Weekly Independent

Jean Fraley Hallowell, who writes in the April Ladies' Home Journal of 'When Lafayette Rode Into Philadelphia,' says that it is difficult to understand at this late day what a furore of excitement passed over this country when Lafayette arrived once more in America. The visit is a historic event to be remembered as long as memory endures.

During President Monroe's second administration the United States extended its invitation to Lafayette. He arrived at Staten Island on August 15, (Sunday) 1824, accompanied by his son, George Washington Lafayette, and also by his son-in-law. A formal reception took place on the following day—the first fruits of the most abundant harvest of welcome which Lafayette was to receive during his year of travel through the United States.

Lafayette was 67 years old when he visited America as the nation's guest and carried his years lightly. His head was shaped like that of Burns. He had a high forehead, long, aquiline nose and a rather thin face. His hair was sandy and quite plentiful. His eyes were dark gray, restless and twinkling; his eyebrows, light in color, but heavily marked. His mouth was firm and his lips smiled courteously as the holiday crowd assembled to do him honor. The general was not very tall, but well made. His face was distinctly pleasant, and its expression was an odd mixture of shrewdness, decision and gay good humor. His costume was a swallow-tailed coat and trousers of dark brown, with a great display of white waistcoat and neckcloth. A bunch of seals hung from the broad black ribbon at his waist. Over his shoulders hung a cloth riding cloak, greenish blue in color and lined with red.