New-York tribune., 1902-05-26
MISSION STARTS ON TOUR.
FRENCH ENJOYS HAVE A BUSY DAY IN
WASHINGTON
CARDINAL GIBBoNs's sERMON-A RIDE
WITH THE PRESIDENT IN THE RAIN.

~.
Washington. May 25-The members of the
French mission which came to Washington to
attend the ceremonies incident TO the unwilling
Of the Rcchambeau statue finished their visit
here to-day, and tonight left the city for Mag
aga Falls on their weeks tour of the East be-
fore sailing for home. There were no formal
ceremonies on the programme for the day. but
the visitors found every minute Of their time
occupied in attending divine service returning
numerous calls. official and otherwise, and in
drives about the city and suburbs,
Ambassador Cambon accompanied the mem
bers Of the mission to st. Patricks Church at
10 o'clock in the morning where low
said by the Rev. DR.. Mangien, of Baltimore; the
Right Rev. Monsignor Rocker, of the Apostolic
Delegation. and other priests assisting. The
visitors full uniform. Cardinal Gibbons
preached short sermon. He spoke briefly Of
the French missionaries who had crossed the
seas to America and preached the Gospel TO
the aborigines carrying the torch Of faith in
hand and the torch of civilization in the other.
II 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 country
men in this hemisphere. in the cause of religion
and civilization. OF Rochambeau. Cardinal Glib
bons said in part:
h
ers IN arms can affirm that ROchambeau
the flower of the French allied army. Mature in
Of the Seven Years. WaT cam deberat Se'efIn sef
n Was enTa man aGc0r6ng % 70
6ence he could rely more than that OF any other
When the American troops under Washington
and the French forces under Rochambeau were on
me march 10 Yorktown Washington CALAMITY pro
posed to give the of distinction to the French
ana in doing so he oowed e mpuise Of off hs sonS o
9i nearti as well as the general instructions he
haf he hOi,ld dal
spbordinate himself 20 the American commander in
The army Of CORVALLIS was surrounded on land
ny ne French and American troops. and was pre-
miral de Grasse. which guarded Chesapeake Bay
was inevitable. and he sur endered his sword to
Washington. The capitulation of CORVALLIS was
May the friendship existing between France and
america friendship coeval with history
e nation. friendship which owe our very
existence as an independent. sovereign power-may
this historic friendship be perpetuated! May II 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
Progress and civzation and NAV G the dnmen anf
erected to Rochsmbeau in the capital the nation
template it Of the everlasting debt Of gratitude
which the United States owes to France!
The weather very warm during the after
noon, and some of the visitors preferred to rest,
while others made calls or took drives about
the city and suburbs Several of the party
including the Count and Countess de Ro-
chambeau and the Count de Lafayette visited
the beautiful Arlington Cemetery, and Fort
Myer, near by. They were escorted through
the grounds by Captain Lewis. of the ID
Cavalry.
An unexpected feature of the afternoon, and
one which pleased the visitors greatly. was an
invitation from President Roosevelt to accom-
pany him and several others on a horseback
ride. The party assembled in front of the
White House about o'clock. the visitors, in
their uniforms making fine appearance in the
bright sunlight. photograph 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 began to gather and
the party home at lively canter. The
rain overlook them. however. and before reach
ing their stopping place the entire party
drenched. Those on horseback We're President
Roosevelt. his Theodore and daughter Alice,
Secretary Root and Senator Lodge. and the fol-
lowing members of the ROchambeau mission:
General Brugere, Vice Admiral Fournier, Cen
eral Chalendar and Captain Lasson.
The party left Washington at 1:30 o'clock to-
night for Niagara Falls the Pennsylvania
Railroad. Those going included all the MEM
bers of the mission, Anlba assador and Mime.
Cambon, and the members of the staff of the
French Embassy and the Presidents commits
sion