The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-07-04
RECENT LITERATURE.

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Lafayette is one Of the most interesting and
picturesque characters in our history. Young,
of noble birth, newly welded, enjoying the
pleasures of society in, the most delightful of
European courts, he sacrificed all and dared
the displeasure of his family and King to come
over here to help the struggling Colonies to
gain their independence. 1t was a new conn
try to him; even the language was unfamiliar;
| he endured many hardships, risked his life
freely. gave generously of his own funds, and
did il all for the pure love of the principle OF
| liberty with no hope of reward 1t was most
| noble and geDerous-mindcd action. He fought
| to the end OF the war, never for q moment
| wayering in his loyalty.
This detailed account of his doings here by
| Charlemagne Towers is, OF course valuable his
| tory; but besides the chron icling of the stern
facts of war and siege, it is filed with the TO-
nance aud charm of the personality OF the
| Young fellow His letters to his wife in far
| away France are full of pretty sentiment and
to Gen. Washington, his friend aud hero, he
| wrote frank, friendly pages full of news and
enthusiasm and devotion TO his General. his
| letters were gracefully written, even when he
used the English speech, which he had learned
! hastily At the end of one letter about certain
Qnar.els and iDtrigues that were going on
| among the lesser officers, he wrote to Washing
| ton:
My desire of deserving your satisfaction is
| stronger than ever, and everywhere you will en-
| poy you can he certain OF my trying every ex-
! ertiou IN my power To succeed. ] am now fixed to
your fate. aud shall follow IL and sustain il w ell
| by my sword rs by all means In my power. You
will pardon my importantly in favor OF the senii-
which dictates IL. Youth and friendship make
me, perhaps. too warm but feel the greatest CON
| Germ of all that has happened for some time since.
With the most tender aud profound respect,
have The honor to be, etc. LAFAYETTE
Washington replies:
My DEAR MARQUIS Your favor OF yesterday
conveyed to fresh proof of that friendship and
| attachment, which have happily experienced
since the first OF our acquaintance and for which
entertain sentiments of the purest affection. 1t
! will ever constitute part OF my happiness to know
| that stand we'll In your opinion; because 1 am
| satisfied that you eau have no views to answer by
throwing out false colUrs aud that you possess a
| mind exalted condescend low aud in
| trigues to acquire reputation. Happy, thrice
| happy, would 1t have been FOR this army and tho
| cause we embarked on II the same generous
spirit had pervaded all the actors In it.
| Gen. Washington then goes on to speak of
| the intrigue against himself.
Their friendship was almost romantic in its
enthusiasm and surprisingly sentimental.
! Washington wrote fatherly letters praising
advising and encouraging the young Marquis
and always placing the utmost confidence In
| him.
In another OF Lafayeite's letters he says:
Your Excellency's sentiments were already
known TO me, and my heart had sntic pnied Your
| answer. ], however. confess il gave
pleasure when received it. My love for you is
such, my dear General, That should enjoy 1t bet
ter, If possible, IN private aud sentimental light
than a political Nothing nuakes IN hap
pier than to conformity Of sentiment between
you and Inc, upon any matter whatever; and the
opinion Of your heart Is precious to that
will ever expect it to fig mine. don't know how
my most respected friend; but you know, hope,
my heart and beg of you to read 1t.
Another time he wrote:
Give me joy, dear General intend to have your
picture. MIR. Hancock has promised me n copy of
that he has in Boston," Ida gave one To the Count
sessing his sweethearls picture the Admiral was
TO receive yours
Washington repliesi+ I,
The sentiments of affection and attachment
which breathe conspicutusly In all your letters
TO me. nj rteashg and honorable aud
afford me abundant cause u rejoicing the hnppi
ness OF my acquantance with you.
Your love OF liberty. ihe just sense you enter.
tain Of this valuable biesSng and your noble and
disnerested excrtions in the cause of il added To
your innate goodness Of heart. conspire to- render
you dear TO me. and think myself happy in being
linked with you in bonds Of striclest friendship.
Could have conceived that my picture would be
object OF your wisies, or in The smallest degree
worthy OF your attention. should while Mr.. Peale
in camp At Valley Forge, have got him take
the best portrait Of me lac could aud presented TO
you but really had not good opinion of my
own worth as 10 suppose that such compliment
would not have been considered as a greater in
stance OF my vanity than means for your gratiiea-
tion-
Lafayette's services were peculiarly valuable
in many ways. He formed a connecting link
between us and France. France for "a long
time was only a secret friend to Us. She was
little afraid of her powerful foe, England, but
H., 11.,x, GO. Il 81.
country was anxious TO do anything to oppose
her interests, and Louis XVI was easily per-
suaded that the French interests in the West
Indies, the French commerce and France every
where w0uld be injured with every British
success. Finally, in 1873, an alliance de-
ciared aud French soldiers and ships were sent
over here. When the FTencim came here
old warriors trained in long campaigns of
European wars ana familiar with every detail
of tactics and manuvers-and found this young
stri ping he was bat 90 them a prominent OIL
GER sometimes outranking these, his elders,
whose rank had been gained by slow promo
tons, they often grumbe and sometimes fatty
rcbelled. Our officers were brave and loyal.
but they were not familiar with military ETH
quet, and they offended the French officers con-
tinually. Lafayette with great tact and un-
solfisbness smoothed out all the troubles, recon-
cled Frenchmen and Americans and was moro
instrumental in keeping peace between our
army aud the Allies than anyone else He was
working heart and soul for our cause and was
far from attempting TO secure only his own
glory, and all around him recognized this.
The French soldiers coming over here found
themselves allied with q distinctly new kind
of soldiers. Like their officers they were ia
mi.!ar with many campaigns and war tactics,
and were well trained The American army
was without any military discipline, fresh from
the fields and Villages, poorly paid, poorly fed !
ragged almost to Dakedness. and often enlisting
only for short times between harvests, enduring
bitter Winters or scorching Summers, with but
scanty protection against either. They a
most misunderstanding army, but very good
soldiers after all. Lafayette always spoke |
anectionately of our soldiers. and took it rs a |
personal affront if they were unkindly criti- |
cised Between him and the men in his COM
mand there was always the kindliest feeling.
When in IT'S Lafayette returned to France
on n short furlough, the hero of the day-for |
his bravery had been duly published and all
war news was eagerly watched in France-his |
thoughts we're still with the army. In one of
his letters he says:
Tho affairs Of America shall ever look upon rs |
my first business while am I'm Europe. Any Con- |
fidence from the King and Ministers any popu-
lnriiy may have ap,oug my own countrymen. |
any means IN my power, shall be, to the best OF |
my skill and to The end of my life exertcd in be-
hall OF the interest have so much to my heart.
After brilliant campaign in Virginia and |
the surrender OF Lord C0rnwallis Lafayette |
was fous to return to his own country. The
young General was clothed with honor and
glory. Congress voted him wise, vgilant, SOL
dierly, and gallant, aud expressed deep graft