The Forrest City times., 1898-10-21
SCOTS
EMULSION
LAFAYETTE DAY.


I'm accordance with the proclamation
of Governor Jones. Wednesday was
celebrated AS Lafayette Day by the
children OF the public school of Forrest
City For sometime past IA set program
had been rehearsed, and "Wednesday
night WAS presented at the opera house
to large and appreciative audience
The program was as follows:
Prayer .................R Rev w. }. Robinson
Song-America .....t........ School Children
Song-"Little Froggies" ..............P Primary
Recitation ..........Miss Scrap Ada Mcdaniel
Song-Star spangled Banner. School Children
Introduction of the Orator by Hon. o. Is.
Roliwage.
Address .......... .....by Rev. L. 4. Simpson
Piano solo-"Dixie".,. Miss Olive Calling
s0ng-"Red. White and Blue" -. - School
CORRECTION 80. ,......e.. ...............
Closing Ceremony. -.
In his usual happy manner. Hon. ..
b. Rollwage, i'll introducing the orator
of the evening, Rev. l.. r. Simpson, re-
viewed the history of our country, par
ticularly dwelling on the late war as the
cause OF uniting the different section
knowing no North. M South, no East.
no West, bat one glorious Union.
Rev. j.. II. Simpson gave brief talk
on the life and character of Lafayette.
feelingly alluding' to the love and
friendship existing between Washing.
ton and Lafayette, which endured TO
the end. The address was entertaining
and welRreceived
The amount contributed by the chill.
dren to the Lafayette monument fund
was $l2.
The exercises served to awaken n
splendid interest in one of the grandsst
characters III history; and we gladly re.
produce the following concise history
Of Lafayette:
No event of the revolution is OF such
interest as the coming of the Marquis
lie Lafayette to our shore to assist us in
our struggle for Independence. Lafay-
cite hist heard OF the struggle which
tne American colonies were making for
liberty ut IA dinner given by the com
manddnt or The guards at Metz to the
Duke of Gloucester, brother of the
English King, i'll the summer OF 1776.
Ine young officer, then barely nineteen
years old, determined before he left the
banquet table to assist the revolution
ISL. But he found the performance of
his purpose more difficult than he had
expected. Disaster had overtaken
American arms just at this time. and
The probabilities OF war looked dark for
the handful of rebels on the coast of
the new world, but the young French.
man was firm in his intention to help
the colonies. E" Ii they are losing
ground he said, and are discouraged
there Is all the more reason for me to
90 to their aid" New difficulties arose.
Lafayette's friends besought the king
70 refuse permission for him 10 leave
France. lie could fad no one to go
with him.
These things, however, only made
MIN the more determined. He pur.
chased vessel with his own money
and began to Lit it out. His purposes
were suspected by the British ambassa-
DOR and complaint WAS laid before the
french king. Lafayette ordered his
half-litted ship to Passages, Spain, and
met 1t there, but was arrested and
taken back To France. He escaped ana
reloinng bis ship, with eleven compan-
IONS, among them Baron de Kalb,
sailed for America, with two British
cruisers in pursuit. The voyage lasted
Two months. and the young adyenturer
hnaily landed at Georgetown, s. c. His
arrival reused the dropping spirits of
The continental army and the people.
IL was an Inspiration to them and
showed that friends had been found in
Europe who would come to their asSis-
tance.
From Georgetown he made his way
TO Philadelphia, where congress WAS
sitting. He asked To be allowed to en-
Ter the army MS volunteer and to
serve without pay, but his offer WAS
not accepted. and lie WAS given com.
mission as major general instead. The
battle OF Drandywine was the first EN-
gagement in which he took part, and
In that he was wounded in the leg. AS
.ne men retreated in disorder he threw
himself on horse, and riding into the
MIDST of the rout tried to rally the flee
ing soldiers. Gen. Washington CON-
mended his conduct to congress and re-
commended that he be given IA separate
command.
Strong friendship had already sprung
I'D between the commander IN chief
ana the young French volunteer, and
J. lasted through Lille. Lafayette's con-
u9ct OF the campaign in Virginia.
Mhlie not brilliant. WAS soldierly. and
me retreat from Barren Hill was