The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-15
The First@ntGy 1
ll|z|l4hFeH[oe4YYse<
The Noted Men and Women Who Have
{. os=ZGs=SS Lived in it nurne One Hundred Years. !.
VISIT TO MADAME LA FAYErTR


in prison. The Marquis de La Fayette was
adored by the Americans, and the indignitles
heaped upon his wife could not be silently
accepted by either our Minister or his wife.
Mr.. Monroe decided to risk disp.easure by
sending his wife to see Madame La Fayette
The carriage of the American Minister APP
peared at the jail the keeper advanced to
know the object of her visit Mrs. Monroe,
putting on the dignity of which she was
capable, made known her business. Her re-
quest was complied with. But few minutes
elapsed ere the jailer returned bringing Mad
anne La Fayette attended by guard.
The Marchioness sank at her feet, unable
to manifest her JOY from weakness. mat
afternoon she was to have been beheaded,
and had been expecting all day the summons
to prepare for execution Instead of visit
from the executioner, we can Judge OF her
surprise and Joy to see a woman-a TREND
the wife of the American Ambassador. This
unexpected visit changed the plans of the Off
Gals, and to the surprise of all she was llber-
ated the next morning.
1t is well known that she sent her son,
George Washington, to America, to the care
of Gen. George Washington, procured Amer
lean passports, went to Vienna, and had an
interview with the Empress. She reached
the prison of her husband and signed her con-
sent to share his captivity in all its details +"
The two most influential men in the world at
that time, George Washington and Napoleon
Bonaparte interested themselves in the pris-
oners' behalf, and they were released, after
an imprisonment of five years for HIM and ~
months for Madame La Fayette.
NO HELP FOR THE QUEEN.
n 1,oI a,,aaY
lean Ambassador to intercede for her while
languishing in prison. The aid afforded to
the American Colonies, of which she was an
enthusiastic advocate, added to the financial
embarrassments in which France found itself,
caused her to write, April 9, 1857: Dearly
enough do we pay to-day for our rejoicing
and enthusiasm over the American war"
Paris was then considered the center Of all
endowment. Mrs. Monroe entertained with
great elegance, and her entertainments given
after she entered the White House were
marked by the same quiet splendor. Mrs.
Monroe was an elegant and accomplished
woman and if she copied from foreign courts,
her charming dignity of manner and warmth
of heart peculiarly fitted her for her exalted
station.
The White House when they entered it was
meagerly furnished The furniture was not
! of kind befitting the house of the President,
and the debris from the old building lay in
heaps over the grounds In the early part OF
the Administration their children occupied
| the East Room as playroom. The country
| being at peace once more, the Government
ordered silver service of plate, and the
stately furniture which adorned the East
Room was purchased in Paris. Each piece
was ornamented with the royal crown of
Louis XVIII; this was removed, and the
American eagle took its place before it was
sent from Paris.
One cannot look at this furniture without
recalling the long roll of names Of men and
women who stand out grandly in our coun-
| try's history, and whose memories are asso-
ciated with this stately room its chairs its
| tables, its ottomans occupying the same
places as when they were there in living pres
ence
The Winter of 1926, ii is said, was one of
the most brilliant ever known in Washing
ton. 1t was the Winter of the exciting cleo
ton in the House of Representatives, when
Adams, Crawford, and Jackson were candi-
dates for President. Marquis de La Fayette
was here as the guest of Congress. Congress
had voted him $500, 900 for his services i'll the
Revolutionary War.
A BRILLlANT LENEE.
On New Years Day, a levee was given OF
unusual brilliancy. Among the guests were
Marquis de La Fayette, Henry Clay, Daniel
; Webster, John C. Calhoun, William II. Craw-
: ford; Mr.. Hayne, of South Carolina; Har-
rison Grey Otis, of Boston-the Chesterfield
of the North Stephen Van Rensselaer, Mr..
Livingston, of Louisiana, and a host of Others
with their wives and daughters, residents OF
Washington during that memorable Winter.
, 1t is said that no subsequent period Of Wash
ington society has surpassed its galaxy OF
, talent. beauty and accomplishments.
Among the important events of Mr.. Mon
roes Administration was the passage of Henry
Clay's Missouri Compromise Bill, % by which
slavery was permitted in Missouri, but for
ever prohibited elsewhere, north of the par
, allel of 360 30; and President Monroe's mem
orable message of Dec. 2, 1923, in which he
advocated the policy of neither entangline
ourselves in the brOils of Europe, nor suffer
ing powers Of the Old World to interfere with