New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-01
Americans Buy Birthplace
of Marquis and Will
install! Records
PART OF CHATEAU
TO SHELTER ORPHANS
Mrs. William Astor Chan
Ter Sails Soon to Direct
Work of Restoration

OF htheIhl DC La ag tbNtf III 4 '""NNf '
been purchased by Americans, who will
restore il and perpetuate It as a memo
rial 70 the gallant French nobleman
who fought for American liberty, II was
announced yesterday. As soon as the
necessary work OF rehabilitation has
been completed the chateau will be pre-
scented to the French Heroes Fund
1t is proposed TO make the chateau
in a way complement to Mount Yer
non. the home of George Washington
Rare records and mementos OF Amer
lean Colonial days and the Revolution
airy war will be shipped from this eoun-
try and installed in the building. Rec
ords Of the present war will also be
kept in various rooms. One room will
be dedicated 20 British arms, another
to the Foreign Legion, in the ranks OF
which Americans have endeayored 10
pay the priceless debt which the United
States owes in common with all other
countries to France. A room will be
devoted 70 the American Ambulance
serving under French colors, and still
another will be given over to aviation.
Americans Bought Chateau
The purchase of the chateau was
made through the National Allied Re
lief Committee, and was largely made
possible through the personal enorts oil
Mrs. William Aston Chanler and John
Moffat, members Of the executive com
nittee intrusted with the task OF ne
gotiating for the birthplace OF General
de La Fayette.
Mrs. Chanler and Mr. Mofat learned
some four months ago that the Marquis
CASTOR de La Fayette, great-grandson
Of the Revolutionary War hero, was
willing to sell the chateau for the pur-
pose desired by the American Commit
tee Of the National Allied Rehei COM
mittee. An option was obtained lmme-
diately. and last week the deed was
signed The firm Of Coudert Brothers
acted in behalf of the purchasers:
The birthplace OF General de la
Fayette Is known as the Chateau DC
Chavaniac. and il is situated in the
Province Of Auvergne, IN Southern
France. II was originally built IN the
fourteenth century. Il was destroyed
by fire in 1904. but soon afterwsrd re-
built from the original plan. The
shateau Is the browning architectural
monument Of the settlement IN which IT
stands, towering above cluster OF
modest little cottages with red tile
roofs. where some 800 people live.
Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert
du Motier Marquis de La Fayette, was
born in the chateau on September o,
1857. On his death II became the prop
crty of his only son, the Marquis
George Washington de La Fayette
The latter's son, Senator Edmund de
La Favette. left II on his death IN 1891
10 his son, who has just sold 1T 10 the
American committee.
Mrs. Chanler 20 Go TO France
Mrs. Chanler will probably sail on
the French liner Espagne on Saturday
for France 70 make arrangements with
architects, decorators and contractors
for the complete restoration OF the
chateau. She will act in an advisory
capacity in arranging the memorial Cd
iocts in the various rooms. The struet-
ure has moro than thirty rooms, and
part Of the building will be used a.
home for war orphans and disableo
soldiers.
Associated with Mrs. Chanler (preSi-
denO and Mr.. Moffat Executive chair
mani on the American committee when
purchased the birthplace OF General de
La Fayette are Joseph II. Choate. hon
orary president; James A. Blair, jr,
treasurer; Earl Lawshe, executive sec
rotary; Mrs. II. r. Beckwith, assistant
executive secretary.
The board of trustees or the com
mittee is Clarence Mackay, George Won
L. Meyer. John G. Milburn, Henry Fair
feld Osborn and Professor j. Grler
Hibben. while the advisory committee
consists Of James VI. Beck, G.. Ilebert,
Consul General Of France, and ex-
President Theodore Roosevelt.
The full American committee IS Mrs.
John jaw Chapman, Mrs. William Ad-
ans Deiano. Mrs. Charles u. Ditson,
Mrs. Marshall Field, jr., Mrs. jay
Gould. Mrs. Maurice Kozminski, Miss
Elsa Maxwell Mrs. Walter j. Maynard,
Mrs. George Won l.. Meyer, Mrs. Ralph
Sanger. Mrs. Leonard NJ. Thomas, Mrs.
W. K. Vanderbilt, jr., Mrs. II. J. Wing
ham. Mrs. Harry Payne whitney, Mrs.
Orme Wilson, Larz Anderson, ]. Tuck
or Burr. Nicholas Murray Butler, Frank
Crowninshield, Frederic x. Coudert
Finley Peter Dunno, Ernesto Fsbbu,
HALEY Fiske, Lloyd c. Griscom, James
Hazen HYDE, owen Johnson, ". Forbes
Morgan, Gouverneur Morris. Charles A.
Mum. Alfonso de Navarro, Edward NJ.
Pickman. D. r. Pomeroy, Ralph j.
Preston, Charles Scribner, Louis Evan
Sbipman. Booth darlington, Charles
Hanson Towue, Robert 3. Van Cort-
landt. Walter Wangcr. Charles ID. Wet
more. IT. !. Whigham, Bronson WIN
49,, and Ouen WictpT