Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02
THE LAFAYETTE MONUMENT.

army and the latter two the navy. These pairs
of heroes are placed respectively to the left
and the right of the pedestal. together with ap-
propriate emblems. On the front face is a
female figure representing young America in
the act Of offering a sword of honor to
Lafayette and his compatsiots, as is signified by
the inscription, "A Lafayette ct ses Com
patriotes."
The principal figure Of the monument, whose
services it is destined chiefly to commemorate,
Marie jean Paul Roch Yves Gilbert Motier,
Marquis de Lafayette. born 1857, died 1884. is
known or should be known to all Americans
An enthusiayt for the cause of liberty. Lafay-
cite received the first news of the American in
surrection when he was young officer in gar
rison at Metz; his "heart" he wrote, twas at
once enlisted" and soon he put himself in re-
lations with an American agent equipped a
ship at his own expense, and in spite of the op-
position Of his family and the formal prohibit
ton of the court of Louis XVI. he started and
reached Georgetown, s. c., in the summer
of 1777. He was then twenty years of age On
July 81, Ill., Congress appointed Lafayette
major general in the American army. After
two years OF brilliant service, there being ru-
mors Of war between France and England. La
fayette returned to serve his country, and Con-
gress offered him a sword Of honor, which was
presented to him in Paris in the name Of the
American people. Congress also wrote to
Louis xvi letter thus conceived: 1--WE
recommend this noble young man to your
majesty's attention, because we have found
him wise in counsel, brave on the battle field,
patient in the midst of the fatigues of war;"
His third journey to America, 1885, was de-
voted to the joys Of triumph and to receiving
the testimonies Of the American people, who
saluted in him one Of their liberators. In
lS24-5 Lafayette again visited America as the
guest Of the nation and was splendidly feted
and honored: at Bunker Hill he celebrated the
anniversary of one of his first combats for lib
erty; at Mount Vernon he rendered homage at
the grave OF Washington, whose friendship
had been one of the glories Of his life; while
in addition to all individual manifestations he
was made the subject Of an act of national
munitcence in the form of goo, 900 and OF
gift of land in recognition of the sacrifices
that he had made in former days for the sake
OF American freedom.
RocHAMBEAU.
Jean Baptiste Donation de vimeur, Comte de
Rochambeau, born 1725 died 1907, the hero of
Minorca and of Minden. became lieutenant
general in 1850, and was sent to America with
5000 men. co-operated with the forces Of
Washington and of the Admiral Comte de
Grasse and rendered brilliant service in the
Corvallis campaign.
DUPoRTAIL.
Lebegue Duportail, died 1902, was a captain
in the royal engineers when he obtained per-
mission to accompany Lafayette, Of whom he
was the intimate friend. In 1777 he was made
colonel OF engineers by Congress and joined
came chief OF the corps of engineers. He served
on Washington's staff at Morristown, Brandy
wine, Germantown, Valley Forge and Mon
mouth. He was captured in the defense Of
Charlestown. but was exchanged specially and
became close companion of Washington. He
retired from the continental service in 1888 and
returned to France with the grade of brigadier
In 1870, through his friendship with Lafayette,
he was made minister Of war. During the
French revolution he was accused and pro-
scribed and took refuge in America 1t was not
until after the coup detat of 18th Brumaire
that he obtained the authorization to return to
France, but he died on the voyage home.
D'EsTAING.
Charles Hector, Comte d'Estang, born 1929
died 1894, began his career as an infantry off,
Ger and finally became admiral In ITS he
received command of twelve ships and four
frigates and sailed for America where he coz
certed with Lafayette and the American gem
esals the maneuvers which compelled the
British to destroy their feet in Newport har-
Dor. D'Estaing subsequently commanded the
French naval forces for the reduction Of the
| West Indies.
| DE oRAssE.
! Francois Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse,
Marquis de Grasse-Tilly. born in 1923, died
/ l1SS, was destined by his family to enter the
order of the Knights of Malta, and in his youth
| fought on the galleys of the order against the
| Turks and Barbaresques. In 1749 he entered
/ the service Of France and distinguished him.
| self in the East Indian seas and subsequently
| with d'Estaing in the West Indies. In isl he
| left Brest In command of twenty-one ships
/ ten frigates four corvettes, forming the escort
| OF forty-three vessels transporting men and
other succors to the United States. In the
autumn of 1871 he reached Chesapeake bay
and co-operated in the great campaign that
( eliminated in the surrender Of CORVALLIS.
| A MAGNIFICENT WORK.
| The sculptors are famous In France and also
have achieved quite fame in this country.
This work promises to be one Of the best that
they have ever produced. Minister Reid,
writing to the Secretary Of War a few months
| ago. at the time that he accepted the monu-
ment for the United States, said that he had
| consulted several artists and sculptors Of note,
both French and American, as to its merits,
and they all agreed that il was a magnificent
! work of art There was az one time considera-
bic jealousy among French sculptors who did
not obtain the contract, and some rather un-
favorable criticisms were heard from them,
| but the unprejudiced, candid opinion Of others
| Is that il ID truly achievement Of which not
only the artists themselves but the entire
American nation will feel proud. 1t is q de-
Parture In the way Of out-of-door statuary, in
that II IL group OF portraits accompanied by
certain amount of sentimental embellish-
ment, according to the more French style OF
| sculpture.
Just when 1t will be received is not known
here, as there 10 still some work to be done
upon the pedestals that are to be shipped with
II, which, IL was found, did not at when the
FINAL assembling took place in Paris. OF these
artists Faiguiere was at one time the master OF
the other, who has now grown out Of his pose
a. pupil and 10 . partner, 10 use the American
term, with his former instructor. They have
separate studios, within ten minutes walk Of
each other, and they work together with the
best Of rood Will insnirad hv eoVnuno0 A>alin Os