New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-30
IN HONOR OF LAFAIkTTE.
,,r1rNG HIS STATUE AT LIE PUY.

urou An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRih1Shl
rhoA lie PUY, France. Sept II;
II is pleasant to make acquaintance win tue
-anca Of wild, picturesque hills surrounding the
h;rthn,ace of Lafayette. The journey from Lyons
..Iapuv in the special car with Minister Morton
,oa his party occupied about twelve hours, though
Aha distance with ordinary speed ought to have
no, ACCOMPLISHED in three hours. But agreeaol
anopv a chance tc visit st. Euenne and the
ssarm of the scenery more than compensated for
SoIov First we followed the valley of the Rhone,
"tbe buest, brightest, swiftcst most joyous OF
iversr AT the dirty and smoky town of Glvors, cell
ebrated for its glass bottles the railroad quits the
Phone and ascends the valley of the Gier. Coal IS
the chief industry, until we preached st. Chamouu'
celebrated for stay-laces and iron-works. AL 81
rt,enne we STAYED several hours Below st. Ell
epne the railroad runs almost due west, uaverSing
a very billy country. passing FIrmny, an important
manufacturing town, and approaching the Loire by
the deem gorge of the Lgnon. Tie Lore begins
not far from here among the glitterng micaceous
rocks of the micene and seems only stream at TINS
pont unlike the river which Garner called torrent
yepoIutonnaire.' Near this we entered the volcanic
district of the Velay; on either side rise Nils OF
basalt and trachyte, and amdts, the widest ana
prandest scenery the ancient town OF lie fuy looms
up with its famous Rocker de COrnettle, crowned by
starue of the Virgin of lie Puy, fifty feet high,
and near it the still remarkable Rooher &c 81
Michel
lie Puy has always been described as one OF the
most strikingly peculiar and picturesque towns IN
France In some parts 1t reminds one so mucn Oh
the fifteenth century that it is almost impossible
to walk its narrow streets and realize we are living
so rear the twentieth especially in the vicinity OF
the ancient cathedral, reached only by climbing
steep Mill, impossible by carriages. The venerable
structure is tine specimen of Romanesqe work, and
through its huge cavernous vauted. portal pass the
pilgrims to the Image of the Virgin. Part OF TINS
building dates back to the eleventh century III
former times thousands of devout pilgrims toieo
ND the hill topray at the feet Of the
image of Notre Dame da Puy, believed to have been
made by the Christians of Mount Lebanon, or &C
cording to some authorities. by the Prophet Jere'
miah himself Popes and Kings and powerful LORDS
were among the visitors of those DAYS but now the
four or i've Thousand who annually visit the virgin
and Child are the supplemented mountaineers
But to this day the garb of the people OF these
mountain districts retains its picturesqueness. The
women wear the brightest and the gayest colors,
while the men, especially the peasants from the sur
rounding districts. retain the bouses and tunes OF
centuries ago. Placards announce "PIenary IN
Sulgences, - and these. was told by gentleman
living in the vicinity, are freely bought ana soid'
Monks and nuns, clothed IN the raiment OF tne
Church, wend their way through the gray arches
INTO the precincts of the cathedral. From the sum
NIT of both the noted rocks of lie Puy fine view
can be had of the town and the surrounding VINE
clad hills. The rock of st. Michel looks ike
rugged Cleopatra's needle, 265 feet high, with a
thickness of 500 feet at the base and 90 feet on
its top. On the summit is small chapel which
inst covers the platform. The chapel is reached by
winding stairs partly cut in sAs rocks. numbering,
believe, about go.
As space will not permit me longer to dwell! upon
the old town itself, must hasten on to brief ac-
count of the events which occasioned the VISIT Inc
American party consisted of Minister Morton Con-
sui General Walker Consul Piexotto of Lyons,
Consul Bailey of Hamburg Mr.. Chamberlain, Editor
of The Paris Morning Necs, Colonel Ochlltree, OF
Texas Colonel Richie, of Boston, Mr. j. Z. WIN
crow, of Pennsylvania Mr.. w. A. Hopkins. the Rev.
Dr. Beard. of Paris Mr. George Piexotto Mr.. Kelley,
of Paris, Mr. Serrell, OF Lyons Mr.. Regnler, OF
Dion, Mr.. John Munroe, of Paris, and Mr. Bell. OF
Ney-York They were met at the station with
considerable enthusiasm by large conconfse OF
neope. headed by the Under Secretary OF the In
terror NJ Marque. AS 1t was dark wnen the party
arrived but little of the town could be seen, though
from the crowded streets and shadowy triumphai
arches il was evident that the usually quiet old
place was on the eve of great event.
The next morning opened with the booming OF
cannon and the music of bands. the Americans
beipg serenaded at the hotel before any one except
ing the newspaper men, were out OF their BEDS
peonle were pouring into the town from all direc'
tions The main streets were hung from one END TO
the other with Chinese lanterns. Arches OF triumph
had been erected at intervals and did credit to the
taste and ingenuity of lie Puy. One of the most
novel WAS entirely constructed of wine casks In
termiueled with the trl-coored flag were the stars
and Stripes The houses and shops were decorated
and from almost every window hung a nag Sol
ders in uniform, civilians dressed III their oest'
peasants in gay colors and women and girls Win
the quaiptest kind OF head-gear perambuIated the
streets at an early hour. Such variety OF ribbons
I never before beheld. the shades and designs
must have taxed the ingenuity OF the makers OF 81
Etienne.
ALL O'clock NJ. Waldeck Rousseau, the Minister
Of the Interior, arrived and, accompanied by Min
lister Morton and Senator Lafayette, the grandson
of Lafayette, was escorted to the Prefecture III
state nv the soldlery the civil authorities the CIVIC
societies and the various bands.
In the afternoon the procession formed and
marched to the statue the American guests ioiioW
inc Immediately after the family OF Lafayette.
Seats were provided for the visitors and the Dig
nitarles on the grand stand. under gorgeous
awning of yellow and white, with back OF red
Every one on the grand stand appeared elther III
evening dress or in uniform, ana stoou WIN uncot
cred head At 3 O'clock the statue was unveiled,
and the bronze prosentment of Lafayette was
greeted with loud and prolonged cheering from the
vast crowd which stretched in all directions.
Every window in the vicinity was crowded, aud
the bright red tile roofs of the surrounding houses
ware lined withcurious and enthusiastic spectators
The central figures the grand stand were NJ.
Waldeck- Rousseau. Minister Morton and Senator
LAFAYETTE. The French Minister of the Interior is
a slight tall man. with dark complexion and light
buishgra eyes prominently set in the head denot-
possessiop under eyebrows are the ex-
nressiye and classical feature of his face. He has
high nose very much like the first Napoleon carry
o,+ tho idea of his character which is certainly