The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-12

surrounding country had gathered at the foot of Goat Hill" to greet and do honor to the distinguished guest Here the escort quit their carriages and talk ing the horses out of General Lafay-l cites carriage marched up the hill. drawing 1t themselves as they sang Hail to the Chieftain. Ascending the hill in advance of General Lafayette were a number of little girls who scat tered wild flowers and branches in his pathway. One of those flower girls was Mrs. James Fountain, the one per- son who still lives to tell the tale of that glad day. She was then 12 years old and we'll she remembers 1t, though she. says T can't recall his face. nor can I remember how was dressed"
 Reaching the top of the hill Cover nor Pickens introduced General Lafay-' cite in terms full of emotion. Here on the summit of the hill where now our historic Capitol stand amidst a scene, the beauty and wildness of which must have been bewildering, oc- cured the reunion of Lafayette and a number of the revolutionary soldiers who had been his comrades in the troublous times that endeared the great Frenchman to America It is said that the scene was unspeakably affecting. It must have been picturesque The forests around were full of neighing horses, wagons, weighty carriages. gigs, sulkies and other vehicles of the day. "Lo. the poor Indian" filled in his brilliant part in the picture with his gay attire. his bright paint, and the look in has face of childiike faith in his friends CD
 During his stay Lafayette was en- tertained at the boarding house of Mir J. Edmondson. the then richest citizen of the town This house was situated on Commerce Street, adjoining the lot where the First National Bank now stands. The apartment which General Lafayette was to occupy had been fur nished for the occasion by number of the grand danes of Montgomery, who each contributed of the finest arr ticIes of their possession. The carpet used was the property of Mrs. William Harris, mother of the late Mrs. Albert Pickett and Mrs. John H. Gindrat. 1t was said to be the only Brussels car- pet in the town. The mirror before which he was to make his toilette was loaned by Mrs. John H. Gindrat.- This old French mirror is still in Montgom- cry It hangs In the reception hall of the home of Mrs. Lucy Winter Lahey, granddaughter Sof Mrs. Gfndrat. The Marseilies spread used on his bed was contributed by Miss Margaret Carpen- ter, and is now in the possession of Mrs Frank P OBrien of Birmingham, her srandniece. Miss Carpenter is the heroine of the beautiful poem written by Margaret oBrien Davis: When Grand Aunt Danced With Lafayette"
 Ge # E
 THE BALL.
 And that leads me to the ball, the ball, the spirit of which the gifted young writer caught and crystallized into verse. It was on the night of the 4th of April, 1895. and the place was the old two-story brick and stucco house, then a hotel that until few years ago stood Oh the corner of Tal- iapoosa and Commerce Streets. It was lovA and small and dim. The ceiling was little more than six feet high, but if was the stateliest of mansions in those days and no one wished to do honor to the noble guest in finer one.
 That ball is the social event that stands prominent in the history of Montaomery And the guest of honor was a man of near 70 years! And he danced! Were those primitave days 2? Would we entertain such a guest with a ball in this day and sensration? Would we expect him to take party And could her There was time in those days. 1t seems, for the indulging of what Schiller calls the play in stinct"--the enjoying of the aesthetic. Time even in the life of one whose won derfuI wisdom. industry, and earnest ness of purpose had led him to begin at so early an age, as did Lafayette, a career full of deeds that make his tory.
 If Lafayette could come to Mont gomery now we would show him the '