CHAPTER V HARVARD UNIVERSITY THE government of Harvard College had laid its hand severely upon Mr. Lee's class and not over gently upon Mr. Lee personally; but he bore no malice, and apart from persons officially connected with the University probably no one ever rendered more willing, more continuous, and more various service than he did. Natural aptitude led him constantly into the position of chief marshal, not only upon such an ordinary occasion as Commencement Day, but upon the two or three grand celebrations which occurred during his years of activity. Professor Bowen, familiarly known to students as "Fanny Bowen," once said of him: "Lee is a good marshal; he is our best marshal; and the cause is largely his supreme impudence." President Cleveland also corroborated this judgment. Colonel Lee was marshal on the occasion of that President's visit to the University; and later the President, meeting and recalling the colonel, said: "Oh, yes, you are the fellow who bossed me around so at Cambridge." The fact was that Colonel Lee really was of noteworthy excellence as a marshal; he wished to bring these processions up to his high ideal of what a procession should be; but the rank and file, more lax in their notions, rambled through the paths of the yard as they would have strolled through Washington Street, which led him to complain with some vexation of the "bovine movements of the alumni." He was chief marshal upon the day of the Commemoration Celebration held by the College, July 21, 1865, in honor of the graduates and undergraduates who had died in the war. It was the occasion when Mr. Lowell delivered his famous Commemoration Ode, but unfortunately read it in a manner so ineffective as to obscure its beauty. Colonel Lee, somewhat disappointed with the whole affair, said that "the services on that occasion were not equal to what men felt. Everything fell short, and words seemed to be weak. Phillips Brooks' prayer was an exception. That was a free speech to God, and it was the only utterance of that day which filled out its meaning to the full extent." The unfavorable part of the criticism may be set down, at least in some degree, to the reaction from overwrought anticipations. But the impression made by the prayer was enduring, and many years afterwards, when Dr. Brooks, then Bishop of Massachusetts, died, Colonel Lee, in some remarks before the Massachusetts Historical Society, said: "In the annals of our College there is a red-letter day, Commemoration Day, when, after years haggard with anxiety, the mother welcomed back the remnant of her children who had escaped the pestilence that walketh in darkness, the destruction that wasteth at noonday.' On that day words seemed powerless; they did not vent the overflowing of sympathy and gratitude all felt. But in the exercises came a prayer, a brief prayer of a few し minutes, of one inspired to pour forth the thanksgivings of the assembled brethren. From that moment the name of that inspired young man, till then unknown, became a household word." Several years later, in November, 1886, at the 250th Anniversary, Colonel Lee again acted as chief marshal. On this occasion Mrs. Agassiz, the widow of the first professor of that name, wrote to him as follows: “After all the anxieties concerning our Anniversary, the shower of claims, grievances and suggestions that have been poured upon your devoted head in the last week, I think you would be pleased to hear the chorus of applause about yesterday. On every side I hear nothing but expressions of satisfaction, from strangers and from Cambridge people themselves, that this day in our history has been worthily met. It seems to me there is not a dissenting voice, and I wish to be among the first to thank our marshal. It seemed to me that I saw the anxieties clearing away from your face as Lowell proceeded with his admirable address. But one of these days we must talk it over, the paper would not hold all I have to say to you. This is only a word of affectionate congratulation from your old and loving friend." In other ways, which many will think more important than these displays, Colonel Lee also played his part as a liberal son of his Alma Mater. Harvard College has lain in the midst of the community like a sponge upon moist ground, always thirsty and soaking up all the nourishment within reach. Colonel Lee was a constant and generous contributor to various funds and expenses, |