Evening star., 1901-02-16

one and indivisible, had scarcely had time
to straighten it's ruddy folds on the winds
of the free, when Lafayette, the boy-soldier
of France, came to the aid of Washington
not only with his sword, but with his for
tune as well.
And it came about that the day Of
days for the daughters at the Paris exposi-
ton was also the day of days in the United
States, July 4, when the American flag for
the first time fioated from the pinnacle Of
the Eiffel tower by special permission of
the president of France, along with the tri-
color, and the American flag was every
where in evidence. On that day was dedi-
Gated the great statue of Lafayette, pre-
sented by the women and children Of
America to the French republic. II was as
the chosen representative of the Daughters
of the American Revolution that Mrs. Man.
ming president general, crossed the ocean,
bearing also an official commission from
the President of the United States to lend
her presence at the presentation of this
statue and that OF Washington to France.
The Lafayette statue bears upon tablet
this inscription: This tablet is tribute of
the National Society Of the Daughters Of
the American Revolution to the illustrious
memory of Lafayette, the Friend of Ameri-
ca, the Fellow Soldier Of Washington. the
Patriot of two Countries
The equestrian statue of Lafayette is the
largest figure Of the kind in the world. 1t
was executed by Mr.. Thomas Hastings of
New York Mrs. Manning made an address
of some fifteen minutes at the unVeiling of
the monument, and the scene was most
impressive. On July 3, the day previous
the equestrian statue of Washington, erect
ed by the Washington Statue Association
In the Place d'Iena, was unveiled by Mrs.
Manning as president general Of the Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution, and Mrs
John z. Jones of Nevada.
Mr.. John X. Gowdy, in his speech OF
presentation, said: THE American women
offer to France this memorial which shall
convey to present and future generations
their grateful remembrance. AS we stand
IN the dawn OF a new century may the
wreaths intertwined with the garlands OF
victory and the good will of the soldiers OF
'16 never Wither. nor the stars cease 10
shine the friendship of the two repub-
lies"
Mrs. Manning ChevaIier.
The president general, assisted by the
numerous Daughters who were in Paris
gave several gorgeous receptions, and as
lasting memento Of a year of brilliant
successes the president general, Mrs. May
Margaretta Manning, was presented by the
president of the French republic with the
medal Of the Legion of Honor, which few
women possess, and Mrs. Manning may
now write "chevaler" before her name,
though, according to the rules of gram
mar, it should be "chevaliere."
This decoration is scarcely as old as the
century just closed, but it is highly val
ued. 1t was instituted by Napoleon In 1902
after he was elevated to the position Of
first consul. All the old orders of knight
hood had been abolished as inconsistent
with the principles of the revolution, but
some system of rewards was necessary to
keep up the enthusiasm of the army. Since
its institution dynasteS have risen and
fallen and the maps of the world have
been changed many times, but the decora-
ton of The Legion of Honor remains the