The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-09-15
| lafayette S Birthday
By FREDERICK ]. HASklN

brother of the King of England, came
to Metz and a banquet was given for
him by the commandant, which was
attended by many officers, Lafayette
included. Dispatches had just been
received by the Duke as to the acute
situation in the American colonies, to-
gether with copy of the Declaration
of Independence, which the gentleman
read at the assembly. The resist
ance Of the colonies was discussed and
the probable measure which would be
taken to crush the uprising. During
all the discussion the young Lafayette
sat with a rapt look on his face, oc-
casionally interrupting the Duke to
ask an excited question. Here at
last was his chance-the opportunity
to fulfill the dream of his boyhood!
He thereupon firmly resolved that he
would go to America and fight for the
cause of liberty.
But to decide was one thing and to
go another. All the arrangements
had to be made in secret against the
bitter opposition of his family and
even his king. However, he finally
managed to meet the American agent
in Paris a man by the name Of
Dean-and secured from him a COM
mission as major general in the colo
nial army, Dean at that time handing
out commissions with more enthusi-
asm than authority.
Lands in South Carolina.
Landing in South Carolina two
months later, he rode on horseback to
Philadelphia, where he made his rep
resentations to the American Con-
gress. Although Congress gave hirl
the desired commission when they dis
covered who he was, Lafayette soon
found that the appointment was only
honorary and that the matter had
been left to the discretion of Gen.
Washington. He made the acquaint-
ance of the general at dinner the
same night, where by his modesty and
tact he made a favorable impression
on the patriots and especially upon
Washington. This was the begin
ming of a friendship between the two
men that was never marred by mis-
understanding or discension and that
terminated only in death.
Followed close upon his enlistment
the fall of Philadelphia and the battle
of the Brandywine, where the young
marquis received a musket wound in
the leg. 1t was with the greatest
impatience that he suffered doctoring
and slow convalescence in Philadel-
phia. where he had been carried for
medical attention, and as soon as he
was able he was back in the field in
charge of division of men under
Washington.
In Command in Virginia.
After six months he again came to
America with promises of assistance
from his king, and Washington put
him in command of the forces in Vir-
ginia. His first act was to borrow
money from his bankers in New York
and clothe and equip his soldiers.
Then came the battle of Yorktown,
with the spectacular surrender of
Cornwalls.
Again Lafayette bade goodbye to
Washington and America to return to
France, and there American history
loses him and French history claims
him for its own. The French Revo-
luton was just on the verge of break
ing out in Paris, and the King had
called the Assembly of Notables. In
this assembly Lafayette was con-
spicuous figure, arguing the cause of
the people and the necessity of CIV
ing them greater liberty. From then
on his history was largely the history
of France. While his heart was with
the cause of the people, he was con-
tinually disgusted by their fendish
desire for bloodshed, and on numerous
occasions risked his life to save his
friends.
Discouraged and sickened by the
barbarism of the revolutionists, he re-
tired to his private estates, where he
lived peacefully until France again
called him to take command of a regi-
ment against the invasion of Austria.
He was captured by the Austrians and
imprisoned in first Prussia and then
Austrian prisons for five years until
both America and Napoleon Bona
parte interceded for him. In 1924, he
again visited America, which welcom-
ed him with open arms and voted him
5000 900 and township of land.