The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-14
HELPED TO WELCOME LAFAYETTE
The Late Mrs. Springs Reminiscent
ces Of the Frenchman's Visit.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
Among the "reminiscences Of Mrs. Eliza
beth Plat Spring, who was the last liv-
ing child of Richard Riker. Recorder of
the city of New York from 1915 to 1859,
and died recently, were those connectef
with the visit of Gen Lafayette to this
country in lS24-25 Some years after La
fayette's death Mis- Spring and her elder
sister Anna, put their recollections on
the subject into a little book. In com
piling it Mrs. Spring and her sister may
be said TO have been collaborators al
though the story is told by her sister.
At the time of the visit of Lafayette the
ltiker homestead was in Fulton street,
where the Recorder kept open house and
entertained his friends with lavish hos
ptality After telling of Lafayette's re-
ception at the Battery, at which the Re-
corder was present with the Mayor to ex-
tend the official welcome, the following
mention is made in the book of call at
the Riker house by. the General and his
secretary:
, Late in the spring of 1925 two carriages
drove up to the house containing the Gen
eral and his secretary, M. lie Nasseur,
who talked mostly with us and whom we
found very agreeable
That NJ. lie Vasseur was not lacking
qualities which distinguish Frenchmen is
shown further on in an account of trip
to Staten Island:
Early in August, 1926 the General and
his son and secretary and the members
of the Common Council went to Staten
Island to pay a visit of coincidence to the
widow of Gov Tompkins. A special
steamer was chartered and we accom-
panied our father. In the party was a
Mrs. Coolidge, Thomas Jefferson's grand
daughter and my cousin.
while on the way to Staten Island NJ
lie Vasseur came to the part of the boat
where my sister ana myself were seated
and took some blank cards and said he
would write some words applicable to
each of us. He handed the first to my
cousin and we read the words La eaute.'
7 thought it well suited her. He handel
the next card to my sister on which was
written la onte' l thought that, too,
very applicable. Then he looked up at me
ana l can remember to this day that I
felt quite Indifferent as to what he wOuh
say; then he handed me the third card
and l read the words: Occur de Marbre.'
l objected slightly. lie answered quick
ly:
Wait till the lovers Aock around you
and see if my words are true. And, sure
enough they were"
After description of the ball at Castle
Garden. which was given to the General,
there is an account of the reception at
the RilSer residence. The General had eX-
pressed a desire to meet the relatives and
family and the reception had been ar
ranged to afford him an opportunity. As
the girls We're children. apparently, they
mad to watch things from a distance al
the receptions for in describing 1t, they
wrote:
I'VE had our supper table spread for
the evening was warm. and only light re-
freshmentS. with light wines were served.
One room was reserved for the children,
and in charge of them was Miss Wither-
spoon, an old friend of 'our family and
granddaughter of DR.. Witherspoon. the
only clergyman who signed the Declara-
ton of Independence. l had always heard
thar Gen. Lafayette had a happy faculty
for remembering names. 1t was shown
in This case for when he was introduced
to Miss Witherspoon. whose father mad
fought in the Revolution. and heard her
name. he said:
Your father was a gallant soldier,
ModemGselle, which | thought was very
nice"
On Sept IS. 1925 the girls went with
their father to a performance of play
in Lafayettes honor at the old Park The
alter. on Park Row, between Beekman
and Ann streets. The play was one writ
ten by the editor of the Evening Star, ac-
cording to their account.
latter the farce was over" they say,
1.-THE General entered the theater, the
bands playing 'Lafayette's Return or
The Hero's Return Every one in the
house rose, and the General was shown
at once to my fathers box, remaining
with us throughout the evening. The play
was very good. but I thought the prettiest
thing of all was when nine little girls
appeared on the stage and formed in dane
ing the letters of Lafayette1 name"
Mrs Spring was very proud of the lit
tie book in which were preserved the rec
objections of this visit and she always
kept it very closely guarded.