Stratford Hall dedication ceremonies next Saturday afternoon, marking the last milestone in the long struggle of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation to offer the old Potomac River estate to the people of the United States as a debt-free national shrine, will be a truly international event. No mere Virginia achievement, no purely Southern gesture, not even just a national acquisition will be this shrine dedication, for six European countries are scheduled to have their official representatives present in commemoration of the part played by members of the Lee family in the enlightening of those nations in regard to the Colonial cause.

There will be more, indeed, than the dedication of Stratford Hall, where so many great men of the Lee clan were born or raised, for visitors swarming the restored grounds for the celebration will see re-opened a chapter of history not so well known as the achievements of Robert E. Lee and Light Horse Harry Lee.

Places on the rostrum are to be reserved for the ambassadors and their aides of England, France, Italy, Austria, Holland and Spain, nations with which the names of various Lees were so prominently associated in the early days of the new Republic.

The rigors of General Robert E. Lee's forced marches when he headed a bedraggled army through harsh years that of necessity were to lead to surrender at Appomattox are known to all. His position as leading educator and counselor of a shattered Southland is well recognized. The exploits of his daring forebear of Revolutionary fame, Light Horse Harry, and his later successes as an outstanding statesman are common knowledge. But what of those other Lees who knew Stratford Hall and who rendered services of such incalculable value at the seats of foreign governments?

Arthur Lee Swayed British Opinion

When Arthur Lee was practicing law in London (1770 - 1775), he numbered among his intimates such men as Sir William Jones, Edmund Burke, John Wilkes--Earl of Chatham, and Dr. Samuel Johnson. His arguments and representations did much to sway these important men to the side of the Colonists.

Together with Burke and Richard Penn, Arthur Lee presented the second petition--"The Olive Branch"--from the Continental Congress to King George III. Through the French ambassador to the Court of St. James, Lee was able to secure the assurance of aid for the colonies in 1774. Further, he served as London correspondent for the Secret Committee of Congress and his pamphlet, "Appeal to the People of Great Britain," first attributed to Lord Chatham, was published in France and through devious channels found its way to England where it did much to arouse pro-Colonists sentiments.

Arthur Lee's father, as were his two brothers, Philip Ludwell and Richard Henry, was educated at English schools--Eton, Wakefield, the University of Edinburgh and the Inner Temple. Arthur's brother, Thomas, was the builder of Westmoreland County's Stratford.

Women of Family Played Part, Too

What of the ladies of the Lee family?

Alice of Stratford Hall left Virginia to settle in London in 1760. There she met William Shippen. The Younger, Philadelphia medical student, abroad studying surgery. They were married in the spring of 1762 and Dr. Shippen subsequently became director-general of the hospitals of the Continental Army and the virtual founder of the United States Army Medical Corps.

It might be mentioned here that Mrs. Robert Worth Bingham, wife of the present ambassador to Great Britain, is a director of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation and chairman of its committee on house furnishings.

So much, then, for the country of Ambassador Robert Lindsay, who is expected to attend Saturday's festivities.

Turning to La Belle France, we discover again the name of Arthur Lee. Associated with Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane, he did much toward forwarding the Alliance of 1776 between the country and the Colonies. During this time, while Arthur was Congress Commissioner to France, one William Lee was Commercial Agent at Nantes.

Two early nineteenth century owners of Stratford lie buried in France today and Henry Lee, eldest son of Light Horse Harry, wrote a widely read biography of Napoleon.

In commemoration of these friendly bonds between his country and the Lees, Ambassador Andre L. de Lavanlaye is to be granted a seat of honor at the Stratford dedication.

Australia and Holland Officials Invited

Moving across to Austria, whose present representative in this country is Ambassador Edgard L. G. Prochnik, we discover William Lee transferred to a position of new trust in Vienna, where he served as Commissioner from the Colonies during the Revolution. Proving his versatility and his devotion to his country, he later moved on to The Hague where he also acted as Commissioner. Ambassador Jonkheer H. M. van Haersma de With, Queen Wilhelmina's first subject in the United States, has been asked to represent his country Saturday.

