Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-04-17

Lafayette from Columbia to Charleston.
The intense feeling of the crowd vented
itself frequently, as we proceeded to the
town, in wild hurras. The happy old vet
eran, his face beaming with pleasure, bowed
low again and again from side to side, in
delighted acknowledgment of the noble
compliment he was receiving.
We entered the town by Taylor street
turned into Main street, across which were
thrown triumphal arches of evergreens and
flowers, and on either side, at intervals, jets
of water played in the sunshine. Where
Bridge street crosses Main street, the process
sion stopped. Here the Mayor made his
speech of welcome, the orator of the day de-
livered his address, and during these cere-
monies the companies were dismounted, the
men filed facing in on each side-the line
extending from Main street some yards past
Mr.. Randolph's shouse-which had been gen.
erously rendered and fitted up for the use of
the noble Frenchman during his stay. The
speeches ended, through this living avenue
Lafayette walked to his temporary resi-
dence. To FrancisK. Huger, in recognition
of his noble risks generously hazarded to
liberate the Marquis de Lafayette from his
long mprisonment-When immured at Oh
mutz-even though fruitless, was accorded
the honor to walk by his side in the day of
his majesty, through the street of the proud
capital of Huger's own State. They were
in 'front.' Lafayette, limping in his gait,
leaning on Huger's right arm, proceeded
slowly down the ranks. A cannon rolled
out it's sonorous reports in the distance, tenr
de joie, were continually echoing along the
line, and little girls, in holiday attire, threw
bouq quets under his feet, thus literally strew-
ing his path with flowers. Behind came the
dignitaries of State and city, two and two,
| arm in arm most imposing spectacle. |, in
virtue of my rank, stood three PAGES in front
of the rank and file. Next to me was Maj.
Moore, of Winnsboro. AS Lafayette ap-
preached, saw, every now and then, some
of the officers, on either side, shake hands
with him. Coveting too, the privilege, |
whispered to Maj. Moore to shake hands
with him when he came up. 81 will" he
cite got to where we were stationed, the
Major advanced pace, put out his hand,
and, as if acknowledging the grand intro
duction of the splendid pageant-for there
was no other-said II am happy to be made
acquainted with you, SIR" Lafayette
grasped the proffered hand, bowling and re-
peating the phrase all the time on his lips,
coming, doubt not, straight from the heart,
Every happy, very happy" l stood next,
in silence, and held out my hand, and !
never received a more cordial grasp and
shake, accompanied by the words '''very
happy, very happy" All! who would not
have been happy on such day! Nearly
half a century before he had listened to the
dictates of his noble heart, and came from a
foreign land to bleeding country. Forbid
den by his government, admonished by his
friends, giving up the delights of home and
the endearments of a young and beautiful
wife, he aided people struggling for free
dom, and on their battlefield of Brandywine
poured forth his generous blood. Now the
nation, one of the nations of the earth,
greeted him with shouts Of undying love
and gratitude ; and Carolina, proudest of
the land, in joy and love, strewed roses un-
der hisfeet and Wreathed immOrtelles above
his head.
An amusing incident relieved the inten-
sity of feeling without marring the effect, as
it might have done on less grand occasion.
To DR.. James Davis and Professor Henry
Mott, had been assigned the duty of going
about twenty PAGES in front of the procession
to see the path clear and all in fitting order
for the tread of the august parsonage to fol-
low. Some mischievous boy, at cross
street, threw in an old gander. Of course
the serried ranks gave no outlet for the in
truder, for behind the military companies
were great multitude, no man could num-
ber. TO try to catch the goose was out of
the question, as it, Of course, would create
confusion and unseemly mirth; so on he
walked, in solitary dignity, poking out his
neck from side to side, stopping now and
then to give hiss at the men. The Doctor
and Professor, hats in hand, were fain to
wait his movements, now and then quietly
venturing a mild "shew shew ~ and Civ
ing gentle flourish Of their hats to acceler-
ate his movements. The gander would give
"quaw! quaw !" in return, not improving
his pace, but merely resuming the even
tenor of his way, and so led the van to the
end of the line.
At last Lafayette entered the house.
Here everything was arranged most per
fectly for his comfort. Judge MOTIFS old
Harry, a servant renowned in his day,
throughout Columbia, for his superiority in
every good quality, was assigned as his
body-servant. Judge DeSaussure and 9TH
ers had their most accomplished house-ser-
wants to attend in waiting. Cut glass and
silver stood round in profusion, contributed
by the citizens for the use of the occasion.
Two sentinels, with fixed bayonets on
guns, were posted at the door to prevent the
entrance of intruders. Officers, however,
were all allowed to enter unquestioned.
The insignia of Office, shown by my feather
and sword, obtained my admittance. In
the passage, l met General Bradley, Of Ches-
ter-an acquaintance. With him l went
into the room where Lafayette held a kind
of levee, and was presented by name.
Again had / the honor of pressing my hand
to that of the generous hearted Frenchman,
whose nobility of nature, far above that of
birth alone, had been accounted worthy of
friendship, even Of our Washington.
After the introduction, and my taking
with Lafayette glass of wine, for servants
in attendance filled bumpers of sparkling
champagne, which all but he quatfed to the
bottom-he merely performing the courtesy
of touching the glass to his ips-l with
drew to the further side of the room from
where he stood and stationed myself near
the door.
Here I saw strange but pleasant incident
transpire. An old African, neatly dressed,
came to the front door and started in, but
sentinels interposed their bayonetted guns
to bar his entrance. The old man contempt
uously pushed them aside saying, ''pshaw!
pshaW! see guns afore you was born been
where dey been shot by soldiers too," and
without farther opposition from any one
gained his way. He came straight to the
room where the distinguished guest was
standing among the crowd and said out, 81
come to see Gen. Lafayette" Lafayette
turned, looked at him and remarked: Gan
old acquaintance; don't tell me who it is"
The negro advanced to the Marquis, and
bowling, held out his hand and said, "How-
dy, Mas Lafayette; how you do, sir. You
member me?" eyes, stop, don't tell me
your name. All have it. Pompey, be-
longing to COL Buchanan, the first servant
who waited on me when | came to Ameri-
ca. When l landed at Georgetown, l was
taken first to the camp of Col. Buchanan
near there, and Pompey waited on me"
,1xyf fhn f1/l ,Jl,