Evening star., 1943-10-03
BY John Clagett Proctor.

October IL is a notable day in world
history, as most everybody knows or
should know, since it was upon this date
In 1892 that Christopher Columbus made
his landfall on the island of Guanahani,
now identified with Waiting Island, in
the Bahamas. And this day Is celebrated
by the knights of Columbus and perhaps
by other organizations
But in Washington, aside from the
greater significance attached to the date,
1t is also recalled as the day that Gen.
Lafayette was escorted into this city
during his memorable visit to this coun-
try in 1924.
When Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch
Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Co give him his full name and title)
first came to this country, he was but
10 years of age, and when he returned
upon this occasion he was an old man
with but 10 more years to live. His career
in France was every bit as notable as it
proved to be in CIR country-ever fight
ing for the rights of the people; ever
ready to parte& of the bitter with the
sweet for the sake of humanity. No
wonder Lafayette was accorded a well
come here such as has never been given
any person since.
The Invitation
Eighteen hundred and twenty-tour
was the last year of the administration
of President James Monroe, for he was
to retire on the following March 4. He
was very desirous of having Lafayette
visit this country before his term expired
and had written the general several let
ters upon the subject, the last invitation
being of such cordial and pressing
character that it could not easily be de-
clined. Here is the Presidents letter:
Washington City,
February "a, 1924.
MY Dear General:
Il wrote you a letter about Is days
since, by Mr.. Brown, in which 1 eX-
pressed the wish to send to any port
in France you should point out a
frigate to convey you hither, in case
you should be able to visit the United
States. Since then Congress has
passed a resolution on this subject,
in which the sincere attachment of
the whole Nation to you is expressed,
whose ardent desire is once more to
see you amongst them. send
you herewith the resolution of Con-
gress, and add thereto the assurance
of my high consideration and of my
sentiments of affection.
JAMES MONROE"
Though accepting the invitation, yet
Lafayette declined the offer of Congress
to send a frigate to convey him across
the Atlantic, preferring to come here
at his own expense.
On July l3, 1924, he embarked at Havre
for this country in the American mer-
chant ship Cadmus, Capt. Francis Allyn
commanding, accompanied by his only
son, George Washington Lafayette. and
his private secretary, Col. A. Levasseur.
The Cadmus reached New York on Au-
gust IS, and on the following day he was
officially received. From that time on
until he left our shores for France he
was lavshly entertained everywhere he
Went-and he went everywhere
At Baltimore Lafayette went first
ashore at Fort McHenry where he was
soon taken to one of the tents used by
Gen. Washington during the War of the
American Revolution, and now in the
National Museum in Washington. Here
he was presented by Gov. Stevens to the
venerable Col. Howard, president of the
Cincinnati of Maryland, who addressed
him with great emotion, saying:
General: The few of your brother
soldiers of Maryland who remain after
a lapse Of 40 years and the sons of some
of those who are now no more are as
sembled in the tent of Washington to
greet you on your visit to the United
States and to assure you Of their affec-
tionate and sincere regard. This tent
will call to your recollection many inter-
esting incidents which occurred when
YOU were associated in arms with Wash