The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-02-19
Lafayette's Reception.

Lafayette's Reception.
Calling at No. 10S Root street Monday
afternoon and enquiring for Mrs. A H.
Norton, Herald reporter was ushered
into the presence of a we'll preserved lady
past three-score and ten, who is probably
one of the very few persons living that
were present in person at the grand re-
ceptlon rendered to the Marquis de
Lafayette at Castle Garden, New York,
more than half a century ago. The lady's
general appearance was such as to require
no great strain on the imagination to be-
lieve that she was one of the bellies upon
that memorable occasion. In answer to
the inquiry as to whether she could not
furnish some interesting "reminiscences
of the affair, Mrs. Norton replied:
sit has been so very long since then
that can recall very little, except that it
was the grandest affair that New York
had ever witnessed, and was the topic of
conversation in social circles for a long
time. The marquis arrived on Sunday
afternoon, and large numbers went out of
the harbor to meet him. He landed at
Castle Garden, which was handsomely
decorated with flags and flowers, and re-
ceived perfect ovation After his arri-
val he held levee, at which he received
everybody that could see hun, and that
meant everybody who could get near him.
At this reception, which was followed
by ball, ladies wore gold medals of
of various sizes, stamped with the mar
quis' head, which also ornamented their
white sashes and the backs of their
gloves. The marquis shook hands with
all the ladies-he was very particular not
to miss one-and in taking the hand of
one very handsome belle, he noticed MS
image stamped on the back of her glove,
and raising it to his lips kissed it. That
girl, you can imagine, was the envy of
all her companions"
''Did the marquis dance?"
"No; he was very dignided, though ex-
tremely social, and his face wore smile
all the time. He was polite, as the
Frenchman always is, and endeavored to
say something pleasant to everyone to
whom he was introduced. 1 was perhaps
a little more favored than the others, as
my first husband, Mons Moura, was we'll
acquainted with Lafayette in France,
they both having attended the same uni
versity in Paris, though at different times.
The marquis was very social.toward me,
and l remembered giving him a rich
gold medal, like those worn by the ladies.
only larger. met him several times
after that. He was not handsome man
but impressed one very favorably because
of his gentleman.y manners and pleasing
address, and at that time seemed quite old,
though not more than fifty. It has been
so long, though, and so much has hap
pened since that I have only faint reccol-
lections of these little matters. I only
know it was one of the events of my life
that grand ball and reception.''
"You must be the only survivor living
in this part of the country, are you not?"
the reporters query
eyes, there are very few persons living
anywhere with whom l could sit down
and talk ovsr that occasion. I remem-
Der hearing my second husbands mother
relate how she used to get breakfast for
Washington and Lafayette, when they
were out on their hunting expeditions,
and many time has she set the table for
other French officers at her farmhouse at
Hartford, Conn. Though she always re-
fused any remuneration, the officers in
sisted on leaving silver under their plates,
so she took it and bought silver spoons
with it. The same spoons were used by
Washington and Lafayette, and I have
several of them now, which prize as of
rare value.''
Mrs. Norton regretted that she could not
recall more incidents of those historic
days, but was assured that she had fur
nished material for very interesting
story, and need make no apologies. The
lady is the mother of Mr.. Walter Norton,
with whom she makes her home, and has
been resident of this city for the past
forty years. She appears In the best of
health, and bids fair to live many wears
yet as a survivor of the celebrated Latay-
cite ball and reception.
A family" man, who knows from ex-
perience what he is talking about, estl.
mates that spool of cotton will sew on
2,4OO pants buttons. Should the old
proverb of GAS We sew so shall We reap"
be verified this individuals harvest of
pants buttons will be something terrible
fn 1oko