The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-20
N HONOR OF LAFAYETTE
Butte School Children Do HON.
age to the Hero.
GREATER THAN A KING
Appropriate Exercises Conducted in All
the schools-sineing and REGULATIONS.
Professor Hendricks Address.
An Historical Review.

Gen. Gilbert Mofier Lafayette was
the school children's hero yesterday,
the day set aside as a memorial by
proclamation. A very liberal response
was made to the appeal for contribu-
tons that there might be built in Paris
for the hero of the American revolu-
ton monument which shall
show an appreciation OF the
debt this country owes to the
noblest son that ever sprang from the
French nobility. In all of h -public
schools of h city exercises appro-
pirate &c the day were held and a val
liable lesson was taught the rising gen.
Grafton. 1t was a day Of literary recre-
alton for the pupils. There was sing
ing OF patriotic songs and remarks by
the teachers. The SONG of the school
children was one great hymn of praise
Of the hero. The pupils were told that
Lafayette's romantic career was above
stain or ~reproach. He was not a king,
but he was greater than a king. He
was a marquis, but too modest to say
much about it. His fortune entitled
Ahfi y u iot oot ht tit
huts Of the soldiers of liberty. He
was educated and trained for the
French court, but the proudest period
of his life was the night he spent un-
der an army blanket with Washington.
He was called to be the governor of
Louisiana by Jefferson. but 1t was
principle. not ACKNOWLEDGMENT, that
made him almost an American.
Superintendent Hendricks had pre-
pared an excellent programme of sing
ing and literary themes suggestive Of
the life of Lafayette. The several
schools of the district rendered the
identical programme, so all the pupils
could be given the same valuable les
son at the same time, though in differ
ent parts of the city. The beautiful
strains of America" foated simultan-
ecusly from the several temples Of
learning inc simultaneously the brief
sketch of the life of the great French
man. the knight of freedom and ally
of America. Yesterday was the date
OF the fall of Yorktown. to which La
fayette contributed so greatly.
The suggestive notes of the career of
the hero of the day. as prepared by
the superintendent, enlarged upon n
put to the pupils in comprehensive
form, were in the nature of a very in
teresting historical dissertation. La
fayette, almost alone of his kind. was
born at Chavaniac. in the ancient pro-
vince of Auvergne. Sept. 6, 1857. His
ancestry was of the highest rank in
French nobility. His father was a coll
onel. who fell in the battle of Minden
two months before the son IA born.
One of his uncles was a field marshal
of France. His mother was of royal
birth. The killing of her husband at
Minden sent her soon after to the
grave. Lafayette was thus left an or
phan at an early age, heir to immense
estates. He vas sent to college at the
age Of IL. exposed to all the dangers
incident to youth. rank and fortune in
the wickedness of the time. The
temptations had no charms for him.
He seems to have been a full grown
man before his time. He was chosen
one of the queens pages at Is. He was
a husband at Is, his wife being slightly
younger than he. and the daughter Of
Duke D'Ayen. The union was most
happy. She was his best counsellor.
She became a partner in his greatness,
encouraged his virtue and valor. suf-
fered' like a heroine when he suffered
and became the sharer of his modest
grave at the end of his run of Il years.
Lafayette did not belong to the ad-
venturers and v~agabonds from over the
seas who had Joined the continental
army. He had come to die for free
uOIll Il ndu ftttlNtu
Silas Deane. the American ambassador
at Paris. All his preparations to leave
Paris were kept secret. He knew his
royal circle of associates would object
and probably forcibly stop his jour-
ney. His first plan to come on a regu-
lar ship failed. h only nerved his
determination. He told the Americans
in Paris that he would fit a ship for
himself and load IL with munitions Of
war This work Was dome nj Rordeaux
The British spies discovered the pro-
ject. The dauntless boy OF is was taken
TO Paris and ~reprimanded by the court
for leaving IL without permission and
sanction. This delayed the sailing. but
at last. Disgusting himself as a courier.
he slipped over into Spain from Bor-
deaux, and under the cover OF night
boarded his vessel at Passage and stood
out to sea. His pursuers were just too
late.
Lafayette's ship made the trip across
the Atlantic in so days-a fast at
that day. The adventurous men met
terrible storms. One day they passed
two British men-of-war cruising for
prizes in West Indian waters. An or
ganized mutiny d~eveaoped among the
crew. The man at the wheel did not
know the course. but by dint of the
~providential fortune which lowered
over the craft he finally managed to
make the coast near Georgetown, S. c.
The water was shoal. Lafayette could
not wait for the tide. He ordered a
small BOAT down, and in the darkness
of the night set foot for the first time
upon American soil. The party STUN
bled through the woods, narrowly es-
capped being shot as marauders. but
finally were received into the home OF a
patriot. where all the plans for the
journey to Philadelphia were made.
There were no railroads. He bought a
horse the next day and started for the
seat of congress to get the authority
which Silas Deane said would be given
him-a major generalship. He Travelled
900 miles in the saddle. and as his
first reward he was received by the
honorable body at the capital not only
with scant courtesy but with positive
coldness. Mr.. Dean had specified the
rank he was to have. The very wise
heads in congress said he was toe
young. Lafayette would have been