The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-07-04
UNITE TO HONOR
CEN. LAFAYETTE


Quis de Lafayette, to perpetuate the
memory of this famous Frenchman
through good works, is the accomplish
ment in a period of four years of an
American society known as the Lafay-
| cite Memorial, which has the support
| and cooperation of a large number Of
prominent French and American men
and women. The memorial today is
not a project, but going concern, TAX
ing the form of school and orphan
age; a pre-tubercular sanitarium, and
finally a museum.
1t Is the purpose of the society to
maintain the Chateau Lafayette, In
central France, as permanent me-
mortal to the marquis and to the mem
ory of the allied heroes who were killed
In the World war. Ii should become,
members of the society say, an Ameri-
can national memorial like Mount Yer
non on the Potomac, the birthplace of
George Washington.
Birthplace Chosen Site.
The memorial is located In the old
Lafayette chateau, at Chavagnac, $50
miles south of Paris, where the marquis
was born In 1857. This property, con-
sisting of various buildings and It's
acres of land, has been acquired by the
society.
The chateau was the home of La
fayette's ancestors for centuries, and
here the French hero of American in
dependence grew up to early manhood.
The building has been restored. where
necessary, and made sound and solid
throughout. New structures have been
added to the group, and everything has
been provided, in the way Of modern
Improvements, for the health, comfort
and proper education Of the children
cared for by the memorial.
A modern water supply has been in
stalled, and modern plumbing and sani-
tary equipment have been established
In all the buildings, which are served
by a modern sewage disposal plant.
Electric light and central heating have
been put in, and a modern dairy with
fine herd has been established to
furnish the best milk and butter. Part
of the domain has been modernized
and extended so as to afford the finest
of farm products. A cobbler's shop
has been created to make boots for the
children, and there is a carpenter shop
for estate repairs. Modern fire protec-
ton has been installed. There are
baseball and football fields. tennis
courts and swimming pool.
American Training Given.
In the school and preventorium,
which house today total Of $50 chill
dren, war refugees and war orphans,
the outdoor training of an American |
school Is given. The youngsters are
taught boxing, baseball, ETC., and also |
receive a frst-class training for the
French baccalaureate examination
When they are old enough these boys
will be sent out to receive training In
the big businesses of America, such as
the United States Steel company, Gen.
eral Electric company, etc. Forty OF
the boys In the school are French. 70
Russian, % Polish and 10 italian.
The head of the school Is an expert
enced Anglo-Saxon master assisted by
an able staff. 1t can safely be said
that nowhere in France Is there a
group of boys of similar ages, from
eight to sixteen years. receiving bet
ter education than the boys In the
Lafayette school.
Museum Contains Many Relics.
The preventorium is run on the
lines employed by Doctor Roller in
Switzerland, and in cooperation with
the department of public hygiene OF
the French government. Here some
two hundred delicate children, from
five to twelve years old, threatened
with tuberculosis, are given sunlight,
good food, and careful attention
When their health permits they are
given elementary education, and later
they may pass ON to the advanced
school In the chateau.
The museum is housed In the cha
teau itself and centers. in the room
IN which Lafayette was born. Here
are many interesting relics, such as
dueling pistols, which
we're given by him to Lafayette; the
,nufr box given to Lafayette by the
city of New York; ring OF Benja-
min Franklin with some of his wife's
,air In 1t, etc. There are also many
.elics of the recent war. such as the
Uniforms of General Joffre and other
eaders. guns, gas masks. parachutes,