Evening star., 1902-08-18

his experience is a tale of unusual fascina-
ton, and in listening to the recital of the
many interesting events in his long life
one feels that he is being given a peep into
that past from which but very few have
emerged to witness the wonders of the
present age.
While the SHOWS of many winters have
been changing his hair and beard from
black to white Mr.. Garland has seen the
republic Of the United States pass from a
doubtful experiment to an achievement of
unquesdoned certainty. Not only has
he witnessed the important events in its
progress toward the ideal government, but
he has also been personally Identified with
these events. He has suffered with the
nation in it's throes of development, in its
wars and disasters, and after many years of
wandering here and there about the earth
he has come to the capital Of his native
country to live in peace until the muffied
roll call from another land summons him
| to his long home, confident that the gov
ernment which he helped to establish will
live on and on into the cycles of the future.
Native Of Virginia
! A glance at his history reveals his
| nection with many important events. VIM.
| H. Garland was born in Albemarle county,
| Va, August 10, 1909. He descended from
| a fighting stock, for both his grandfathers
| fought In the revolution, and his father
was a soldier in both the revolution and
| the war of 1912. An uncle of Garland was
with WaShingtons colonialS in the Brad
| dock engagement during the French and
| Indian
| The American branch Of the family is
| descended from five brothers who came
1 from England and Scotland one Of whom
| was a signer of the death warrant for be-
| heading Charles /. These five brothers
! came to America more than century ago
| and settled, one in Kentucky, one in Ten
| Massachusetts,
| Virginia. The five men were Of considerable
wealth and influence, and Mr.. Garland's
father, James H Garland, died colonel in
| the marines corps of the United States.
| Mr.. Garland first came to Washington
with his family in 1921 and since that time
| he has lived here at intervals. In his early
| life he entered the navy of the United
States, serving nearly twelve years, after
| which he at tended Phillips Academy at Ex-
| eter, N H After graduating there he en-
| tered William and Marys College at VIII
| liamsburg, Va, and finished his studies IN
| that institution with the class Of 80. Of
| which there were thirtyfour members. Mr..
/ Garland Is the only survivor OF that class
| This man, whose life has been nearly CO.
| equal with that Of the nation, has seen
every President of the United States ex-
cepting Washington. When Lafayette
| made his second visit to America, in 1924,
| Mr.. Garland, then mere lad in the navy.
| was one of the escort appointed by Presi-
| dent Monroe to accompany the distinguished
| French nobleman on his tour through the
| to Havre, France, in the frigate Brandy
| wine. then commanded by Charles 8. Nor
| ris, who was later made commodore.
Saw Napoleon on st. Helena
| Mr. Garland is one of the few men living
who saw the great Napoleon and this event
| he considers as among the most important
| In his entire career. When he was about
| nine years of age his father. who was then
| a lieutenant In the navy, took his son with
him on one OF his voyages. The vessel
| reached st. Helena Isand, where Napoleon
| was then a prisoner, in the spring Of 1918.
IT remember the event clearly" said the
| gray haired man, In describing the visit to
| a Star reporter. MY father and the ofh-
| GERS went ashore and paid their respects to
Gen. Hudson Lowe, the governor OF the
| island. We were invited to visit Napoleon,
| who lived a short distance inland. He was
short, stout man. rather heavily built,
| with short thighs and legs and long arms.
| He was not attractive In personal appear
ance. He wore the uniform OF trench
field marshal, the only insignia of rank
being a magnificent Jeweled badge Of the
| Legion of Honor.
when he met me the great warrior put
his hand on my head and said: My little
lad hope your life will be more success
full than mine has been. We learned that
a religious debate was going on at the time,
and Napoleon was to participate as Judge.
It was one of his customs to have debates
| on subjects of general interest In order to
pass the time. The subject on that day
|
Christ Napoleon opened the debate On
the affirmative side were Count Montholon.
Marshal Bernard, Count Lascasces. two
American officers and DR.. OMeara, the
leon. On the negative side were Gen Le
Noir, Lieut. Gascogyn. .Leuts. Randolph,
Ogden and Hull Of the United States navy.
Memorable Event.
'T shall never forget the appearance of
Napoleon as he opened the discussion, nor
shall ever forget his words In deciding
the debate. Napoleon spoke in French. a
language my father had taught me. He
| said:
!" The province Of the historian is to give
US the facts. without comment on their own
| part or poetical embellishments. We must,
| In reading history, take into account the
motive of the writer-whether 1t was to
show to the world what great scholar he
was or to aid future generations in avoid
| ing the mistakes of ancestors Josephus