Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1920-01-09

! IN winter be transformed into a wild,
| bleak region known as the Siberia of
| France 1t was a great day for the
| young Americans; most delightful
! diversion from the daily routine i'm
| Aubiere, marching drills and drills iM
| the uncomfortable gas masks band re
hearsals, paradeS and reviews, and
evening band concerts in the town
square.
The Chateau de Chavagnac Lafay-
| cite stands upon the crest of q lofty
! eminence commanding a magnificent
view of the beautiful Auvergne conn
| try; miles and miles of verdant fields
and woods stretched far away to
distant horizon fanked with long
ranges of majestic hills and noun
| tains The grounds of the chateau
| are spacious and attractive. and the
| little village of Chavagnacs ad joins the
estate on one side, while the other
| three sides are open to the distant
view The old castle itself, thanked
on two sides with large round towers,
presents a strikngy medieval ap-
pearance; long rows Of French vim
dows are built across the upper p0r-
ton of the front of the building, and
large portfolios are seen on each side
of the small main doorway.
The castle was built in the four
teenth century, burned in 1701 and re-
built, as nearly like the original as
possible before Lafayette'S birth, on
September 6, 1851. The family rrc-
ords date back to the year 1000 VIXEN
"a certain man by the name of Motier
acquired an estate called Villa Faga,
and thereafter he became known as
Motier de la Fayette," according t0
Martha Foote Crow in her biography
of Lafayette.
The great hero is a direct descend
ant of Pons Motier and the noble
Alix Brun de Champetieres who were
married in 1910, and according to the
old parish register in Chavagnae
Lafayette's full name was MonSeig-
neur Marie Joseph Paul-Yves- Roch-
Gilbert DumOtier de Lafayette. Here.
in this grim old castle, the Marquis
de Lafayette spent the first II years
of his life; and in later years the he
TO returned to his birthplace after his
triumphant career in America and
lived here for a time with his family.
He instituted various kinds of reforms
on his estate and in the villages adj
joining; and all of the work for the
people of his native town was for
their betterment, their enlightenment.
and emancipation. The peasantry
were greatly attached to him.
The later years of Lafayette were
spent at his wife's estate, La Grange.
40 miles east of Paris.
The latter part Of the forenoon Of
this anniversary day in 1918 was
spent in looking over the estate and
neighboring village. The bandsmen
were conducted through the chateau.
saw Lafayette'slown room and what
few relics are to be seen, including
a peculiar LOOKING article of furniture
designated as Wis bathtub. Many OF
the AmericanSlioys wandered through
the quaint, picturesque village, yisiteT
the venerable parish church and phr-
chased beautiful lace work made by
the women o3 the town to send home
to their frienl
Crowds Of rench people arrived
on the scene h their lunches, max.
ing the affairYan ott-of-door picnic,
as is their usual custom. At noon
difner was served TO the
in 1.-THE chateau itself, and
in the afternoon the celebration took
place on th2' b<oadll-sweeping lawn
in front
It was a brilliant scene. The band
sblendid concert. and it's
leader, ArthyG |hepherd was prese1t.
ed with 9 lnet. IN reply 10 the
\eeGF Mr.. shepherd
thankedA' s1fa~e6pressed the
honor why Kna bis men felt at
being preseiTy4 such an event Many
people. Including French
and American jsnny officers, were
there. Later in Ire day the bands
men were conveyed back to PAUL
racquet, where they boarded the train
as the sun was setting over the hills.
and reached hubiere late in the eve
ming with thR beautiful day a never-to-
De-forgotten rnory.