The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-26
MISSION
ON EASTERN TRIP
Attend Services and go Horse
back Riding.
PARTY CAUGHT BY STORM
Were Thoroughly Drenched When
They Reached the White House.
Leave for Niagara Falls and
other Places of Interest.

Washington, May 25.-The members of
the French mission. which came to Wash
ington to attend the ceremonies incident
to the unveiling of the Rochambeau
statue, finished their visit here today and
tonight left the city for Niagara Falls
on their weeks tour of the East, before
sailing for home
Ambassador Cambon accompanied the
members of the mission to St Patrick's
church at 10 o'clock in the morning The
visitors wore the full uniform of their
rank. Cardinal Gibbons preached a short
sermon. He spoke briefly of the French
missionaries who had crossed the seas
to America and preached the gospel of the
aboriginal inhabitants. carrying the torch
of faith in one hand and the torch of
civilization in the other.
OF Rochambeau Cardinal Gibbons said
in part:
without detracting from the merits of
his brothers in arms, l can affim that
Rochambeau was the flower of the French
allied army. Mature in years, expert
enced in military campaigns. veteran
of the seven years war calm, deliberate,
self-polsed. he was a man according to
Washingtons own heart the general on
whose counsel and prudence he could rely
more than that of any other commander"
Aid of French Navy
The cardinal then referred to the invaiu-
able aid given by the French navy when
the American and French armies had
CORVALLIS surrounded at Yorktown and
to the gallantry of Rochambeau In re-
fusing to take the post of honor offered
him by Washington. In conclusion he
said:
May the friendship existing between
France and Americas friendship coeval
with our history nation-a friendshin
to which we owe our very existence as an
independent, sovereign power-may this
historic friendship be perpetuated-may
1t be strengthened and consolidated by
the iron bonds of commerce and by the
golden links of brotherly love. May the
two great republics of the world go hand
and hand in the march of liberty and pro-
gress and civiIization. And may the mon
um ent erected to Rochambeau In the
capital of the nation, ever remind the
American citizen who will contemplate It,
of the everlasting debt of gratitude which
the United States owes to France"
During the afternoon several of the par
ty, including the Count and Countess de
Rochambeau and 1le Count de Lafayette.
visited the Arlington cemetery and Fort
Meyer.
Went Horseback Riding
An unexpected feature of the afternoon
which pleased the visitors very much was
an invitation from President Roosevelt
to accompany him and several others on
a horseback ride. The entire party as
sembled in front of the white house about
4 o'clock. the visitors in their uniforms
making very pretty picture in the bright
afternoon sunlight The President guild
ed the party through the northern section
of the city until they reached the Zoolog-
ical park While in the park storm
began to gather and the party came home
at a lively canter. The rain overlook
them. however. and before reaching their
sleeping places the efSire party was
drenched. Those on horseback were Pres
ident Roosevelt, his son. Theodore. and
daughter, Alice, Secretary Root and Sem
ator Lodge and the following members
of the Rochambeau mission: General
Brugere, Vice Admiral Fourniere. General
Chalendar and Captain Lasson.
The party left Washington at 7:3O
o'clock tonight for Niagara Falls via the
Pennsylvania railroad. Those going in
cluded all the members of the mission.
Ambassador and Nine Cam bon and the
members of the STAFF of the French en-
bassy and the Presidents commission.