Rome Free Academy - De O Wain Sta Yearbook (Rome, NY)

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THE tempted to go to the neutral territory of Holland. He and by was captured by the Aus- trians them turned over to the Prussians, who imprisoned him first at Wesel and later at Magdebourg. Here his honor was again put to the test, as he was told that made easier if he his imprisonment would be would give valuable in- formation to the enemy. ‘This he refused to do, and in consequence his imprison- ment was made as unbearable as possible. For almost a vear he was confined in a damp, mouldy cell, eight feet long and six wide, where little light of any kind was to be had and never any sunlight. At length their disgraceful course, returned the Prussians, ashamed of Lafay- ette to the Austrians, who transferred him to the unhealthy dungeons of Olmutz Here friend of man thousands had this firm America, this whom honored, was told that he would never again see any- thing but the four walls of his dungeon. He was designated by a number and his guards were not allowed to speak to him. The attempts of friends to rescue him proved futile, and for five years he en- dured torture of mind and body in that wretched prison, the last twenty-two weeks being rendered somewhat more bearable by the presence of his wife and daughters. In 1797 Bonaparte broke the Austrian power and France demanded her exiles. Lafayette, being free, found an asylum in Holland where by letters he was kept in- formed of both in France affairs and America. Holland France and went into re- After remaining two years in he returned to tirement at Lagrange where he spent sev- eral years in collecting his shattered re- sources and trying to satisfy his creditors. In 1808 he suffered a severe blow in the death had remained unchanged through stormy of his wife, whose faith and love SENIOR ANNUAL. 19 years of war and danger, imprisonment and exile In 1824 President of the nation, gave Monroe, in the name Lafayette a cordial in- vitation to visit America, and placed a warship at his command. He accepted the invitation but declined the warship, and taking passage in an American mer- chantman, he reached Staten Island on l5th of Augnst. He twenty-four the visited each of the states, and every town and city, every hill and valley, every lake “Welcome! The nation as one Waving banners heralded his coming by day and river resounded with Welcome! person and Lafayette!” arose to do him honor watch fires and torches by night. At one place the band played ‘Where can one better be than in the bosom of his fam- ily ?” at another, “See, the conquering hero comes!” Amid all this excitement and splendor, Lafayette did not forget to pay a visit to the tomb of Washington at Mount Vernon, and there, this man, calin in battle, dig- nified under all circumstances, patient through long years of imprisonment, bowed his head and wept—wept, not fora victorious general, not for the president of a powerful country, not for a nation’s but friend who had passed away. hero, for a kind and warm hearted The frigate the battle, conveyed “Brandywine,” named after ; Lafayette back to his native land, where he arrived October 5, 1825. The had taught the French a lesson, and Lafayette was gladly welcomed back to France. He passed quietly away on the 20th of May, 1834, and was buried in the ceme- tery of Picpus, where his wife already lay sleeping. Europe and America vied with each other in honoring the illustrious dead. Such is the history of a Frenchman whose name ought to thrillin every Amer- ican heart, whose praise ought to be on every American tongue, such is the story of the great, the good, the noble Lafayette. Americans

