The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-07-02
HISTORICAL
REMINISCENCE
IooNr1NUnD FROM FIRST PAGE.

er well known landmark, still stand.
ing on South Street and better known
now as the Twining house.
Lafayette both wrote and spoke
English fiuently, having acquired a
competent knowledge of the language
in the first few weeks of his first So
journ in America. Being a man Of
great address he was not hampered
upon occasions Of public Importance.
He was introduced on this occasion
by General Doughty and others to the
Revolutionary officers and soldiers
present, many Of whom had been his
comrades in arms, and to a great
number Of citizens OF this and neigh
boring counties.
At eight o'clock the company and
guests sat down to dinner spread in
Mr.. Sansay's long room.
After the courses there were the
usual toasts, according to the custom
of the time. On this occasion there
were thirteen. Among those men,
toned as responding were Col. Aaron
Ogden, of Elizabeth Town, a Revolu-
tionary comrade of Lafayette, conspic-
uous in after years in many ways,
particularly in the early history of
the steamboat, William Halsey Esq.
of Newark, a prominent lawyer, Capt.
R. Reed, Monsieur Sansay, etc.
The sixth toast was to Gen. Lafay-
cite, after which, our chronicler says,
the General expressed his warm ac-
acknowledgements and proposed the fol-
lowing toast:
"Morristown, name conspicuous
in our Evolutionary War-may 1t also
be conspicuous in the enjoyment Of
the blessings which have been the
object and result of our glorious con-
test"
The Sansay House (now known as
the Revere house, in whose. long
room" or Assembly Room upon the
second story the banquet was held
was well known at that time, as a
famous place for balls and dances.
Monsieur Sansay was a famous
dancing master of Morristown and
Elizabeth Town, a Frenchman. He
built the house not many years be-
fore this period and in it taught the
art of dancing to that generation. He
had some successes and afterwards
misfortunes.
After the dinner was concluded La
fayette and the company returned to
the Ogden House, which had been
decorated for his reception. The Ia.
dies of Morristown had assembled in
great numbers and were presented to
him in succession.
At ten o'clock the General retired
to his lodgings at Mr.. James Woods,
attended by the committee.
Here he spent the evening in the
social circle, receiving only few
friends.
The house of Mr.. James Wood is
still standing and is part of the Col
onial, now Morristown Inn.
The General retired at eleven
o'clock after what seems to us very
arduous campaign and the next morn
ing at eight resumed his journey by
way of Newark, New Brunswick, etc.
to Philadelphia and thence to Vir-
ginia.
On his way Lafayette halted at
Madison, or more correctly at that
time, Bottle Hill, where about 200
people we're awaiting him and some
simple and appropriate exercises were
held, including brief address to
which Lafayette responded as fol-
lows: Accept, dear Sir, my congrat-
ulations for yourself, your village and
your country, and my thanks for your
kind desires for my welfare" Thir-
teen of the young ladies Of the Acad-
envy, dressed in white, representing
the original thirteen states, recited an
address to him in four stanzas Of
verse.
His next reception was at Newark.
The Morris Town people congratu-
lated themselves over the success Of
their celebration, and it was long re-
membered.
There was famous evergreen arch.
The dining room and the Ogden
house were greatly decorated. The
military under command of Gen. Oar
cy appeared to great advantage. Civ
ing passing salute to Gen. Lafayette
on review.
At evening there was an illumina-
ton and rockets were thrown from
the Morristown Green.
The Morristown Of 1926 was not
much changed from the Morristown
which Lafayette knew. the Morris
town Of 1777-SO.
There were some new additions but
almost all the old remained.
1t is likely it seemed smaller, for In
the Revolution it was sometimes a
great military camp and altogether
perhaps ten thousand people were in
it and about it In addition to its $50
or 500 inhabitants. But how much
Lafayette had undergone and suffered
in that so years interval since he saw
it before. The whole terrible time Of
the French Revolution
| 1t is only of late years that the mag
nifcent character OF Lafayette and
the magnitude OF his services to
America have been fully understood.
He was the providential occasion at
least if not the cause Of the French
Alliance. The French Alliance was
Of the utmost Importance to Ameri-
can independence.
His oh q 70 cfcr hic oouraon hfz ahfl.