The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-26
OFF FOR NIAGARA
MEMBERS OF FRENCH MISSION
LEAVE CAPITAL.
HEARD SERMON BY GIBBONS.
CAUGHT IN RAIN WITH PRESIDENT
IN AFTERNOON.

Whole Party Got Nicely Drenched
While Out Horseback Ridfng-Car-
dinaI Gibbons Spoke of Work CT
Early French Missionaries Among
the AbOriEines. Paid a High Trib-
ute to ROcham beau and Expressed
Hope That the Two Great Repub-
lies Might Go Hand in Hand in the
March of Liberty and the Progress
of Civilization.
Washington. May 25.-The members
of the French mission, which came to
Washington to attend the ceremonies
incident to the unwilling of the Ro-
chdmbeau statue finished their visit
here to-day, and tonight left the city
for Niagara Falls on their weeks tour
of the East before sailing for home.
There were no formal functions on the
programme for the day, but the WISH
tors found every minute of their time
occupied in attending divine services,
returning numerous calls, official and
otherwise, and in drives about the city
and suburbs.
Ambassador Cambon accompanied
the members of the mission to ST.
Patrick's Church at 10 o'clock in the
morning, where low mass was said by
the Rev. DR.. Mangien of Baltimore the
Rt. Rev. Mgr. Rocker of the apostolic
delegation and other priests assisting.
The visitors wore the full uniform of
their rank. Cardinal Gibbons preached
short sermon. The spoke briefly of
the French missionaries who had
crossed the seas to America and
preached the gospel to the aboriginal
Inhabitants, carrying the torch of
faith in one hand and the torch of civ
lization in the other. 1t was meet and
proper that the sons of France should
assemble in the temple of God to give,
thanks to the Almighty for the great
things which had been accomplished by
their countrymen in this hemisphere,
in the cause of religion and civilization.
The Character of ROchambeau.
OF Rochambeau Cardinal Gibbons
said in part:
Without detracting from the merits
of his brothers in arms, 1 can affirm
that Rochambeau was the flower of
the French allied army. Mature in
! years, experienced in military cam
! paignS, a veteran of the seven-years
war. calm, deliberate, self-poised, he
was man according to Washington's
own heart, the general on whose coun-
| sci and prudence he could rely more
| than on that of any other COM
nader.
May the friendship subsisting be-
tween France and America 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 in hand in the march of lib
erty and progress and civilization
And may the monument erected to
Rochambeau in the capital of the ma
ton ever remind the American citizen
who will contemplate it of the ever
lasting debt of gratitude which the
United States owes to France
The weather was very warm during
the afternoon and some of the visitors
preferred to rest while others made
calls or took rides about the city and
suburbs.
Went Riding with President.
quite unexpected feature of the af-
ternoon and one which pleased the Wis
itors very much was an invitation
from President Roosevelt to accompany
him and several others on horseback
ride. The entire party assembled in
front of the White House about
O'Clock, the visitors in their uniforms
making a very pretty picture in the
bright afternoon sunlight. A photo
graph was taken of the group while
| there. The President guided the party
through the northern section of the
city until they reached the geological
park. While in the park a storm be-
gan to gather and the party came
home at a lively canter. The rain
overlook them, however, and before
reaching their stopping place the en-
tire party was drenched. Those on
horseback were President Roosevelt,
his son Theodore and daughter Alice,
Secretary Root and Senator Lodge, and
the following members of the Rocham-
beau mission: Gen. Brugere, Vice Ad-
miral Fourier, Gen. Chalendar and
Capt. LasSon.
The French party left here tonight
for Niagara Falls, accompanied by
Ambassador Can1bon, members of the
French embassy and the Presidents