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18 Tue Senior In 1778 Lafayette, thinking, perhaps, that he asked native could do most good in France, leave of Congress to return to his land. His petition was granted, but he was taken ill with a fever which delayed his journey for over two months, and not until the 12th of February, 1779, did he finally arrive at Paris, where he was obliged to remain in confinement for a week to propitiate the king. How much influence he may have had in securing for the United States the assistance of France, it is impossible to determine, but it is cer- tain that whatever power he may have had was exerted in that direction. In 1780 Lafayette returned to America, and sought Washington in his headquar- ters at Tappan, where he received the command of a corps of two thousand light infantry. It is not necessary to touch on all his praiseworthy exploits in the course of the war, but one point which illustrates the nobility of his character must not be overlooked. When Arnold was carrying on a cruel and brutal warfare in Virginia, His men were chiefly of New England birth Lafayette was sent to check him. and feared the southern climate, yet when their beloved leader, appealing to their honor, offered to discharge any who were unwilling to remain, not one would leave him. At allegiance by borrowing ten thousand dol- Baltimore he rewarded their Jars to furnish them with suitable summer garments. In 1784, the Americans having secured their independence and his services being no longer required, Lafayette again set sail for home. The next year he spent Fi r a few years his life was a rather unevent- abroad traveling through Germany. ful one, and then, we find him plung ed in the dark tion. and disastrous French revolu- At the outbreak of the revolution he was commander of the National Guards. ANNUAL. [It has been said that at this time he the Mirabeau their cordial co operation might have con- was most man in all powerful France, the that most able man, and ferred lasting benefits on their country. Mirabeau, however, was as unscrupulous as he was able, and with such a person Lafayette could never work in unison. It is well perhaps to mention here that some historians blame him for his part in that Let no the French revolution, but I leave matter for the French to decide. true American ever cast a shadow over the fair name of Lafayette; and let it be said that if he erred, it was but on the side of liberty for a people who were not prepared to receive it. In the vear 1791 Lafayette resigned his command and went into retirement, but he had hardly become accustomed to the life, when he was called to With fifty thousand men quiet home lead an army. he was sent to the French frontier. Two officers, both distinguished in the seven- years’ war, were given a command equal to his own and also sent to the frontier. They were discouraged with the undis- ciplined, demoralized troops, but he took a different view of the case, and under his was finally Mean- Biron and Dillon, with careful training his army brought to some degree of order. while, Generals separate divisions, had come in contact with the Austrians and both divisions had suffered a humiliating and crushing defeat. While occurring on the border, the Jacobins had the began the Reign of Terror, a period of these disastrous events were secured control in Paris, and now such madness, rapacity and cruelty that it The Jacobins knew Lafayette to be one of their has never had a parallel in history. worst enemies and sought to win him over to their side, but they sought in vain. The army turned against him, and realiz- ing that his life was in danger he at-

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Tue Senior The Junior Reception, Wednesday, May 27, the Junior the On class class of 1903. The gathered in of the High School and from there walked in Clarke Memorial the reception was held. gave a reception to Seniors front groups to Hall, where They entered the assembly hall in a body, where they were cordially received by a committee con- sisting of Perry Armstrong, Lyle Marcy, Maud Willson and Jane Bielby. The hall was artistically decorated with college banners and the class colors of the Juniors, purple and gold. The first num- ber of the evening’s program was an ex- After the High School Orchestra certainly furnished cellent violin solo by Leslie Marcy. this there was dancing, for which good music. Early in the evening all of the Seniors were invited down stairs for refreshments. The tables were trimmed in purple and gold, while a profusion of pansies added much to the pleasing effect. Dancing was again enjoyed until after midnight and those who did not dance found amusement in playing ping pong. The good buck and wing dancing by Frank function closed with some very Jackson. The Juniors are to be congrat- ulated on the success of the affair. Riddles. Q.—Why is Hughes like a farmer ? A.—He likes to see the Greenfield. Q.—Why did Mead wear high top shoes at the Junior rece ption? A.—It Dewey around him. was 80 Q.—Why should Richards’s father put him in the ditch? A.—It would be a good opening for Roy. Q.—Why are the front steps on Millie Hower’s built so high? A.--So that Risley can practice his high jump. Q.—Why are Nellie Brown’s cheeks like a span of horses? A.—There is one on each side of a waggin’ tongue. house ANNUAL. ().— Where pathy ? can Atkinson find A.—In the dictionary. sym- ().—Why is Roy Richards like a sput- tering candle? A.—He nuisance only when he is put out. ceases to be a Annual Meeting of the Y.M.C.A. This was an important event for about twenty-five of the High School fellows. A New England supper was the first thing on the program. ‘The boys all sat at one table with the exception of half a dozen Freshmen, who had a tea party by them- selves. Senator Baynes was the feature of the evening. Considering the quantity of beans he ate,'‘he did as much talking as He claimed that the Court Street School pupils at the next a person possibly could. table made so much noise that he couldn ’t hear himself eat. But the fellows were too busy feeding their appetites to pay much attention to him. A plate on which were two biscuit was passed to our table and nearly fifteen fellows succeeded in getting a piece. A heaping plate of ham was emptied in about a half a minute. Howard McFarland was so busy with these scrambles and his appetite that his melodious voice waS not heard once dur- ing the entire evening. Countryman got so excited at one time that he started to eat his napkin. During the ten-minute recess between the beans and the ice cream we amused ourselves by passing a large pan of beans around the table. We had it going at the rate of fifteen revolutions a minute, but Countryman got excited again, fumbled and the pan of beans fell with a thud into a pile of china. But Then a few yells After a while the ice cream came. it didn’t stay long. were given and the meeting adjourned. We are Jooking forward to the (m)eating next year.