The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-01-16

in winter be transformed into a wild,
bleak region known as the Siberia Of
France. 1t was a great day for the
young Americans; q most delightful
diversion from the daily routine In
Aubiere, marching drills and drills In
the uncomfortable gas masks, band re-
hearsals, parades, and reviews, and
evening band concerts in the town
square.
The Chateau de C~havagnac Lafay-
cite stands upon the crest Of a lofty
eminence commanding a magnificent
view of the beautiful Auvergne cOun-
try; miles and miles of verdant fields
and woods stretched far away to a
distant horizon thanked with long
ranges OF majestic hills and noun
tainS. The grounds Of the chateau
are spacious and attractive, and the
little village of C~havagnac adjoins the
estate on one side, while the other
three sides are open to the distant
view. The old castle itself, flanked
on two sides with large round towers,
presents a strikingly medieval APP
%pearance; long rows Of French win
dows are built across the upper por-
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 g, 1857. The family rec
ords date back to the year 1000, when
"a certain man by the name Of MOtier
acquired an estate called villa Faya,
and thereafter he became known as
Motier de la Fayette," according to
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 Chavagnac
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 IL years
Of his life and In later years the he
70 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 ad-
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 1913 was
spent in looking over the estate and
n%eighboring village. The bandsmen
were conducted through the chateau,
saw Lafayette's WI room and what
few relics are to be seen, including
a peculiar looking article of furniture
designated as his bathtub. Many of
the American boys wandered through
the quaint, picturesque village, visited
the venerable parish church and pur-
chased beautiful lace work made by
the women Of the town to send home
to their friends.
Crowds OF French people arrived
on the scene with their lunches, max
ing the affair an out-of-doOr picnic,
as Is their usual custom. At noon a
sumptuOus dinner was served to the
bandsmen in the chateau itself, and
in the afternoon the celebration took
place on the broadly-sweeping lawn
In front.
1t was a brilliant scene. The band
rendered a splendid concert, and it's
leader, Arthur Shepherd, was present
ed with a bouquet. In reply to the
presentation speech Mr.. Shepherd
thanked the donors and expressed the
honor which he and his men felt at
being present at such an event. Many
distinguished people, including French
and American army officers, were
there. Later in the 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 Aubiere late In the eve
ming with the beautiful day a ~never-to-
be-fOrgotten memory.