Evening star., 1898-10-19
Historical Sketch Read.

The history of Marquis de Lafayette was
read in all the schools. the children listen
ing with great interest. The eminent
French soldier was born at the Castle of
Chavagnac, in Auvergne September G.
1i5I, and died in Paris May 20, 1884 His
full name was Marie Jean Paul joseph
Roche Yves Gilbert du Mortier LAFAYETTE
he came of a military family. Having be, n
commissioned captain of artillery in A
French regiment stationed at Metz toward
the end of 1lI6 he happened to meet at
d'hher the Duke of Gloucester, brother OF
George III, and heard of the Declaration of
Independence and other events that had
lately occurred in America. An enthusiasts
tic sentiment of devotion to liberty and the
rlshts OF man was then growing up among
youthful Frenchmen in all classes of So
clety, and many young officers were eager
TO come to America, some from an intelli-
gent interest in the cause at staka others
from love of romantic adventure or a
desire TO strike blow at the English in
revenge for the disasters of the seven
years war. Many young mobiles asked the
king S permission to proceed to America
but 1t was refused for the sake of keeping
up the appearance of harmony with Eng
land. 1t was necessary, therefore for La
fayette to proceed with caution, but he
made up his mind, as a result of the con-
versauon al Metz, to cross the ocean and
offer his services to the American Congress
SalIs from spanish Port.
He set sail from Passage, a Spanish port,
April 26, 1777, taking with him DeKalb
and eleven other officers and landed June
IA at Georgetown, S. c., arriving at Phila-
delphia, where Congress was in session,
after months ride on horseback. Con-
gress was at that time beset with so many
applications from foreign officers in quest
of adventure, and these applications led
to SO much jealousy and discorteut that
Lafayette was at first received rather cold
ly, but after he had declared his wish to
serve as a volunteer and at his own ex-
peEse, Congress July 81, 1777, appointed him
major general. The next day he was in
troduced to Washington, and a friendship
which proved to be lifelong between the
two was at once begun. He served for a
time as sort of volunteer aid on Wash
ington's staff. He was wounded at the
battle of Brandywine, where he behaved
most calamity. Later, with 800 men, he
defeated superior force of Hessans near
Gloucester Point, CORVALLIS position In
recognition of this service he was ap-
pointed to command a division in Wash
irgton's army lately under General Stephen
throughout the Conway Cabal intrigue
against Washington, Lafayette showed
much sagacity along with unswerving fidel-
ity to his general His service throughout
the war was most valuable.
Visits the United States
In 1924 Congress passed unanimously a
resolution requesting President Monroe to
invite Lafayette to visit the United States
He sailed from Havre July u in an Ameri-
can merchantmen and landed at New York
month later. In the course of the next
fourteen months he, travelled through the
whole country, visiting each of the twenty
four states and all the principal cities, and
was everywhere received with tokens of
enthusiastic reverence and affection. In
consideration of his services in the revolu-
tionary war Congress voted him a grant of
100000 besides a township of $4,000 acres,
to be assigned somewhere among the unap-
propriated public lands. His sixty-eighth
birthday September 6, 1925, was celebrated
at the White House. which occasion a
noble farewell speech was pronounced by
President Adams, and next day Lafayette
sailed down the Potomac in the f1gate
Brandywine, and arrived in Havre October
8. He was prominent throughout in the
affairs of France during his whole life.
His son, born in Paris in 1779, was named
for George Washington.
Judge Hammond of the United States
circuit court at Cleveland Ohio, granted
an injunction yesterday restraining strik-