Omaha daily bee., 1911-02-21
80 M REVoLUTIoNARY pAYs
P~n Pfrture ar t-emrrn1 WashfaEran
- se~n b. n Trrach No.
h1emna-

Shortly after the surrender ~ Corn
wallis ar Yorktown. toward ire close ~ Tire
American revolution. the Coufa &c seEur
and the Prince de- BrrrHe. two yuunE
F7rench nohiernen. visited America In
their letters home tBev save an account
of what the- saw. relating thus. in an in
tlruate manner their s7r entures TN the
United States thelr impressions q fhe
country. of the peocle. ~ the army. q re-
general in rhief washington and q the
society wauleu whuru trey met. especially
thuse 81 Fliladeiuhia ard Newport These
letters watch Tor a century and quarter
ulsiloued IN the Family a-~hlves. 1he pres
emf Marquis DE- seEur ncruber Of the
Wrench academy. loaned to Mrs. John Van
worst. wac has translated and edited them
for r,e February issue o. Liuuincut--
MaEazine Few n any. more interesting
historical documents have appeared IN
print.
Cuncsrning the American army and its
chief the Connie De Seem gsrss hiss i'm
uresEious-
q had eKpected Ole wr5tssi 10 find me
soldiers ignorant. badly kept. the ofHcc-v
lacking IA the polish q cur Older civiliza-
ton recollerred TIRE euriv moments *
their revolution. when farrnhanaH and
wurzmen WHO had never handled a gun
preripitated themselves pellmeli n tie
name Il their country. to nEhr the British
ranks. presenting 10 their astonished eyes
a mass Of havseedE who bore no other in
sigma nor sign q uniform than q cap
upon watch was written tins word Liberty
Toa can imagine. then. bow surprised 1
was to find a disciplined army. with every
appearance Of order, reason knoWledEs
and experience. The generals tire aides
de-caup and other officers showed IN their
bearing and In their speech nobility. SELF
respect. and thar natural Hindliness which
seems 10 me- a. much abure poiireuesE as a
sweet expression is better than q. forced
smile Of affected good hurnor one
Of my most ardent desires was TO So the
hero Of America General washington The
COuus De Rochaubsau had the goodness TO
present me 10 him. Teo often reality fals
far below what we have iuaaglned ourselves
and cur admiration dirninishes a. We per
ceive the Object which had excited H. Eur
tine true General Washington Was ia abso-
lutte harmony with the idea I had formed
q him BIS APPEARANCES rsvenled him as
be was Simple. great. diEnifled- calm. Eooc-
strong these traits were wrsrfen IN his
face and in his bearing as being the quail
[ ines OF his character Fz6a figure waA
noble. erect the expression Of his features
gentle amiableg bis smiis agreeable. hiE
manner simple EdrioUf familiarity re
( has none Of the p0mp o. a general in one
q Our monarthies- everything prOclaims
+ him % be the hero uf republic. He IN
spires rather than commands respect, ann
In the eyes OF All who surround him one
can SEE TRUE affection. absolute confidence
in the chief upon whom they seemed to
place AZ their reliance. General washing
+ ton received me with Kindness. ne spoke TO
me Of the graEirude wlicn his country
: would preserve always toward the kinE o.
3 France Tor bis generous asHistance IEe ex-
pressed the highest praise for General R0-
3 ehabeau. be commended the bravery anc
discipline in cur army and he prunounceG
= few very rat1erinE words about ma
father. hrs long service in the army hin
numerous wounds worthy ornaments, said
he Tor q minister o. war