Evening star., 1934-05-20

soft feathers Of everlasting sleep
from the wings of the Death Angel
\ futtered down upon bed at La
Grange. Is leagues from Paris.
and spread a white veil over the
tired eyes of one of history's greatest patriots
Iafayette-man of two worlds, of two ages, OF
two civilizations.
In commemoration of all that he suffered
all that he generously bestowed upon TINS
dwarf-size country, courageously fighting the
giant across the-sea memorial WreathS are De-
ing laid before his statues, buSts and plaques
on this Sunday May 20, 1884, the centenary
of the great and good mans death. once
again. as of old wine glasses are reVerehtly
lifted in honor of the name and deeds OF
Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du
Motier Lafayette who gave not only fortune
in money but his blood, that America might
be free His noble and enthusiastic devotion
to liberty his services and SacrlhceS nave peeh
written about publicly recited, but OF his last
and triumphant tour of America little mas
been printed and it is of his visit to Washing
ton that this article will ceal.
TEN wears before his death Lafayette made
| his fourth and firal voyage to America, ar
irving in New York Harbor Sunday, August 10,
1924, accompanied by his son, George Wash
ington Lafayette and MS friend and secretary,
NJ LIE Vasseur As far as is known, ne was
the first person ever to receive official and
highly demOnstrative welcome in New York
or in this country. Thirty thousand people
massed the water front and the noises and de-
vices of the time welcomed back the aged nero
warrior United States frigate had been
proffered him by this Government on which
to cross the ocean. but he declined and sailed
on the packet Cadnus out of Havre on July
13 paving his way on borrowed money for at
that time his finances were at ebb tide.
When Col. Lindbergh swept calmly down at
LIE Bourget Flying Field he modeStly announced
hrao
Charles Iindbergh" AS the packet boat on
which Lafayette passenger neared Staten
Island. he anxiouSly inquired of another voy-
ager, DO you think I will be able to get a
hack to take from the wharf to my hotel?"
Verify heroes are of modeSty born, not made.
After official, public and private welcomes,
speeches. banquetS and handshaking were
in the North, the Lafayette encourage made
its way, slowly, deliberately, through lanes,
roads and cities, lined each mile with cheer
ing, flag waving men, women and children
to Baltimore, stopping at Philadelphia and
other points. When the reception at Baltimore
concluded the party left there the morn
ing of October IL, spending the night at Ross
burg, Md. The escort was a troop of cavalry
commanded by Capt. Sprgg, former Governor
of that State.
At the District line, the marquis, or plain
sinister" he asked to be called. met by
the local Committee of Arrangements of which
r. C. Weightman was chairman and w. W. Sea-
ton, secretary, and distinguished numDer OF
Revolutionary officers and soldiers conveyed
by handsome troop of city cavalry, under
command of Capt Burch and the Marine
Corps and band headed by Capt. Broom.
After embraces with his compatriots of the
Revolution, the general stepped into an ele-
gantly finished and highly polished barouche,
drawn by four spirited gray horses. hand
somely comparisoned." Accompanying him
were Maj. Gen Brown and Comdr. Tngey COM
mitteemen. George Lafayette, Col Vasseur
and Mr.. Custis of Arlington followed in another
barouche and the procession proceeded to the
Capitol
Samuel Knapp, in 1924, published his 'Me-
moirs of Lafayette" and We quote from the lit
tie volume as follows: 'On arriving at the ex-
tensive plain which stretches eastward from the
Capitol to the Anacostia River, the general
found himself in front of the most brilliant mil
itary spectacle which city witnessed,
there being body of 1000 troops, composed
entirely of volunteer companies of the city,
Georgetown and Alexandria, clad in various
tasteful uniforms, many of them elegant beyond
anything of the kind we have ever seen before"
Next to the volunteers maSsed the cav
airy, the Marines, the Maryland militia and