects upon those who celebrate the anniversaries of the great without planning for the preservation of the estates that would do more than meetings and speeches can for the perpetuation of noble traditions for posterity. The Washingtons at Wakefield, and the Lees at Stratford have entertained thousands of strangers without compensation. If these fine old estates are to remain to encourage future generations in their emulation of the heroes of the past, the public must interest itself in the matter. Congress has done much for Wakefield, and the State of Virginia has just built a highway to the site of Washington's birthplace. Presumably whatever is done for the preservation of Stratford will be the work of citizens whose traditions are rooted south of the Mason and Dixon line.

34th Continental of

The securing of this building was to

the American Revolution, which meets in Washington, D. C., during the week commencing April 20, 1925, will hold its sessions in the new Washington Auditorium in that city.

The seating capacity of the auditorium is 6,000. The building is located at the northwest corner of 19th and E Streets and New York Avenue, about three blocks northwest of Memorial Continental Hall.

have seats, and also enable visiting Daughters and others to attend the sessions of the Congress, which has outgrown the seating capacity of the auditorium in Memorial Continental Hall.

Delegates and alternates are to present their credentials at the registration desk in the Washington Auditorium on the Friday and Saturday preceding Congress.

was created for a specific purpose. As indicated by its long and ambitious title, it has to do largely with matters of history, with particular reference to Revolutionary times. One of its primary duties is to collect authentic and interesting facts that have to do with Colonial days and the experiences of those bold and devoted patriots who dared defy an allpowerful sovereign. These stories of the Revolution, and word pictures of Revolutionary personages, prepared in good literary style, as indicated in the title, comprise the D. A. R. Lending Library. These articles, furnished by chapter members, are loaned to other chapter members for use in chapter work. This carries out the policy of reciprocity, indicated in the committee title. In addition to these enumerated subjects, well prepared and timely articles on Americanization, papers on the work of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and other related subjects that have a bearing on the purposes for which the National Society was founded, find welcome place in its files.

These papers are made available for use of the various chapters in preparing programs for their regular meetings, and for the celebration of special days and events. They are written and compiled for the most part by members of the various chapters. Many of the papers are of great historical and genealogical value. Much of the history of our Na

chapters whose members are descendants of pioneers, from whom they obtain their data or who have a personal interest in delving into and preserving local history and traditions. They cover a wide diversity of subjects. Some of the most instructive papers have to do with the Daughters of the American Revolution— its purposes, aims and responsibilities. There are interesting articles on Americanization and Immigration. Very naturally, a large proportion concern Revolutionary times, manners, customs and noted personages of that period. There are papers on the history of the flag and articles on the American Indian. There are in the library many papers of great value relative to places and matters of interest in the different States, while the far West and the Pacific Coast have interesting representation. The library also contains approximately one hundred letters written by soldiers who served in the World War.

The Lending Library is now located. permanently in Memorial Continental Hall, in quarters adjoining the museum, where all members of the National Society, who may visit Washington, are welcome. We have today nearly 1,600 papers listed for issue. These papers are catalogued by subjects and filed by States, and are available for chapter use on application to the Committee.

All the States of the Union are represented in the library except Nevada,