The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-11
BOOK NEWS AND REVIEWS.

to at out the vessel that took him over
the Atlantic at his own expense, and when
he reached America he was Obliged to
submit to q cold welcome and barely es-
capped being sent back to France by fore
ing his way into Washington's army as a
volunteer.
Once in.the army, and having won the
favor of Washingto1 by his talent, his
frank and generous nature, his military
attainments and his clear-h headed good
sense, his position was secure and he was
enabled to make his labors count as effec-
lively thereafter as anyone who was con-
cerned In the conduct OF the war,
under Washington. He had not
the genius OF planning great cam
paigns. The propositions he made In that
direction We're not practicai--were, IN
deed, generally absurd. But once cam
paign was put before him In rough out
line and purpose he had the capacity to
handle an army and work out the scheme.
This was due to his military training, his
quick perceptions, and his earnest en-
deavor TO accomplish results
within the shortest possible time.
He was, in short, faithful and self
sacrificing. He never hesitated when he
perceived duty to perform, and never
delayed. His enthusiasm was great. III
guided and controlled almost every action
OF his life. Yet 1t never led him into ex-
cesses, or caused him to commit oiunders
OF precipitation. He was one OF the
most successful commanders in the
Continental service, and his most import
ant independent command was at time
and I'm a field that enabled him to render
a service OF the greatest Importance TO the
"A
ardent desires and his highest ambitions.
The glory OF preparing the way Tor
the wonderful coup by which Wash
ington possessed himself OF the sword OF
CORVALLIS was La Fayette's. 1t was cer-
tainly sufficient to compensate him for all
his labor and satisfy oil his ambitions.
But he was able to render another very
vital service at that time that could not
have been delegated to another with
the slightest hope of success. He
1t was who persuaded the French admiral,
Do Grasse, TO remain in Chesapeake Bay
with his feet and so secure TO Washington
a clear opportunity to cage CORVALLIS.
De Grssse was under orders to return to
the West Indies and he was chafing to
be gone. He had failed to strike
the British feet while it was weak enough
to make victory certain, md he knew that
he could not cope with II in an open sea
fight. He reluctantly agreed to keep the
British feet out of the Chesapeake for a
very short time, and during that time
CORVALLIS was captured and the necessity
for fighting, on sea or on land, was over.
La Fayettes mission In America was
finished.
The intimate association OF Washington
In Ea IN
veals suggests that what was most admir-
able in the character OF the French gen.
tleman may have received great stimulus
and strong forward impulse from the
character OF the greatest of Americans.
La Fayette came to America an i'm
pressionable youth--fine and true in
nature, and open to receive that control
ing motive that should dominate his life.
He fell at once under Washington's inhu-
ence, and upon his plastic nature The strong
and -cble mind of the elder man made
its beneficent and indelible imprint. SO
that IL may not be doing La Fayette any
injustice to suggest that while America
owes much to him, he was indebted to
Washington for the best that he was--at
least, to an extent that resulted in de-
velopment Of the natural qualities OF no.
biiity he possessed.
Mr.. Tower has performed the task OF
recording La Fayette's career in Anne lea
in q most admirable fashion. He seems
to have quite exhausted the subject, and
left nothing TO imagination or surmise.
He has used much correspondence, and
his narrative style Is clear and succinct.
He uses excellent language, and has that
greatest charm OF the ideal historian-the
ability TO tell his story SO that the story
and not the telling OF it attracts atten-
tion.
The volumes are handsomely printed and
bound, all the proportions being in accord
with the requirements of the bibliophile-
except the back margin of the pages.
which Is too narrow. 1t would have made
a more readable work II ii had been made
in four instead OF two volumes, as these
books are too large and heavy to holi
with comfort. u. 4.