Evening star., 1909-04-28
HONOR TO L'ENFANT
TARDY BUT SINCERE
Impressive Ceremonies in Ro.
tunda of the Capitol.
REMAINS LIE IN STATE
French Officer Eulogized by Vice
President Sherman.
MR.. MCFARLAND PRESIDES
Ambassador Jusserand Delivers Ad-
dress-Imposing Cortege Proceeds
to Arlington, Where Remains
Are Buried.
French Officer Eulogized by Vice
President Sherman.
dR. MCFARLAND PRESIDEs

High honors were paid today the memory
and remains of Maj. Pierre Charles LEN
fant, the French engineer officer who
under the authority and direction of Gen
George Washington, planned the city of
Washington.
The principal ceremony was held in the
rotunda OF the United States Capitol. be-
ginning about 1910 o'clock this forenoon
Central figures in the notable gathering
were the President and Mrs. Taft, Vice
President Sherman and the French am
bassador, NJ Jusserand. Surrounding
them were justices of the United States
Supreme Court, senator's. representatives,
members of the diplomatic corps. the
Commissioners OF the District of Column
bia and representatives of patriotic and
other societies.
Remains Lie in State.
The remains of Maj. LEnfant, which
were disinterred from their resting place
on Digge's farm in Maryland. where Len
fant was buried in 1925 were taken to the
Capitol t.ls morning. and lay in state in
the rotunda before the commencement Of
the ceremonies.
The casket, wrapped in an American
flag and covered with beautiful floral
remembrances, was surrounded by a
guard of honor composed of sergeants of
the United States Engineer Corps and
Capitol policemen.
The setting for the ceremony was a
vault of the dome were the representa-
tions in allegory of human progress and
human liberty. Standing around the cir
cular auditorium of the rotunda, like ST.
lent sentinels of the republic. were the
statues of distinguished American gen
erals and statesmen, with American his
tory pictured in the great paintings above
them.
The gathering was a large one, and
those present seemed to feel that the
honor long due L'Enfant, though tardily
paid. was at the last of a dignity of
character befitting the man and the oc-
casion.
Banner Salute to Taft.
The big clock on the wall OF the ro-
President and Mrs. Taft. Vice President
Sherman and NJ. Jusserand. preceded by
District Commissioners Mcfarland, West
and Judson. filed into the rotunda through
a lane in the massed humanity, and were
seated in the center of the great audi
ence. No demonstration marked the en-
try of the distinguished party, except the
lowering and raising of the blue and sill
yer banner of the Society of the Cincin-
natl which was held aloft by representa-
tives Of that ancient and honorable or
ganization.
After the prominent participants had
been seated. Henry B. F. Macfarland.
president of the board of District of Co
lumba Commissioners, called the assem-
blase to order and made the opening adj
dress.
Mr.. Macfarland's Speech.
Commissioner Macfarland said:
The Commissioners. under the au-
thority of Congress. are removing the
remains of L'Enfant from Green Hill.
Md. where he found shelter and u
grave. to the Arlington National ceme-
terry. overlooking the National capital
Through the courtesy of Congress We
have today the opportunity of honorinc
l. Enfa nts remains and his memory
here i'm the rotunda of the Capitol, In
the presence of great men of the past
and present. Scenes Of the revolution
remind us of LEnfant's military serv-
ices as an officer Of the Continental
army. while the building itself and the
prospect from 1t remind us of his
service in the planning Of the nations
city.
George Washington was the IA
.ther of this capital as well as "a
of the country. His was the great idea
that a great capital would some day
be needed for the then young and
small country. Even Washington's
genius. even his reputa alton for common
sense did not save the idea from ridi-
cule when men were doubtful whether
the infant nation would live. Washing
ton had faith that the nation would not
only live. but grow into greatness Of
every kind. He saw the United Stat -
of today and of the future and its need
of capital commensurate with its
growth. Thomas Jeerson and James
Madison aided George Washington in
planning the National capital with
their knowledge and wisdom. Jefferson
contributed the maps of foreign capi-
tails as well as his own ideas.
Planned 1.-The Federal City"
But George Washington had to en-
ploy the technical skill of L'Enfant. the
French engineer and Ellicott. the Amer
lean engineer LEnfant drafted the
great plan Of what Washington always
called the federal city. and after
l. Enfant left the task Ellicott made
the notifications which Washington de-
sired f,llicott has his memorial ut
West Point. where he died professor IF
mathematics. But LEnfant has waited
years for the tardy honors
of his adopted country
Last Thursday we reverently exhumed
the scant vestiges of his body from the
farm where he found hospitality In life
and in death from the Digges family.
whose descendants are happily present
Today we are to place them In the i'm
mortal company of the nations honored
dead. Later we are to raise over them
a memorial provided by Congress. for
which the Beaux Arts Architects of the
United States are preparing the design as
a gift of gratitude for their education in
France.
I'VE hope to see in the future a statue
of l. Enfant in our park system. But
tho beauty of the city itself. increasing