There was a personal touch in the friendship of the Lees for Italy brought about by the marriage of members of the Lee and Ludwell families into an ancient house of Venice. Due to this connection, it is not strange that Henry Lee and his wife, Anne McCarthy Lee, sojourned for some time in Rome and other Italian cities. Henry himself was a close friend of the mother of Napoleon, and a great many documents destined to prove of historical importance were exchanged by them. And so it is that Signor Augusto Rosso, Italian ambassador to this country, is expected to stand with the other notables when Dr. Freeman speaks.

Last in order, and for no other reason, is to be recalled the inestimable aid provided by the Spanish government when it granted a large loan to the Colonists when dark clouds loomed ahead. That same Arthur Lee, who played such a prominent part in the early affairs of the Colonists, is credited directly with procuring the much-needed grant, his pamphlet of "The Present State of the Dispute between America and Great Britain," written in his official capacity of Commissioner to Spain, doing much to bring Spanish leaders to the Revolutionary banner. Senor Don Luis Calderon, present ambassador, is among the list of distinguished persons invited to attend the exercises.

Interesting Sidelights on Dedication Guests

There are many sidelights to the dedication ceremonies that will bear telling. Mrs. Breckenridge Long, wife of the United States Ambassador to Italy, is a member of the Lee Foundation and is active as chairman of the Relics Committee.

Mrs. William E. Massey, president-general of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and her executive staff will be among the honored guests. Their organization contributed $50,000 to the tremendous sum required to secure and restore Stratford and its grounds.

Doctor Francis Pendleton Gaines, president of Washington and Lee University, and that school's board of trustees will attend in a body. Students from the University have been asked to act as ushers.

Major Buford Rose, commanding officer of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, has announced that 150 of Virginia's famous outfit will make up the guard of honor. The full-dress uniform and shakos of this ancient organization are well appointed for their honor, for of the entire regiment which marched into the War Between the States, only 16 were left to surrender with Lee at Appomattox.

On the day of the dedication, Stratford Hall, with its village of outbuildings and the entire plantation from Indian Tree on the King's Highway to the Potomac River, will be thrown open free to the public.

[Editorial note: Because of Stratford's remote location, no hotels were available to the ladies for their semi-annual meetings. They therefore built log cabins for their own use, heated only by stoves or fireplaces. Mrs. Jessie Dew Ball du Pont called her cabin "Owl's Roost" because of the late hours that she kept. There, when the business of the day was finished, she and her cabin mate, Mrs. Granville Gray Valentine of Richmond, would entertain the other members of the Board.]

A section of seats is to be reserved for officers and members of the boards of the following organizations: The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, The Garden Club of Virginia, The Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, the National Society of the Colonial Dames in the State of Virginia and The United Daughters of the Confederacy. Each one of these organizations has done memorable work for Stratford. Both as an organization and as individuals these associations and their members have made from the beginning, a practical and an inspiring contribution toward this patriotic shrine.

"The plantation, being over 1,100 acres in extent, is large enough I believe," said General B. F. Cheatham, former quartermaster-general of the United States Army, "to take care of the crowds we expect on dedication day. Personally I think that our new stables and the thoroughbred mares will compete with the Stratford kitchen, the smokehouse and the Stratford hams in attracting interest! That will at least, where Virginians and Tennesseans are concerned."

Famous Stables to Be Restocked

One of the general's pet projects since going to Stratford is the reestablishment of the stud farm that flourished there in pre-Revolutionary days.

"I always felt this plantation was an ideal location for a stud farm and wondered why there seemed to be no record of this interesting feature of the typical Colonial Virginia plantation."

The research committee of the Foundation, of which Mrs. Emerson Root Newell is chairman, ascertained that prior to the Revolution a stud farm was in successful operation at Stratford and that ---Dotterel---one of the most famous stallions of England, was sultan here for 10 years.

