Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-18
N. CLAUDEL LAUDS
WORK OF L'ENFA ANT
French Ambassador Sup
ports Movement for Memo
rial to IIIustrious Architect.

M. Paul ClaudeI, the French AM
bassador, yesterday voiced his support
of movement to erect in Washing
ton national memorial to his illus
trious countryman, Maj. Pierre Charles
LEnfant, the author of the LEnfant
plan for the Federal City.
More than 200 patriotic societies of
Colonial origin, with engineering and
technical societies. were represented at
a meeting held this morning in his
toric FraunceS' Tavern, New York City,
for the purpose of sounding out public
opinion among the membership of their
respective organizations relative to
honoring in this manner the memory of
a great architect, whose genius likewise
manifested itself in Philadelphia, New
York, Buffalo and other Eastern cities.
Ambassador Claudel, who lauded the
last work of L'Enfant; Representative
Hamilton Fish, jr., of New York, and
others addressed the meeting in favor
OF the proposed national memorial to
L'Enfant.
II should like myself to see in some
appropriate place of Washington the
statue of my countryman, L'Enfant,
that might take my hat off to him."
For he is the man who from the
model of a monarchic capital had the
genius to draw the plan of a demo-
cratic one M. Claudel continued In
fact, he is the man who erected the
first city entirely inspired in its form
by the new idea of democracy, of re-
sponsibility and of publicity"
The French Ambassador spoke as an
honorary member of the French So
or of no f,,r%
ceived, he said, advice from Prince de
Broglie of his right to carry proudly
on my breast the beautiful badge de-
signed by Maj. L 'Enfant."
Everywhere in America, he said may
be seen pictures of Lafayette and even
of Rochambeau, but many of the
heroes of our common cause in the
name of American independence remain
forgotten and unrewarded."
only few years ago." he reminded,
"the body of L'Enfant was taken to
Arlington, and we may fancy that his
shadow enjoys the beautiful vista of
the American Capital, of which he
drew the plans on the bank of the
Potomac. I hope that for the object
of this memorial many dollars will be
added to the 48 silver coins which were
the whole inheritance of the great city
builder when he died in 1925, and was
SoAAS0 lACC. IL ID perfectly
evident that it does not pay so we'll TO
speculate on ideas as in real estate"
Ambassador Claudel referred to the
activities Of the French-American In
stitute, a new society created to give
publicity to all facts relating to the
activities of French pioneers on the
American Continent. That society has
published, he said, series of books
and collection of letters of LEnfant,
preceded by an introduction by former
Ambassador JuSSerand.
Due to the fact that Mai. L'Enfant,
who was an engineer officer in the Rev.
Army, was a charter member
of the Society of the Cincinnati, or
ganized in 1888, Winslow Warren of
Dedham, Mass, the president general
of that society, has been elected ma
tional president of the L'Enfant Me-
mortal Association. which consists of
the various organizations that attended
today'S meeting in New York.
The meeting was held in the old
Colonial tavern at Pearl and Broad
streets, built by Fraunces. the personal
steward to Gen. Washington while liv-
ing in New York.
Mr.. Warren presented to the Sons
of the Revolution in New York a
bronze of Maj. L'Enfant, and the
meeting was followed by a luncheon.
John V. Bowler. jr., president of the
Sons OF the American Revolution in
New York, presided at the meeting.