Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-27
IA SERVES TO RECALL VISITS OF LAFA YETTE HERE 4

the cannon roarcd last Wednesday
when his grcat-grandson and Marshal
Fcch stepped from the train at Broad
Street Station.
Escorted to Eagle Hotel.
Thf distinguished guests were cs-
corted to the Eagle Hotel at Twelfth
and Main Streets. about where tn.
Lexington Hotel now stands. 1t was
hrst planned to have Lafayette quar-
tered AT the Executive Mansion. but
this was found impracticablc. Be
sides the Lafayette party IL suite OF
twenty rooms was engaged for the
surviving officers of the Revolution
AIRY War. Great preparations were
made. The city was decorated from
end to end. l.usty-lunged men.
women and children shouted all day
through the streets. and enthusiasm
ran rampant. Th" procession formed
and marched up to the Eaglei Hotel
At Twelfth and Main streets the lad
les committee had erected n magma
cent arch Of welcome" Crowds
lined the streets and "A noisy demon.
stIation greeted the guests as the
march proceeded. At > o'clock. ono
hour earlier than Marshal Foch. La
faycttc and the notable gathering OF
DISTINGUISHED Americans sat down to
the Lanquct. T"asts were responded
to by Judge Leigh. Governor Pleas
ants. Judge Marshall. John 4. CAL
houn. Generals Macomb. Cooke. Com
mander Barron. Colonel Preston and
others. General Lafayette responded
to the toast. The State uf Virginia
the CITY OF Richmond" The banquc,
lasted until near midnight.
General Holiday Declared.
The city was astir by sunrise on
the eth. II VAS the big day. Schools
were closed: public Offices. city. State
and national. were closed. In fact.
business was at standsiill for moth
Ing could go on along commercial
lines while General Lafayette was
In the city's midst. AZ IN parades OF
today. the procession was headed by
officials, committmcn. Judges. dis
tinguished patriots and leading
lights: societies. military and civic
Citizens on foot followed those in car
riages. Flags waved In the breeze
line or march was UP Main To Fifth,
to Broad To the City Hall. where
Mayor John Adams delivered tho well
coming address. to which General La
!ayettc responded briefly. The pro-
cession proceeded To the Capitol
cred an address to which Ia" General
responded. after which reception
was extended tho citizens. and AT
night the whole city was Illuminated
with pyrotcchric display
General Lafayette next day re-
ccivcd the children 81 the schools. at.
tended the race dincd with the Jockey
Club. and at night was guest Of honor
at the grand bail At the Eagle lIo-
tel. He went I" Petersburg tho fol-
lowing day. where he addressed the
people at dinner at Masons' Hall.
and on sunday he attended services
at Monumental Episcopal Church.
where Bishop Moore conducted the
services.
On the following Tuesday General
Lafayette left for Charlottesville and
Monticello. where he was entertained
by Thomas Jefferson and the faculty
ot the University OF Virginia Sit
ting. at the table at the banquet on
this occasion were three former
Presidents OF the United States
| Thomas jefferson. James Madison and
James Monroe-and Valentine w
| Southall acted rs toastmastcr. This
| was one OF the most remarkable
| gatherings recorded in American his
| tory. Never before. nor since. has
such notable group of men gotten
together upon a similar occasion.
Visited Here In 1925.
Upon invitation of the Legislature
| General Lafayette again visited Rich
| ncnd or January IS. 1925 He was
! entertained at dinner at the Union
| Hotel. by tho Legislature. and n bail
/ was rendered him that night at the
| Eagle Hotel. lie left the next day
| shortly after this date the general
| returned 10 France. and when early
in September. 1881. news reached
] Richmond that the King OF France
| had fed. and that General La lafayette
| was again al the head Of the ma
| tional guard. Richmond expressed its
/ great joy In "a public cclebra ton Of
, the event. which was held on Sep
tcmber II. when great parade was
! given. u general holiday observed and
speeches were made by Thomas
! Ritchic. j. II. Peasants and wynd-
| ham Robertson.
| When the death OF Lafayette was
announced on May 90. 1894. the city
| was shocked. Public meetings were
held. newspapers appeared in mourn
! ing and a great memorial service was
! held At the First Baptist Church.
| Bishop Moore opened the services and
Rev. stephen Taylor delivered an
| Grafton. Flags were at half-mast and
profound expressions of regret at the
! death OF the great general and pa
triot were made by all classes OF
citizens.