The general immediately proceeded to acquire two thoroughbred brood mares with which to make a beginning, and has advanced the funds himself to build the paddock and stables. He is confident the sale of colts will contribute to the maintenance requirements of the estate.

"The mares will be in the paddock by October 12," he says. The original Stratford stables are in a ruinous condition today but under the direction of the restoration of these interesting buildings will go forward in the early future.

General Cheatham is making effective arrangements to handle the crowds expected on October 12 for the dedication services. In this he is having every cooperation from county and State officials. Temporary booths are being erected in certain sections of the plantation so that soft drinks may be available. However, it will be necessary for visitors who arrive before luncheon to come provided with box lunches. Mrs. I. Newton Lewis, chairman of plantation hospitality will not be able on the dedication day to serve lunches to the public.

Details of Program for Dedication

The dedication exercises are scheduled to begin at 2:30 o'clock. The completed program is announced today by Mrs. Orton Bishop Brown, chairman of the program committee. The invocation will be given by the Right Rev. Bishop H. St. George Tucker; the address of welcome by Governor George C. Peery. The dedicatory address, by Dr. Douglas Southall Freeman, will be followed by a benediction pronounced by the Rev. Giles B. Cooke, age 97 years, the last surviving member of General Lee's staff. Music will be furnished by a band, and during the processional, "America" will be played. General Lee's favorite hymn, "How Firm a Foundation," will be sung. The final number is the National Anthem.

All participants in the dedicatory exercises are to meet in the great hall of the mansion. Members of the national advisory board will lead the group down the grand south stairway. These include President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Senator Harry Flood Byrd, John W. Davis, Dr. Henry Louis Smith, Dr. Thornwell Jacobs, Senator Carter Glass, S. Otis Bland, former Governor John Garland Pollard, Senator Blair Lee, George Gordon Battle, Senator William Cabell Bruce, Governor Peery, Dr. Francis Pendleton Gaines, Dr. John H. Finley, Bishop Thomas F. Gailor, the Rev. Giles B. Cooke, General R. A. Sneed, Joseph Lee, Eugene W. Stetson, Francis P. Garvan, Henry W. Lanier, Robert Jemison Jr., John Stewart Bryan and Robert A. Lancaster Jr.

Following them will be William H. Fain, counsel of the Lee Foundation; Garland Powell Peed, active chairman of the sponsors for the dedication of Stratford Hall; Miss Ethel Armes, originator of the idea and plan to purchase and restore Stratford Hall as a Lee memorial; General B. F. Cheatham, United States Army (retired) resident superintendent of Stratford; Mrs. Cheatham, then the 51 directors of the Lee Foundation. Dr. George Bolling Lee, grandson of General Lee, honorary president, and his son, the fourth Robert E. Lee, will come next, followed by the speakers of the day and the president of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Mrs. Charles D. Lanier.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony. The historic mansion and grounds will be opened free to the public from 9 o'clock on Saturday until 6.

A speaker's stand is being erected in front of the new stone steps. This grand exterior staircase is one of the important original features of the house which disappeared 100 years ago. It is restored on its original lines, and with the new roof of gray shingles, the restored windows with their trim of Spanish red, they effect a striking change in the exterior of the house.

Mrs. Brown, the program chairman for the dedication, and also director for the State of New Hampshire, is the daughter of General John B. Gordon, the celebrated Confederate general and personal friend of General Lee, who in later years was Governor of Georgia and United States senator from Georgia.

How to Get to Stratford Hall

Stratford Hall is in Westmoreland County, Va., on the Potomac River, about 90 miles below Mount Vernon. It can be reached by both boat and automobile. It is approximately two and a half hours' motor distance from Washington, D. C.

The old Potomac River Landing at Stratford has been rebuilt in time for the dedication and boats that draw no more than 3 1-2 feet can land on the Stratford estate from the river approach, which was the chief access to the property in Colonial times.

There are two road routes from Washington D. C. The first is through the lower counties of Maryland and crosses the Potomac in a 40-minute ferry ride. The second is by way of Fredericksburg.