An old lady who knew General R. E. Lee almost from childhood declared that when he was a young man he enjoyed fun and indulged in harmless frolics as much as anybody. Later in life, and after his sons became stout lads, it is said that he was fond of sleeping with them, in order that he might in the morning engage in a regular old-fashioned romp and pillow-fight with the boys. During the war, though habitually grave, as befitted a commanding officer, he relished an occasional joke very highly. When some of his staff mistook a jug of buttermilk that had been sent him for "good old apple-jack," and made wry faces in gulping it down, he did not attempt to conceal his merriment. So, too, when inquiring into the nature of "this new game, 'chuck-a-buck,' I think they call it," which had been introduced into his army, there was a sly twinkle in his eye that showed how shrewdly he guessed its real purport as a gambling game. So, again, it is reported that he appreciated fully the "sell" which a wag on his staff palmed off upon a reporter, who promptly inserted it in the papers. The reporter wanted to know General Lee's hour for dining. "Six o'clock--exactly at six," was the reply. "I infer, then, that it is rather a formal meal?" "Decidedly formal--in fact, I may say it is a rigidly military dinner." "Military! how military?" "Well, you see General Lee sits at the head of the table, and Colonel Chilton at the foot, and everything is done in red-tape style." "Red tape at table! I don't understand you. Please explain." "Certainly. General Lee never carves and never helps--all that is left to Colonel Chilton--but General Lee asks the guests what they will have: they tell him, then he issues his orders, and Colonel Chilton executes them. That's all." "Go on, go on!" opening his notebook: "give me an example--tell me exactly how it is done." "Suppose, then, that we have beef--we generally have beef. Grace is said by the chaplain, then General Lee raps on the table with the handle of his knife and says, 'Attention!' Everybody is silent. Every eye is turned toward General Lee. He looks at one of us--me, for example--and I rise and make a military salute. 'Captain C----, what will you be helped to?' says General Lee. I say 'Beef,' make another salute, and sit down. General Lee, fixing his eye on Colonel Chilton, says, 'Beef, for Captain C----.' My plate is passed, helped, and then Colonel Chilton, handing it to the servant, says, 'Beef for Captain C----, By order of General Lee. R. H. CHILTON, A. A. G.'" And this absurd story went the round of the Southern papers.