Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-08-13
A Heroine.-Wife of La Fayette.

The fearful and devoted wife of Gen.
eral La Fayeue was daughter of the
ilus,rious house Of Noailes She was
married at the early age ofseveDteen. and
scarcely had the honey moon gliJed
happily away when her youthful husband
left her side to fight for American Ind4-
fredericksburg his absence Madame
La Fayeie ruled her household and nu-
merous estate with wisdom and prudence
far beyond her years. At length the
husband, whom she loved SO dearly, and
of whom she was so justly fond. returned
covered with glory 10 Law his aures "a,
her feet Some few happy days were
spen, together and then the storm cloud
of the French Revolution broke over their
heads. Her husband was soon driven in
to exile. but il was thought that Madame
La Fayette, living quietly and in grea,
retirement in her estate In Auvergne, ran
no danger. Blu. her love of liberty, her
high rank, her talents, made her an object
Of suspicion. She was arrested on The
10Th of August, and sson after sent to
Paris. Her mother, grandmother and
sister.n law persisted on the scaf'old.-
Madame de La Favetle herself was in
daily expectation of death. She made
her will, and waited calmly and resolutely
for the summons of the guilloline. The
revolution of the 9h Thermidor pre-
ceded by five days that appointed for her
execution. As soon as she was liberated
she sent her only son. then in his child
hood, to the care of Gen. Washington,
after whom he had been named; and then
Fastening with her two daughters TO find
her unfortunate husband--ihen anguish.
ing in an Austrian prison-she reached
Vienna by means Of an American pass
port, obtained an audience of the Empe.
ror, and solicited either the release Of her
husband or permission TO share his cap.
tivity.
AS to the release Of General La Fay
cite. replied the Emperor. it is very
complicated piece of business; on that
point, my hands are ted
Madame La Fayette joyfnlly embraced
the other alternative-lhat of sharing her
husbands gloomy prison. Sixteen months
close Imprisonment in France, the loss of
all her kindred. her continual anxiety
respecting her husband had combined 10
affec, her health-which declined so
rapidly in her damp prison Of Olmu,z,
that serious apprehensions were entertain.
ed for her life. Feeling the importance of
her life to her family, and al their earnest,
solicitation. she wrate to the Emperor to
request his permission to spend week in
Vienna for change Of air. and for The
purpose OF consulting a physician. Her
letter remained two months unans red
and then came an Imperial mandate. for
bidding her ever to appear in Vienna, but
Offering her freedom, on condition that
shs would never seek to return to her
husbands prison. Madame de La Fay.
cues noble and touching answer to this
inhuman proposition. fortunately for
pos,erity, remains on record. 1t was as
| follows:
Il owed il to my family and my friends,
to make some effort for the preservation
Of my life; but they KIN ow me TOO well 10
suppose for an instant, tina, would ac-
cept il a, such price. | cannot forget
tina, when we were on the point Of perish.
ing, my husband, by his physical and
mental suffering in Austria. and I. by the
tyranny Of Robespierre. in France, was
not allowed to receive any communi,
cation from him, nor 10 inform him in re-
turn tina, his wife and children were still
in existence; and will never Of my own
free will. expose myself TO The agony of a
separation from HIM again. However
unsuitable this residence may be TO nv
daughter, and however unfavorable to my
health. we will gladly avail ourselves OF
bis imperial Majes,y's goodness in allow
ing US to remain here, and will never
tronble him with any more petitions.
From that time Madame de La Fayeite
made no further efforts but bore her suf-
ferings firmly and patiently until the
victories Of The French Republic. and
especially those of General Bonapar,e
changed the aspect of affairs. General
La Faye,te was restored to freedom. and
with his devoted wife returned to hi:
native country. and fixed his residence a
La Grange-the maternal Inheritance o
his wife-an estate situated about twelve
leagues from Paris. Here Madame de l.;
Favette spent the remainder Of her shor
life in the bosom of her family, and in tn,
practice of every Christian virtue. Blu
the poisoned arrow of grief and anxiety
had drank her life blood. add after many
lingering months. this humble Christian
this affeclionate mother and heroic wife
closed her pure and exemplary life OF
the 24ih December. 1906. Posteritv ha
covered the name of General La Faye.i,
with glory. but surely the patient endur
ance, the selfsacriicing devotion of hi
noble wife. deserve an equal need o
praise.
The city Of Malamoros has ten street
running north and south, and eleven tina
run cas-, and west; these streets, wher
, they intersect each other, form blocks o
squares, from one hundred and fifty 1
two hundred yards square. The street
are narrow. and as the soil is Of sand
nature. they have washed out and becom
, lower than the foundation Of the houses
and the consequence is, that after rain
~ vt,pjc tbop, mi L.