Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22

extreme. After many embraces were exchanged
the general was transferred to the elegant
landau provided by the city for his use, drawn
by four fine grayS, in which he was accompanied
by Maj. Gen. Brown and Commodore Tingey
member of the committee, and his son, George
Washington Lafayette; his secretary and Mr..
Gusts of Arlington, who were placed in an
other carriage provided for the purpose. >
"A national salute from the artillery of Capt
Burch's company of artillery, posted on Mary
land avenue announced the generals arrival at
the line of the city. which was followed by ma
ttonal salutes from the navy yard and the mill
tary arsenal, the last of which was from field
pieces captured during the Revolutionary War
at Bennington Saratoga and Yorktown. = On
rising to the extensive plain which stretches
eastward from the Capitol to the Anacostia
River the general found himself in front of the
most brilliant military spectacle which our city
ever witnessed; being body Of !, 200 troops COM
posed entirely of volunteer companies Of the
city"
These figures were later changed to 1900
troops. OF course there were the usual number
of delegations on hand to extend invitations to
the distinguished guest to visit their respective
towns. Naturally Alexandria and Georgetown
were represented, and replying to the invitation
extended by the committee from the latter place
he said that Georgetown was an old acquaint-
ance of his, where he had found many valuable
and esteemed friends. and said he would visit
there with great delight.
THE Franklin Hotel then at the northeast
corner of Twenty first and streets at its
junction with Pennsylvania avenue selected
by the citizens committee, behalf of the
city, as the stopping place for the notable guest
and his son and secretary, and after the cere-
monies at the Capitol in which he was officially
received by the mayor of the city, Roger G.
Weightman he called on the President at the
White House, where liberal refreshments" were
served and he later repaired to his hotel where
dinner was given in his honor toward evening
and where he delivered one of his famous toasts:
THE City of Washington The central star of
the constellation which enlightens the whole
world" At the Capitol had been placed civic
arch, and here it was that Miss Sarah M. Wat
terston on behalf Of the people of the District
delivered to Lafayette an address of welcome
At night there were fireworks and many pri-
vate buildings were Illuminated, conspicuous
among which was cid Columbian College then
IN It's infancy and located on the west side Of
Fourteenth street few blocks north of Florida
avenue Indeed. the marquis put in a full day
being entertained by the people of the District
of Columbia.
From the 9th of October, 1924 until early in
December, 1925, Lafayette was in and out of
Washington at various times. In the first few
days he visited Tudor place. Arlington; Col Cox.
mayor OF Georgetown; Georgetown College; the
home of the Minister of France; Judge Duvall
the Secretary of State; the Caldwell House at
FOG pennsylvania avenue and the navy yard
where he dined at the quarters of Commodore
Tingey. He also called on Secretary Crawford
"and breakfasted with him at his cottage resi-
dence in the country" which, strange as it NAV
seem, was then on the northwest corner of
massachusetts avenue and Fourteenth street
which is to-day in the heart of the city
4 AFAYETTE'S welcome in Alexandra-where
he arrived on October 16-was a part of the
entertainment accorded him by the District Of
Columbia since this historic city was then a
part of the 1O-mile square, and here he was re-
ceived amidst the shouts and welcome of thou
sands of voices" as he was escorted through the
town. The women. always as loyal and enthusi-
astic as the men, filled the windows on the line
OF march, being dressed in their best attire as
they waved their handkerchiefs to the veteran
as he passed in token of their participation in
the joy manifested by the multitude in the
streets"
From here he went to Mount Vernon where a
most touching scene enacted, for we are
told: After remaining a few minutes in the
house the general proceeded 10 the vault sup
ported by Mr.. Lewis and the gentleman relatives
OF the judge and accompanied by G. W. Lafay-
cite and @. W. CustiS the children of Mount
Vernon both having shared the paternal care
OF the great chief. Mr.. Gusts wore the ring-sus-
pended from q Cincinnati ribbon
when they arrived at the sepulcher Mr.
Gusts addressed the general and presented him
with ring containing the hair of Washington,
which the general received and pressed to his
bosom and affectionately embraced the donor
Then gazing intently the receptacle
of departed greatness, fervently pressed his lips
to the door of the vault while tears filled the
furrews in the veterans cheeks. The key was
now applied to the lOck-the door few open
and discovered the cofans, strewed with flowers
and evergreens. The general descended the
steps and kissed the leaden cells which con-
tanned the ashes Of the great chief and his
venerable consort and then retired in an excess
of feeling which language is too poor to de-