The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-03-04
LEAP YEAR CHILDREN.
Eight Years Old and Celebrates His
First Birthday Anniversary.

Nineteen Hundred, though di
visible by four, was not Il leap ycal
so that children born February %,
1896, celebrated last Monday THEN
first birthday anniversary. The
Post Dispatch of last Sunday gave
a list of Il number of st. Louis
children who on that day celebrated
for the first time their birthday
Among them was son of NJ. Pla.
eide de lIault de l4assus. f1r..rrly
of st. Francois county-August
Pierre Leslie de- Hault de Lassus,
who was born February 80, 1896.
He is great grandson of Mar
quis Don Carlos de llnut de- Las.
sus, Governor of louisiana at the
time of the purchase of this terri.
tory by the United States. aud he
writes II letter to the other BOYS
and girls Of st. Louis who ccle.
brate their birthday on February
29th. 1t is an interesting letter,
and there is something of historical
value in it, which this young scion
of an ilIustrious family has learned
from his family.
AuGrsr PIERRE LEslu ~ IINrrr uf
LASTS LETTER
To all the other boys aud grI- OF
st. Louis aud the louisiana Purchase,
who on Monday will celebrate their
birthday, send greeting.
Isn't it good to have birthday at
last after all these years
used tn think they should give me
two ChriStna,r,, bcClusc my birthday,
were 81 long coming suppose you
folks feel The >auc way, especially yu
poor fellows who were born in 1896.
When my brother, who j. Older
than | am and whose birthday comes
Un February IA, used to talk ahpul
his birthday each year, always felt
lonesome. thought they might
have fixed il up So that could crlc-
bratc on March /. But they never drd.
Never mind; wc'll make 1t up by
celebrating all year this year. Wen
play that the whole Louisiana Par.
chase Exposition was gotten up for
the benefit of the Feb. - children,
and Wen have good times every day
We can. Once there was u time when
! was afraid that our birthday would.
MT be celebrated 50 much That
was when they meant To- hn,r the
Fair in 1908. But there no danger
Of that now.
All my life I've heard about the
Fair that was to he when Louisiana
had been bought 100 years. II mean,
much to our family, You see; because
my great grandfather, Marqui, Don
Carlos de lIault de lasSu,, helped in
the buying lie signed the paper,
that gave to the United State, all Of
Louisiana.
hat was 100 years ago, and mo-
body had ever heard of Us leap year
children then Neither did they think
about the fun we're going 10 have
this summer on the Pike.
My great.grandiarhcr served three
nations. He was Governor under
"'trois drapcauX, my grandmother
says.
That's French for "undcr three
llsgs - Onc flag wa, Spanish, the
other French, and the last aud best Of
all American,
My great.grandfathcr's Christian
name was Charles. but the Spaniard~
called him Don Carlos, and that is the
way it is written in history His
grave is fat away, in New Orleans
That's where the papers were signed
in a big building called the "Cabildo "
My cousin has told me about the
"Cabildo" many times. a building
made just like it is to be shown at the
Fair.
My grandmother says that my great.
grandfather was much liked Of kings
She haf six medals that they gave him
am proud OF my great grandfather
He helped make history ard he did his
duty.
Sometimes folks say, "What good
is the memory OF great grandfather
That doesn't give you money or other
things"
just laugh,
They have no grandfather like mine,
and they can't know how good it makes
II boy feel to know that the men back
Of him were worth while.
Somehow feel like sharing him
with all you Feb % children. This i,
your year. 1t is Il great year, partly
because Of him.
Wen all be glad.