The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-07-25
PAYING OUR DEBT TO FRANCE

France. Through the Tneless Efforts of Lafayette
Gave Invaluable Aid to the New Republic

Some of the members could not
sense the zeal and devotion of a
man who had come 5000 miles to
fight in a cause not his own. There
had been a contract signed in Paris
through which Lafayette was to
have the rank of major general in
the American army. Even the
wise Franklin, however, did not
realize to the full the worth of La
fayette at this time. for in letter
of advice he speaks of the distin-
guished rank and family of the
young soldier and hints that an ac-
count of the fact that he had a
lovely wife and left suchsurround-
ings at home that it would be we'll
not to place him in any danger un-
less there should be some unusual
emergency.
When the meaning of the self
imposed mission of Lafayette did
dawn upon our forefathers recog-
milton soon came. The rank of
major general was conferred and
it proved no empty title. Wash
ington bad gone to Philadelphia to
consult with Congress-, and he and
Lafayette, meeting for the first
time at dinner, began that friend
ship as proverbial as the affection
between David and Jonathan.
Layfayette was then not of age,
boyish in appearance, and had nev-
er studied English until he began
his seven weeks voyage across the
Atlantic. His zeal for liberty was
such and there was such fire in his
eye and such determination in bis
manner that Washington at once
welcomed him to his staff. As soon
as the opportunity offered the
leader of the Continental army put
Lafayette in command of large
bodies of men and that judgment
was we'll justified.
The marquis was severely
wounded at Brandywine without
being aware of it for a time, so in
tense was his devotion to duty.
When he recovered he renewed his
activities at the right hand of Gen
eral Washington, and lost no op-
portunity to serve the nation which
was then coming into being. He
was with the great leader at Valley
Forge, where he conducted him.
self with such sympathy and un-
derstanding that he was soon as be-
loved by all the officers as by the
commander himself.
The portrait painters of the time
put the generals and colonels in
fine uniforms of blue and buff, but
very often some of the ablest had
only nondescript clothes, and some
were even ragged.
Washington once remarked to
Lafayette that to one accustomed
to being with French troops the
appearance of the soldiers of the
colonies must indeed have seemed
unusual.
Il come not here to teach, but
to learn" was the reply of Lafay-
cite.
Part of the year 1919 was spent
by Lafayette in France, where he
did so much to get substantial aid
from the French government,
which was then in actual war with
Great Britain.
That victory ultimately rested
upon the American standards was
largely due to those activities in
Paris, for the coming of the French
fleet was deciding factor in the
long and unequal struggle for
American independence.
| Lafayette was received with af-
fection and admiration by those
who had so bitterly opposed his
going from France, and he gained
support even from the powerful
Noailles. father of the Marquise.
On Lafayette's return to America
j Washington sent him in 1871 to