The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-04

So N6tniNs
Ambassador Cambn Is greatly interested
in the project, and he has had the active
aid OF Mr. Boeufve, chancellor OF the en-
hassy, who has seen that there was no lag
cling in the details Of the enterprise. When
the two houses Of congress voted the ap-
preparation for the statue. Mr.. Boeufye ad-
Nised the present Count de Rochambeau In
Paris Of what had been done. This was
in March, 1901. Count de Rochambeau re-
piled ut once, thanking Mr.. Boeufve. and
saIu;
1T is with great pleasure that l heard OF
the vote of congress. | thanked General
Porter IN the name Of the Rochambeaus,
and asked him Co convey TO the members
Of tho American parliament the expression
OF our gratitude. Would 1t be intiiscreet,
sir, to beg you TO fulhll the same reQuestT
Later the count was advised of the plans
for the statue, and he replied to ME-
Boeufve, rs follows:
'You are n thousand times kind to think
In the midst of your occupations, of send
ing me those most interesting articles CON
corning the project of the Rochambeau
statue, and ! thank you in my name and
in the name of my mother the Marquise
de Rochambeau.
we have all been happy over the sue
cess of your efforts, because II the marshal
viii be represented In the capital of the
United States 1t is surely to you that we
shall owe 1t. May his statue recall, some
Q
across the ocean another people exists
which reached out to them a helpful hand
in q moment OF danger.
81 have written to his excelleney, Mon
sieur Cambon, to thank him for having
given the project his assistance, and, as /
have already told you, have asked Gen
eral Porter to convey to congress our most
heartfelt sentiments of gratitude.
/ "a. 90
studying his pedestal and will soon | be
lieve, begin his model--unless II Is already
done-because | 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 distln.
| gulshed sentiments"
The American ambassador at Paris also
took deep Interest in the project, and he
wrote to Mr.. Boeufve, rs follows, Of the
good done in erecting monuments OF this
International character:
1.-THE pedestal which Mr. Hamar has pre-
pared for the statue In Washington is very
artistic and appropriate. | examined the
marquette with great interest,
81 am sure. from previous experience in
| inaugurnting our several interna tional
monuments, that much is accomplished
thereby In drawing still closer the sym.
pathles 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"
There are some historical facts in CON
nection with Rochambeau's service In
America which are not generally known.
II is customary In America 10 look upon
Lafayette as the representative Of France s
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, 1t is a recognized fact that
Rochambeau was the representative of
French military authority in America nj
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 its strength
TO the side of the American cause At the
same time Lafayette was pursuing n some.
what Independent course. Instead Of com.
Ing TO America by official designation from
the French government followed nv h
trench army, he came as an Individual 10
tender his ability as a military genius i'm
the direct service OF the American forces
u was this act, that brought about such n
| close union between Washington nnd n.
iayette, Tor the latter at all times served
under Washington. But so far as the
French government was concerned In the
issues OF that conflict the great field mar
| shall, Count de ROchambeau was M sii
times Its Representatives "
About year ago the French government
sent 70 the French embassy here COW OF
the splendid painting at Versailles shown .
hocnamoe4u on the battlefield Of Yorktown