The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-02-28
Il Observation-Disclosures WJe.

4 Heroimc--Lufuyette Wife.
The faithful and devoted wife of Gen.
Lafayette was daughter Of the illustri-
GUS house Of Noailes. She was married
at the early age of seventeen, and
scarcely had the honeymoon glided
happily away, when her youthful hus-
band left her side to fight for American
independence. During his absence, Mad
anne Lafayette ruled her household and
estates with wisdom and prudence, far
beyond her years. At length, the hus-
band, whom she loved SO dearly, and of
whom she was so justly fond, returned,
covered with glory, to lay his laurels at
her feet. Some few happy days were
spent together, and then the storm
cloud of the French revolution broke
over their heads. Her husband was
soon driven into exile, but it was thought
that Madame Lafayette, living quietly
and in retirement on her estate in Au
vergne, run no danger. But her love of
liberty, her high rank, her talents, made
her an object of suspicion. She was ar
rested on the 10th Of August, and soon
after sent to Paris. Her mother, grand
mother, and sister-in-law, all persisted
"
herself was in daily expectation ofdeath.
She made her will, and waited calmly
and resolutely for the summons to the
guillotine. The revolution of the 9th
Thermidor, preceded by five days that
appointed for the execution. AS soon
as she was liberated, she sent her only
sonsrthen in his childhood, to the care of
Gen. Washington, after whom he had
been named; and then fastened with
her two daughters to find her unfortu-
nate husband--then ianguishing in an
Austrian prison. She reached Vienna
by means OF an American passport, OBJ
tanned an audience Of the Emperor, and
solicited either the release OF her hus-
band or permission to share his cap
tivity.
'.As to the release of General Lafay-
ette," replied the Emperor, it is Il
very complicated piece of business; on
that point my hands are tied"
Madame Lafayette joyfully embraced
the other alternative; that Of sharing
her husbands gloomy prison. Sixteen
months close imprisonment. in France,
the loss Of all kindred and her husband,
had combined to affect her health, which
declined so rapidly in her damp prison
of Olmutz, that serious approximations
were entertained for her life. Feeling
the importance of her life t. her family,
and at their earnest solicitation, she
wrote to the Emperor for his permission
to spend a few weeks in Vienna for
change OF air, and for the purpose Of
consulting II physician. Her letter re-
NAMED two months unanswered, and
then came an imperial mandate, forbid
ding them ever to appear in Vienna,
(>,,% 45.nr hnr fya.l nm
that she would never seek 10 return 10
her husbands prison. Madame de La
fayetre's noble and touching answer to
this inhuman proposition, fortunately
for posterity, remains Oh record.
1t was as follows:
81 owed it to my family aud my
friends, to make some efforts for the
preservation of my life; but they know
me too we'll to suppose, ior an instant,
that l would accept it at such IL price.
cannot forget that when we were on the
point of perishing, my husband, by his
physical and mental sutferings in Aus
tria and l, by the tyranny OF Robe
sphere, in France, was not allowed to
receive any communication from him,
nor to inform him in return that his
wife and children were still in existence;
and will never, OF my own free will,
expose myself to the agony OF sepa-
ration from him again. However UNI
suitable this residence may be to my
daughter, and however unfavorable to
my health, we will gladly avail our
selves Of his Imperial Majesty's good
ness in allowing lis to remain here, and
will never trouble him with any more
petitions"
Prom. tina; timr. Madame IL, !4tt>,yeti,
made no further etlort>, but bore. her
suilerings firmly until the victories nj