The times., 1898-05-01

Chevalier de Pontgibaud translated and
edited by Robert b. Douglas. The gallant
chevalier who wrote the book has been
dead for many years, and his Memoirs,
published in French, had become a rare
book when the present edition was plan
ned. He was one of the little band of
FTenchmen who came over to this coun-
try under Lafayette, and he also visited
the young republic a second and third
time after the close of the war The book
was originally written to please cousin
Of the chevalier, a most charitable lady,
who suggested that he might write out
the adventures he had had, and she would
give away the copies as prizes in lot
terry for the benefit of charity. This she
did, and the edition was eventually much
priced by bOOk-lovers, not because of the
subject-matter, but because the title-page
bore the name of a young publisher who
early failed in his enterprise-Honore de
Balzac.
The story of the chevalier's youth is
an interesting one. as throwing the light
of an autobiography upon the life of the
poisoning his father, not because there
was any proof of his having attempted
it. but because one of the insane epi-
denies of terror not uncommon a hum
dred years ago, had followed such an at
tempt by another young nobleman. The
boy was thrown into prison, but escaped
after a series of adventures which SOUND
like a Dumas romance Thus he cams
to follow Lafayette to America He
walked alone, and without knowledge of
English, from Williamsburg to Valley
Forge, where Washing army was
encamped. He amused himself on this
journey by watching the thousands of
little squirrels, which leaped from bough
TO bouSh and from tree to tree" His
baggage consisted of one shirt He had
in his pocket a flask, which he frankly
says he filled with gin whenever he
could get ii, and in another pocket ID
hunk Of corn-bread not of the best He
also possessed five louis and a trans
port, signed Jefferson"
AT that time the Americans were
known as the insurgents. The Chevalier
de Pontgibaud had expected TO find at
Valley Forge some pomp of military
array. He found nothing of the kind
He calls the army which he did find there
shoes; more had none. Some wore cotton
nightcaps under their hats, and some
had for overcoats only coarse woolen
| blankets, like those given to the patients
IN French hospitals. The men fortunate
enough to be thus provided with great
coats were officers. Some of the Indians
had been induced to join the army as
allies, and on one occasion an Indian
came into the room where the officers
were at dinner, calmly seized a joint of
hot roast beef in his hand and carrying
il to the door began to eat it with man
ners au naturel. General Washington,
looking amused, gave orders that as it
seemed to be the dinner hour of this
Mucius Scaevola Of the New World he
was not 10 be interfered with.
The French volunteer had some rather
amusing experiences among those whom
he politely termed his hosts the Ameri-
cans. Once a farmer at whose house he
had occasion to stay remarked that he
was very glad TO have Frenchman in
the house, because" said he. the bar
ber lives long way off and you will be
! able to shave me-" The visitor explained
! that he did not shave chins for a living,
and the American replied THAT is very
/ odd, / thought all Frenchmen We're bar
! bers and fddlers"
The chevaier was a witness of the
| trial of Andre. Of which he tells in
graphic and forceful language. After his
| campaign in America he went back to
J France, became reconciled TO his father,
! and, as he naively puts it, "after glory
came mathematics, and then the violin. -
| Having applied himself TO his studies for
! some time, he returned to America on a
! visit, and expresses himself as astonished
at the progress which the young republic
| had made in the six years of his absence.
| ANY one who reads his account of the
colonies al the time of the Revolution,
however, viii come to the conclusion that
! compared with France. they were not
much better off than Cuba is today, COM
| pared with this country.
CNew York: D. Appleton 6, Co. Wash
! iugton: All booksellers)