Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19

statue, and 1 thank you in my name and
IN the name of my mother the Marquise
de ROchambeau.
I'VE have all been happy over the sue
cess of your efforts, because if the marshal
will be represented in the capital of the
United States it is surely to you that We
shall owe it. May his statue recall, some
day or other, to the American people that
across the ocean another people exists
which reached out to them a helpful hand
in a moment of danger.
Il have written to his excellency, Mon
sleur CambOn, to thank him for having
given the project his assistance, and, as
nave already told you, / have asked Gen.
Porter to convey to Congress our most
heartfelt sentiments of gratitude.
Our young sculptor is at work; he is
studying his pedestal and will soon, be-
lieve, begin his model-unless it is already
done-because l have not seen him these
last few days. believe his conception will
be beautiful, and will produce an excellent
effect.
Please. sir, believe in my warm graft
tude for what you are doing and have al
ready done for the glory of our name and
accept the assurance of my most distin-
gulShed sentiments"
The American ambassador at Paris also
took deep interest in the project, and he
wrote to Mr.. Boeufve, as follows, of the
good done in erecting monuments OF this
international character:
THE pedestal which Mr.. Hamar has pre-
pared for the statue in Washington Is very
artistic and appropriate. 1 examined the
marquette with great interest.
Il am sure, from previous experience in
inaugurating our several international
monuments, that much is accomplished
thereby in drawing still closer the sym
pathies which happily exist between our
sister republics.
There is a great deal Of interest mani
tested in France in the project, in relation
to which you have labored SO zealously and
successfully"
His Brilliant Service.
There are some historical facts In con-
nection with Rochambeau's service in
America which are not generally known
1t is customary in America to look upon
Lafayette as the representative of Frances
assistance to the United States during the
critical days of the revolution. But in
France and among Frenchmen, while there
is the fullest admiration for the gallantry
of Lafayette, it is a recognized fact that
Rochambeau was the representative Of
French military authority in America at
that time. He was a field marshal in the
French service, and as such was officially
trusted with the leadership of the large
French contingent which gave it's strength
10 the side of the American cause At the
same time Lafayette was pursuing a some
what Independent course. Instead of COM
ing to America by official designation from
the French government, followed by
French army. he came as an individual, to
tender his ability as military genius In
the direct service of the American forces
1t was this act that brought about such
close union between Washington and La
fayette, for the latter at all times served
under Washington. But so far the
french government was concerned in the
issues of that conflict the great field mar
shall, Count de Rochambeau, was at all
times its representative.
About year ago the French government
sent to the French embassy here a copy of
the splendid painting at Versailles showing
Rochambeau on the battlefield of Yorktown
receiving the orders from Washington to
make the assault on the British lines 1t is
spirited picture, with all the fire of war
scene.