The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-08-23
AS CAROLINA'S GUEST
Visit of Distinguished Frenchman is
Recalled by Commissions Trip.


Viviani, Marshal Joffre, Admiral Cho-
cheprat, and other French and En-
glislr nOblemen, and the cordial re-
ception given them throughout the
country, recalls the visit of the Mar
Quis de Lafayette, the eminent
French patriot and supporter of the
American revolution, who made a
farewell tour of the country nearly
100 years ago. The pomp and cere-
mony with which the French repre-
sentatives were received was no
greater than that accorded Laray-
cite when, in 1924, he accepted the
invitation of the United States gov
ernment to visit the great republic
he had nourished with his own blood
in it's enfeeDled infancy. Traverse
that section of South Carolina from
Charlotte to Columbia, stop, if you
will, at number Of beautiful coun-
try places that were erected 100 years
or more ago, and as likely as not
your host will tell you that the great
Marquis Lafayette was once enter
tanned in that house on the occasion
of his journey to Columbia where
people from all over South Carolina
came to do him honor.
Lafayette first, after his reception
in New York, came to Washington
city, then travelled east and then
south. His tour was a series of ova-
tions, and it was not until March,
1925, that he reached South Caro-
lima. When the news that he was
coming to Columbia reached York
Vile the enthusiasm of the citizens
prompted illumination of the town.
Every window facing on the street
had a lighted candle to each pane,
and in those houses which boasted no
sash ranged rows of candles one up
on the other in their ungiazed open
ings. The streets were as bright as
day, the people promenaded them,
greeting one another with a kind OF
gleeful vivacity, for there was great
heart throb throughout the State of
as Joyous welcome to the distin-
guished guest of the nation.
The uniformed military companies
of Lexington, Newberry, Lancaster,
Chester and York went to Columbia
to receive with pomp and ceremony
the distinguished foreigner. The leg
islature had made a large appropria-
tion to pay the expenses of proper
reception; love and pride stimulated
each section to outdo the other IN
handsome appearance for the occas-
ion. York county, ambitions to pay
all Difference to the Frenchman the
State delighted to honor, made up
very handsome company of mounted
infantry, numbering eighty men, who
left on bright March morning under
the command of Capt. William Ran
dolph Hill.
A description of the reception in
Columbia, written by one of the
members of the military troop who
attended from York county, and
which has come into possession OF
the correspondent of the Sunday
News, is here given:
Reception at Columbia.
columbia was crowded from gar
ret to cellar. Visitors from every
section of the State had flocked in
and hotels and private houses were
all filed to overfowing. For weeks
ahead rooms were engaged at the ho-
tets and it was impossible, if you
had not taken this precaution, to get
an apartment at once. All knew
such an occasion would never come
again. About noon the next day af-
ter our arrival the troops were mar
shaled out to receive the distinguish
ed visitor, who came that day from
Camden. Relays of horses had been
provided on the road to enable him to
make the jaunt in the most eXpedl-
tious and least fatiguing manner.
Having the position Of an officer, but
being fettered by no command, l was
at liberty to separate myself from
my company, so l pushed on to gain
the earliest possible view of the hero.
about a mile out of Columbia,
the companies were halted. Cover
nor Manning-then the executive
with his staff, awaited to receive La
fayette. An elegant open barouche,
drawn by two beautiful horses, mag
nifcently caparisoned, stood ready to
convey him to the city. Soon the
cynosure of all hearts appeared, hav-
ing been escorted from Camden by a
brigade of horse, under Gen. Bradley,
TIKI common roo rod fort n