The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-10-06
A TRADITION OF MERCY.
From the New York World.

From the New York World.
Nowthat efforts are making among US
for the relief of the SIGH and wounded
on both sides of the great strife abroad,
we are tempted to revive the memory of
an ancent benefaction of the same kind
made to US. The careless student of
American history imagines that the days
of TITO were the darkest of Revolutionary
times. 1t was the time of dread agony,
but actually not comparable to that hour
of despair, the result. of WEAKNESS and
exhaustion, which settled on the land.
1850 was q fearful year Though it was
Just before the dawn, it was very dark.
Arnold's treason was ripening, and no
one supposes he would have been fool.
enough to be traitor had he thought
there was chance of success Washing.
ton helpless at Morristown, with Knyp
hansen ravaging East Jersey, wrote to
Steuben: ''The prospect is 3 terribly
gloomy and the storm, threatens" The,
French feet--ior every wistful eye was
turned to France--had not arrived,
though Lafayette, always in advance had.
The soldiery were witho ut meat and
without clothes. Then it was that the
rs rebel ~ women of Philadelphia (all
honor to their memory y formed their
celebrated !" association to raise money
and provide clothing for the troops. It
was, as all know, great success. There
is on its record graceful letter from a
Frenchman of that day--the original of
which, in his neat autograph, can any day
be seen in the New York Historical LII
.brary- whlch it may not be amiss now to
Reproduce. 1t was addressed to the wife
Of the Governor Of Pennsylvania, herself
the president of the ladies' association
/ ialLqaa oHEADQUARTERs, June 90, 1880.
/ MADAME In admiring the new resolu-
ton in which the fair ones of Philadel-
phia have taken the lead, am induced to
/ feel for those American ladies who, being
out of,the continent, cannot participate
III this patriotic measure I know of one
who, heartily wishing for a personal
acquaintance with the ladies of America
would feel particularly happy to be adj
! mitted among them on the present occa-
sion.g Without presuming. to break ain
upon the rules of your respected associa
tion, may most humbly present myself
/ as her ambassador to the confederate
ladies, and solicit in her name that Mrs
President belpleased to accept her offer
ing? r = e ~, olN
With the highest respect, i have the
honor to be, Madame, your most obedient
servant, LAFAYETTE.
| The accompanying contribution was
$50 guineas and remember, reader, what
golden guineas were then worth, and
that Lafayette was far from rich. The
Countess of Luzerne made her gift, al
did Chatellux and Barbe Marbois and in
the detailed list of subscribers, amounting
to $1,000 IN specie, are the names so1
many generous women whose nativity OF
family origin cannot be doubted Bene
yet, aRousson. aCheyalier, Boiteaux, Rudell
Tillou, Busy, Fonce, Lamar There are
wounded men and starving, desolate
women in Alsace and Lorraine now, fol
whom part of this debt must surely be
gladly repaid by the humane and crate
full citizens of this great republic, a!
their gore needs comes over the sea an
nounced tous not only by French but BY
German and by English, lips and pens
This is a sort Of " intervention to which
no one can object, and in which all may
engage without fear OF break king the laws
of man in obeying the laws of God.
| Elzs@ 10 -A ~ 49,, 6.-s.