The Washington herald., 1915-10-12
La Fayette and His Old Comrade.

There came an intimation in the sum-
mcr Of 1877 to Charles \. Dana, then
editor of the New York Sun. that it was
highly probable that some excitement
and some dramatic scenes would he fur
nished at the meeting of the Democratic
State convention of New Jersey at Tren-
ton, and that the nomination for candi-
date for governor would be surprise
Mr.. Dana asked Henry Il. Stanton.
who was long associated with Mr.. Dana
at first on the New York Tribune and
afterward on the New York Sun-to go
to Trenton so that he might be prepared
to write such an editorial from 1t as the
event justified. MIR. Dana also instruct
ed me to so with Mr.. Stanton and for
nay part to report for the sun the pro-
ce"dinGs in the convention hall.
For more than fifty years Henry B.
Stanton attended and in some instances
took part as delegate in important
political conventions. In political life
he was as well known as an effective
campaign speaker as he WAS in other
fields as the husband of Elizabeth Cady
stanton. in ner day perhaps the most
effective agitator and speaker for the
cause of woman's suffrage. Mr.. Stanton
and l roomed together, and on the even
ing before the convention met. after
he finished his editorial and forwarded
it to the Sun office and I had filed my
dispatches. We chatted. all the more
intimately, because it was discovered
that we were both natives Of New Lon
don County, Connecticut.
This fact seemed to lead MIR. Stanton
into a train of thought associated with
his early life in that county. I re-
member that he spoke with delight of
having met with Gen. La Fayette. He
said: Just before ! was q years of
age. La Fayette visited New England.
making the tour which has now become
traditional <and historic and which was
in commemoration Of the time, fifty
years earlier. when he came from France
to offer his services to the American
cause. We heard that he was to pass
through Jewett City. now rather inn
portant manufacturing town in eastern
Connecticut. which was then my home.
There lived in Jewett City at that time
a veteran of the Revolutionary war
whose name was Tanning. At 72 years
of age he was vigorous and mentally
as alert as 1t was possible for a vet
eran of the Revolution to be. Tanning
was a captain in Washington's army,
and at the battle of Monmouth, n J.,
he first met La Fayette and fought un-
der him.
Capt. Tanning was greatly excited
when he learned that La Fayette would
pass through Jewett City and spend the
night there. He made arrangements for
a reception and for hospitable treatment
of La Fayette at the tavern. He went
about saying to the townspeople that
he wondered whether La Fayette would
remember him or whether he had for
gotten him.
"Well, La Fayette came and was es-
corted from the coach to the tavern.
There the people had gathered to pay
tribute to him. but Capt. Tanning stood
AT one side, for he was somewhat en-
barrassed. AS soon as La Fayette en-
tered the room and glanced around he
noticed Capt. flaming. For q moment
h. looked steady at the captain, who
stood upright. almost like Q statue. Sud-
denly La Fayette ran to him and threw
his arms around him. saying: Why. this
is Capt Tanning. my old comrade Of
forty-five years ago! God bless you.
my comrade!' Capt Tanning was so
overcome that he could only return La
Fayette's embrace. not bsing able to
speak for some tims O account q his