Evening star., 1934-05-20

with eVergreenS, had been erected and topped
by another live and fustered eagle"
Of this arch the Intelligencer related: The
public is greatly indebted to about half dozen
young ladies who voluntarily undertook its deco
ration During the night of the I1th the arch
was put in place and decorated to strike
the citizens with astonishment on the morning
of the 18th The two eagles were loaned by
Mr.. Griffith of the Washington Museum and the
scrolls, or labels, read, Hail. Friend of Free
dom" and Lafayette, Associate of Washington
and Liberty's Friend"
Entering the gate of the green span La
fayette met by 25 young giils dressed in
white. wearing wreaths of flowers and carrying
miniature national flags with the names of "a
States. respectively. inscribed The tVenty-fifth
fagbearer represented the District Of Columbia
and as Miss Washington" ll-year-old daugh-
ter of George WattersOn, president OF Common
Council, advanced and welcomed the general
the rest of the group followed and presented
smiling and individual greetings. Then came
double line OF schoolgirls who StreWed his way
with flowers and after them a company of small
soldier-boyS, uniformed and armed IN a suit
able manner"
Arriving. finally, at the Senate wing of the
Capitol the Nations guest and his suite were
conducted to the rotunda, which filled with
bewigged gentlemen and behooped ladies. He
was received with ardent and grateful respect"
On leaving the rotunda he passed through the
tent which Gen Washington had used as his
headquarters in his campaigns and which was
owned and loaned for the occasion by the Gusts
family. The front portico of the Capitol was
neatly carpeted" and there Lafayette was
presented to the mayors of Washington and
Georgetown, Robert c. Weightman and Col.
John Cox. Our Washington mayor delivered
the address of welcome and Lafayette replied.
The mayor of Georgetown spoke "a chaste ad-
dress, inviting him to visit that, then separate
city, and in accepting the general declared
Georgetown to be an old friend of his and that
he would be delighted to renew acquaintance
ship. John Brown Cutting, esq. on behalf OF
himself and othrr Revolutionary officers, made
a short address and read long poem.
THE company descended to the front deer
of the north wing as grand salute ws<3
fired by Alexandria militia, and the military
then passed in review This. accomplished
with music and much swelling of chests the
distinguished visitors and committeeman re-
turned to their baroucheS and proceeded to the
White House, parading Pennsylvania ave.
nue., which jammed with spectatOrS-"the
most pleasing sight being windows of tho
buildings each side, which filled with
ladies in their best attire and looks, and waving
white handkerchefS at their beloved chief in
token of their happiness" said the Columbian
Star. The following local citizens acted
sstant marshals in the parade: Maj. Cross,
Capt Wade Capt. j. L. Smith, Capt. Gardner.
Lieut.. Cooper. John Mason, jr.; William c.
Ridgely, William A Bradley and Thomas
ThurSton.
AT the White House Gen. Lafayette was
met at the portico by the marshal of the Dis
trict of Columbia, who conducted the dis
tnguished guest and his son to the oval room.
where President Monroe awaited. With the
President were the cabinet officers and some
SO others. After general introductionS and
liberal refreshments" there public re-
ception, followed later by a dinner at which
the mayor presided. This dinner was held at
the Franklin House. Nineteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue, kept by John Gadsby At
Z in the evening the general begged TO retire,
that he might pay his respects to some intimate
friends, competitions of the late George wash
ington." Intimate friends" proved to be Mrs.
Thomas Peters, sister of George Washington
Parke Gusts, who lived at charming Tudor
Place. where he dined, later driving with the
brother and sister to the formers home at
Arlington.
When darkness descended on a city of tired
but thrilled and happy people, "a vast number
of rockets were fired off and many of our cd-
zenS Illuminated their houses in brilliant mA0-
Continued on Thirteenth Page.