Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-11-18
PORTRAIT OF LA FAYETTE.

ed the New York Star, with series Of inter-
estine letters on the life and character, and last
wears of La Fayette. We extract from the first
letter, the following interesting portrait of the
personal appearance and domestic habits of the
venerated deceased.
AS an introduction, permit me to retrace to
you the portrait of Lafayette, as well as my
memory and my pen can supply the pench OF
an able artist.
In person, Lafayette was tall and well proper
tioned-full. but without fairness. His head was
rather large; his face oval ana regular; MS
forehead high and open. His eyes OF gray
ish blue, large somewhat prominent, ana sur,
mounted by family pencllled EYEBROWS, oeamea
,.th . n,ingled expression Of goodness and in
tsllioence His nose was aQulline; his mouth,
gooS-sized and naturally smiling, was seldom
0oansd hut TO utter kind and gracious things
His complexion was clear; his cheeks lightly
colored; and at the age OF seventy seven not
wrinkle furrowed his countenance, remarkable
for its general expression OF rankness and can
dor.
Possessing strong and vigorous constitution
that had acquired but slowly its full develop
ment, Lafayette, Notwithstanding his advanced
ase.-notwithstanding the vicissitudes Of life
passed in the midst Of political connections,
and the prvations and sufferngs of long cap
tivity,-enjoyed the perfect use OF his intellect
ey which elevated him above those clrcum-
stances that bend down or overwhelm most
men. During the latter years of his life, his
health may be said to have been good. He was
seldom troubled by slight indisposition, or by
an access of govt which first attacked him
some years ago. whenever ne was iorceu
TO resort to the use of medicine, my friend, Fro
lessor -, attended him as physician, and my
self as surgeon.
His sight remained excellent to the last; but
his hearing had for sometime lost little OF Its
acuteness. as was particularly apparent during
indispostion. Lafayette was endowed both
physically and morally with lively sensioilify,
and usually gave free vent to his agreeable i'm
pressjons. Over those, on the contrary, OF
sad or painful character, he exercised great
control continuing them to his own BOSOM,
from the delicate wish to spare his friends the
exhibition of his sorrows or his suherings. HIS
physognomy was habitually CALM but rejected
faithfully the affections Of his SOUL yielding to
the influence rather OF the sentiments than OF
the sensations he experienced: hope and joy,
pity or gratitude, tenderness or severity, by
turns, were depicted in his eyes, or enltvened
the other features of his countenance.
His mien was digni6ed and noble; but his
gait had lost part of its elasticity since the Sc
we're accidents he had experienced in 1903,
while under treatment for a fracture of the left
thigh. In walking, he was obliged to lean on
his cane; and in sitting down, to use much eau
ton. on account of stiffness in the articulation
of the hip. His other movements were charac-
tersed by harmony; and though his fingers had
but little pliancy, his gestures were graceful
rarely sudden or violent, even during ANNA.
ted conversation. His voice was grave, but
gentle and agreeable, or loud and powerful &C
cording to the circumstances in which he was
speaking. If the subject Of conversation were
amusing. he made no effort to repress his hear
Nv paety, but never permitted it to degenerate
into noisy laughter. He lived with great tenn
perance and sobriety; and have no doubt that
to this regularity of life should be attributed his
freedom from the infrmites Of old age.
The dress of Lafayette was simple, and Tree
from all research Clad usually in long gray
or dark colored surtout, and wearing nat OF
the ordinary shape, his apparel was competed
by pantaloons and CATERS, as is represented IN the
full length portrait taken of him by Scheffer, his
friend and painter, some years ago,-tne resem-
blaace of which is in every respect perfect.
His love Of cleanliness was remarkable, and
might be termed minute accordingly Bastien,
his yalet-de- chambre, who had been long time
in his service, and seldom if ever quilted him,
was for him an indispensable parsonage. He
was familiar with all the habits OF the General,
and in some sort anticipated all his wants.
In his latter years, Lafayette led a quiet and
very regular life, giving to each instant ITS allot-
ted employment. His recreation ne sought IN
the bosom of his family, and in the intimacy OF
his friends; consecrating to them the moments
that were not devoted to his legislative duties or
to his extensive correspondence. tie consider
ed time as the riches Of which it is our duty to
make the best use We hare no right, was he
wont to say, to lose il ourselves, and still less to
cause the loss of ii to others; and if ne were not
always as exact in keeping his appointments DIS
could have been wished, We should attribute his
want of punctuality to the multiplicity OF MS
engasements-to his mental pre-occupation,
and to certain fits OF abstraction, to which he
was at times slightly subject.
never saw him take part in any OF the games
which are resorted to for amusement, or as is
commonly said, to kill time. OF the country
he was extremely fond; and he was IN lne ma
bit as soon as his duties or his business permit
ted him to quit Paris, of retiring to Lagrange,
where he truly led the life of patriarch.
The Chairman of the Executive Commlttee
ofthe New York State Temperance Society,
On bis rsturn from, the great Temperance Con-