Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-02-29
LAFAYETTE'S FAST RIDE.
BY ALICE E. PINNEY.

The hero OF this sketch, John ---, was
a TALL good looking lad of 10. On that
particular evening, about 67 years ago,
he was pacing back and forth in front OF
one of those famous old country taverns
of New England, the center of an admir-
ing crowd of boys and men. He bore
himself loftily, for was he not to drive the
coach which was to carry the great Gen
eral Lafayette TO Hartford on the NOR
row? And what boy of 16 would not be
proud, even in these days, to wait upon
such distinguished visitor as Genera.
Lafayette?
This was on the occasion Of Lafsyette's
visit to this country, in the fall of 1924;
and the great general, with his escort OF
some of the most prominent men in the
country, was on the way from Boston to
the city of Hartford. In those days the
people travelled entirely by stage across
the country. The proprietor of a stags
took great pride in his equipage; the
gaudily painted coach was drawn by the
best of horses, and the drivers drove
with the skill of ancient charioteers.
John was young to be trusted with the
care Of the coach and horses, but as his
father was the proprietor of both tavern
and coach, he had been used to horses
from his babyhood, and his father trusted
him implicitly.
John had never seen so distinguished
a person as General Lafayette; much
less had the coach ever carried so royal
passenger. So while his father, who had
fought for his country in the same war
in which General Lafayette had distin
guished himself for his bravery and
generosity, and his mother, who had
listened for hours at time to her has-
bands stories of those old revolutionary
times, were busy indoors with prepara-
tions for the generals entertainment.
John looked after the welfare of the four
fine steeds which were to carry them on
the way.
The horses had been fed and groomed,
and now he was anxiousIy awaiting ths
arrival of their expected guests. His
mother was bustling about, ordering the
maids here and there; at one moment
intent on the arrangements for her
guests comfort in his sleeping apart
ment. and at another attending to the
feast that was being prepared, while his
father, with two old revolutionary he
roes of the town, all gorgeous in velvet
kneebreeches and buckled shoes, waited
in the parlor, or keeping room, as it was
then called.
This room had been newly papered and
furnished for the occasion, and was after
ward kept in the same order for years
and visited by many people on account
of having been occupied for a short time
by General Lafayette. Wallpaper was
something new at that time and was con
sidered too grand and costly for common
use. This was something unusual for
the country, and had been imported for
the occasion. 1t was Of unique pattern
and large figure, and remained on the
walls of that room until as recently as
1889, when the old brick tavern was re.
modelled and at the time of removing il
many people saved scraps of the Old
paper as historic relics.
The coach was expected to arrive from
the North at about dark but just as the
shades Of evening began TO settle down
over the valleys which lay between the
hills that surrounded the old brick tav-
ern, a courier rode up to the little GROUP
waiting in front Of the tavern bringing
word from the general that, on arriving
at a town a few miles north, he was SO
weary he had concluded to stop there 70
rest for the night, but would drive to
" in time to breakfast with them the
next morning. He was true to his word,
and reached v early the next day
There he found an appetizing breakfast
awaiting him as well as three Of his old
revolutionary friends. Breakfast was
served in the parlor; aud. after enjoying
a social meal and friendly chat with his
old comrades, the general proceeded oI,
his Journey.
/ doubt if John ever knew so proud a
moment in his whole long life for he
lived TO be an old man as the one when
he mounted the drivers seat on tile
coach, cracked the long whip over the
backs of the four coach horses, and they
ratified away from the tavern amid ,
chorus Of farewelIs and cheers OF Long