Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-23
FRENCH VISITORS.
NOTABLE MEN WHO HAVE SOUGHT
FREEDOM IN AMERICA
Hyde DE Melville and DE Chastciius De
scribe tho American Giri-Mme
Recamier's Friends.

Inc Vttlt Oh TIC NOfntc nc htto icNoi'o
not only that OF his grandfather, but that
OF q good many French notabilities whose
names are apt 10 be forgotten, although
many OF them were Of themselves more
illustrious than many pretenders or royal
ties out Of business. Lafayette and
Rochambcau are continually being
brought to mind, but it must not be
overlooked that there are other French
men who did, TO say the least, as much
for the United States of America with
their pens as did these gallant officers
with their swords. The memories OF
few OF them deserve 10 be revived.
Prominent among them is Baron Hyde
de Melville.
Lamartine in his" Historic de Ia Res
tauration has paid deserved tribute to
the noble memory Of this gentleman,
who devoted his youth, fortune, and
life TO the house Of Bourbon, and who.
after conspiring against the first republic
and the empire, was compelled to
fly to the United States, only 70 return
TO France when the Bourbons them
selves re-entered it. He has been
styled "royalty's tribune, " and his
principles were thus summed up by
himself: Religion without fanatlcism,
monarchy without abuses, liberty with
out license. His niece, the Nicomtesse
dc Badonnet, has recently given TO
the world an interesting account OF his
visit to this country. Nj. Hyde de Neu-
vile sailed from Spain for America on
the Cd of May, 1907. reaching New York
on the 10th Of June, and on the 10th OF
the following month he proceeded TO
Albany. He has something TO say about
the American girl, for he finds that elf
she coquettes, il is just enough 70 be
agreeable" and no more. Only few
DAYS after his arrival he discovered 0
number OF people to whom he would not
fear 10 intrust his money. In one OF his
excursions through the woods he comes
scross young woman whose age he puts
down as twenty-eight. ain Europe. he
remarks, cher elegant simplicity and her
prnce of manner would have led US to-
believe she was the daughter OF the lord
OF the manor, but she turned out to be
merely the humble schoolmistress IN a
little village" The American school
marin had already made her mark. lie
also secs judges and colonies water
ing their own horses, and pretty
farmers wife who embrolders ana
reads Young's "Nights," while ready to
mix the cows when the time comes.
On his return 10 New York he was re-
ceived with open arms by society, the
Cruger family being the first to welcome
him. Others of whom he preserved
friendly recollections when he returned
10 France were the Wilkes, the Church,
the Simond, and the Roulet families.
in New York he also met Gene
raj Moreau and his wife. 1t was
through tho efforts OF M. Hyde de Neu-
VILE that the Economical School was
established in 1910, wherein were edu-
Gated the children of poor French pa
rents who had escaped from the troubles
OF San Domingo and Cuba. Among
those thus educated was the celebrated
DIR. Ricord, who in later years YVES to
solace the dying moments OF his bene-
factor, who, when he became IN 1916
French Minister TO the country where he
had been an exile, gave young Rlcord
the means Of going to France. When,
in 1914, consequent upon the Due dan
gouleme's return TO France, NJ, Hyde de
Melville determined to revisit his own
country, Mr. Dewitt Clinton, then
mayor OF New York, presented him with
O fattering address on behalf OF the
e Az Eooporoioal SOnOOl
ONE OF THE FORTY ISiMoRTALs.
The Marquis de Chastellux, one Of the
" Forty Immortals and major-gene-
raj of the French army under Rocham-
bean. is to be counted among those
whose account OF his travels IN America
is most satisfactory, both from the In
terest Of the narrative and the agreeable
style. al have often had occasion to
observe" he saws, "that there Is more
Of ceremony than of compliment in
America" nice distinction in regard to
the manners of that time. "All Amerl-
can conversation is bound TO end with
politics." he also notes. Here is the
American girl as she appeared to him IN
those days Describing a maiden whom
he met at house where he tarried IN
Rhode Island, he says: "This young
person had, like all American women,
very decent, nay, even serious, carriage
she had no objection to be looked at, nor
20 have her beauty commended, nor even
10 receive few caresses, provided 1t was
done without al air of familiarity or
hbertinism.
Brissot de Warville, who came TO
America in l7SS, has drawn portrait OF
the father Of his country, and places on
record that "his modesty is astonishing
20 Frenchman." He was struck with
the gayety OF New York. al there is
@ town on the American continent he
wrote in 1885, "in which luxury is dis
PLAYED, it is New York Here you will
find all tho English fashions, and in
the dress of the women you will see the
gayest silks and gauzes and hats. "
The Due de Ia Rochefoacauld-Lian-
court is another Of the French grandees
who visited these shores in Revolution
ary days, and who observes that Ameri-
cans "having for the most part made
their fortunes by their own industry,
labor has not become repugnant to
them"
Constantin Francois, Comte de Chase
bpur, better known TO the world as
Volnoy, was another distinguished visi-
tor. His visit was long remembered by
Now York's older citizens. A knicker-
booker reminiscent few years ago de-
scribing "the local associations OF
'Richmond HiIl'-a domain now marked
by the junction of Varick and Vandam
streets speaks OF the Lispenard mea-
dows once thanking the spot, and in al
fusion to the mansion itself notes the
curious fact that the first opera-house
was built upon its site, that the elder
Adams resided there when Congress met
in New York. and that the dwelling be-
came the home Of Aaron Burr. among
whose guests be mentioned Volner.
JUST THIRTY MILLIONS.
Count Rochambeau appreciated better
than many more superficial observers
the domestic discipline, the religious
liberation, and the genuine independence
OF character which then formed oul
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