The times., 1898-10-20
IN LAFAYEfTE'S name
The School Children Do Honor
to His Memory.
THE DAY WELL CELEBRATED
In Nearly All the Schools Were the
Deeds of the French Hero Appro-
priateIy Remembered - The Pro-
posed Monument to Be Erected in
Paris and Unveiled July 1, 1900.

The patriotism and enthusiasm of the
school children of Washington We're never
displayed to better advantage than during
the exercises which were held in all the
school buildings yesterday afternoon in
celebration of the life and deeds of La
fayette
The exercises began at / o'clock in
nearly all the schools, the afternoon hav-
ing been set apart by the superintendent
and the board OF school trustees for that
purpose. Simultaneous with the local cell
ebrations eXercises-were held in almost
every schoolhouse in the land, in accord
ance with the plans mapped out by the
Lafayette Memorial Association which
has undertaken the task of erecting a
suitable monument over the grave of La
fayette at Paris with funds contributed
by the public school children of the land.
In most of the States OF the Union the eX-
ercises We're OF more elaborate charac-
ter than those which We're held here, but
judging from the showing made locally, 1t
is to be presume that few scholars show
ed more enthusiasm than those of WASH
ington
Lack of time was one of the factors
which prevented the local celebration be-
ing held on a grander scale The notice
was only brought to the attention of the
school board at its last meeting, about
| ten days ago, and every member who was
present at the last meeting favored the
project but Gen. Ellis Spear. who voted
against the undertaking, saying that he
thought the schools were intended for
other purposes.
Superintendent Powell. at the direction
of the board of trustees, immedi ately
| communicated with the eleven super Vi
sing principals of the city, notifying
them to request each school to celebrate
the day In the best manner poss be un-
der the circumstances, and every school
in accordance with its local conditions.
Programs were prepared, recitations
learned. and orations assigned. with the
result that an excellent showing was
made at nearly every school building
yesterday.
The day was the anniversary of the
| surrender of Cornwalis TO Washington at
/ Yorktown, at which Lafayette was pr, s.
! ent, which lent an additional interest 10
| the occasion in the mind of the schol-
| ars.
! IOllectlOnS were taken IN all tne
! schools, 10 be forwarded to the treasm Ell
OF the memorial association to be devCt-
ed to the fund with which it is intended
to erect the monument at Paris. This
memorial is expected to cost $1,000, and
will be dedicated during the Paris Ex,
| position. on July 1, 1860.
No fixed program was followed in The
local schools, each grade celebrating tbs
day in its own way. In this manner nc
two programs were alike and some wer,
! much finer than they would have beer
otherwise
Probably the most impressive exec else:
| of the day were held in the chapel il
the Columbian University, where DR.
Swisher. the professor of history. de.iv
cred an GRAFTON, during which he dwell
| at length upon the close connection OF
Lafayette to the university. He stated
that he was present at the first com
mencement exercises of the institution
and is a member of the Enosinian So
ciety of the university.
AT the Central High School gen
eral exercises were held in the larg
auditorium on the third floor, i'm
mediately after the opening of tn
morning session. The program wa
brief, but well selected. That the pupil
were deeply moved by its rendition an'
duly appreciate the work of the grea
Lafayette was shown by the liberal wa.
in which they contributed to the monu
ment fund when the collection was takel
at the close of the exercises.
The exercises We're opened with tn
singing of America by the school. Al
interesting essay, entitled Work of Ger
Lafayette in and for America" was mex
read by Miss Eva NJ. Briggs. Following
Miss Briggs DR.. Francis j. Woodmal
sang the "Marseillaise. The singing c
the Star Spangled Banner by the schoo
concluded the program.
The exercises at the Eastern Higl
School were of an entirely different char
acter from those of the other schools
No part in the program was taken by tn
pupils of the school, but the time wa
wholly given over to Col. Joseph Smo
linsli, who delivered a most instructir
lecture on the life, character and service
of Lafayette. He said that had it no
been for the timely aid rendered to tn
struggling colonies by Lafayette, the rev
olutionary patriots would have failed
Prof. L. f. c. Colliere, the head of tn
French department, presided at the ex
ercises.
At the Business High School, on accoun
of the small seating capacity of th