In Which I Meet The Marquis de Lafayette

In Which I Meet

The Marquis de Lafayette

August 1824

Greetings to you my good friends, I am here to write to you today about my latest encounter with a famous person! Last week I met the Marquis de Lafayette, hero of the Revolutionary War. 

He thought I was Felicity! Do I look like Felicity?! And how does Felicity know him when independence hasn't yet been declared? He must have met her later.  

Mark Schneider of Colonial Williamsburg

I tried to sketch some self-portraits with Lafayette in the background. I gave up and let my guardian draw the picture instead. 

I heard from my friend Faith in Boston the Marquis was a bit of a fop but he is not such a fop any longer. He is a very interesting man fighting to abolish slavery, freedom of worship and rights for women. If he had known he was creating a nation of slavery, he would never have come.

This year, 1824, Lafayette is making a tour of America. He came to Providence to speak with an audience. He spoke about his time in America during the Revolutionary War and how he helped secure victory at Yorktown in October 1781. Lord Cornwallis was curiously ill that day and tried to send his second in command to surrender but General Washington would accept no one less than first in command! Lafayette helped corner Cornwallis and forced him to surrender.

Did you know Lafayette was at Valley Forge during that devastating winter of 1777-1778? He was then asked to lead an invasion of Quebec from Albany, New York. Finding there were not enough men, Lafayette recruited the Oneida tribe (Iroquois Nation) to the cause of American independence. 47 Oneida traveled back to Valley Forge to offer assistance to George Washington. The Oneida considered Lafayette a great warrior and named him Kayewla (fearsome horseman). Lafayette befriended a young Oneida man, Peter Otsiquette, and brought Peter back to France to stay in his own home and be educated. On his return journey in 1784, Lafayette visited the Oneida again and helped them negotiate better peace and trade relations with Anglo-America. On this tour, 1824-1825, Lafayette wanted to see his old friends. Most of the Oneida were too young to know Lafayette but a few warriors were still living, including Peter's father who could not die without meeting Kayewla.

Lafayette married his wife when she was 14 and he 16! It was an arranged marriage but they loved each other very much. They had four children. The boy, Georges Washington Lafayette, died young. The youngest girl was named Marie Antoinette, plus another name in honor of Lafayette's friend, American ambassador to France, Thomas Jefferson. When the name Marie Antionette fell out of favor, they called her by her middle name, Virginie!

A man named Thomas Coles presented this sword to Lafayette.

After he visited the Brown family mansion, Lafayette visited the Masonic Lodge and that night there was a ball in his honor. I was not invited to either of those events! 

It was a short visit on a warm day. We had to go back to the future and back to work! No fair! My guardian refused to buy me a new gown! She said she doesn't have the money. Why do you work other than to provide for ME and sometimes my friends? 

I will write more soon about another famous person I happened to meet last year. 

Your friend,
Susanna

A Visit With the Durfees of Fall River in the Eighteenth Century

 A Visit With the Durfees of Fall River 

in the Eighteenth Century

Good day my friends!

It has been a long time since I have had anything of note to write to you about. My guardian got a JOB and doesn't have as much time for me anymore. Boo!

The weekend before last, we traveled to Fall River, Massachusetts to visit the Durfees. This home, in the 18th century, is one of 18 homes near the Taunton River. Judge Thomas Durfee built his house high on the top of a hill, around the year 1750. Judge Durfee was a strong patriot during the war and mortgaged his fine home to pay for the war.

Col. Joseph Durfee led the militia of Fall Rover during the Revolutionary War, served under The Marquis de Lafeyette, fighting in battles in New York, Fall River and Rhode Island. The Marquis was a frequent visitor to Col. Durfee's home.

In the house, we met Col. Durfee and a few merchants selling their wares. We purchased a chocolate block sweetened with sugar for hot chocolate and coffee beans. Both came from the West Indies! 

Downstairs there were samples of beautiful gowns and merchants selling buttons and wool, men's vests and caps. 

Milliners and Mantua Makers

One lady recognized me! She thought I was Felicity. I get that a lot. Felicity or Samantha! [Ed. note: She was sad not to see girls in Boston clutching red bags full of beautiful clothing and accessories We are too! The lady was surprised and sad to hear Felicity's lovely things are not available.]

Upstairs Mr. Durfee gave us a tour. His friend showed us the rope bed and chamber pot, easy chair, foot stove and other things in the room. 

These footwarmers look very familiar

Travel trunk (valise)

Travel Trunk (valise) or tricorn hat

Does the bedwarmer under the bed looks familiar?
How about the bed?

I made friends with this young lady and gentlemen and studied lessons on the hornbook with them.

The young lady is wearing a frock which ties in the back, like mine. 
This is what girls our age wear in the 18th c.

 

His suit and tricorn hat look like Felicity's riding habit

Reading the Lord's Prayer on the hornbook

This must be Grandmother's or Mother's gown. 

Not real sure about the buttons but those cuffs are not original to the gown

Mother's stays and Father's wig

That is all I have to share with you for now but I shall return soon for another adventure!

Sincerely yours,

Susanna

Flat Jane Austen in Providence, Rhode Island

 Flat Jane Austen in 

Providence, Rhode Island:

June, 18__

My dear friends,

This letter may not reach you until I am home once again. I am preparing to leave this place. My hosts say I can not leave without a visit to the college.

On a sunny day I stroll the grounds of the Allins' home and watch Susanna and her friends run about and play. I explore the gardens and look for hummingbirds. 

Illustration by Becca Stadtlander from Like a Diamond in the Sky:

Jane Taylor's Beloved Poem of Wonder and the Stars by Elizabeth Brown

.

The artist Esther Solondz made this sculpture titled
The Hummingbird Palace, to evolve over time.

Flowering vines will grow through the structure while simultaneously
attracting hummingbirds. Visit www.thehummingbirdpalace.com

Then I climb the hill from Benefit Street up to the college. THIS is what passes for an institution of higher learning in America? 

Jane views University Hall, the original building at Brown University

This is the college edifice and they believe it will be enough for all the students for all time and never will they need to expand! It was built in 1770 and possibly designed by Mr. Joseph Brown. Mr. Nicholas Brown's family donated the land. The building was done by a number of men of the lower classes including Indians, formerly enslaved men and currently enslaved men. It serves as classroom, office, dining hall, chapel, library and dormitory. The college trains Baptist ministers and educates the sons of local gentlemen. The Frenchies used this building during the War for American Independence and it is rumored the fallen have never left.

In Jane's day the roof held a wooden balustrade

Shortly after my time, in 1823, the building will be renamed University Hall, following the contruction of a second building.

On the way home, I stop at a park and look out over the city. [Prospect Terrace Park, founded 1869]. I can scarce credit this view. It looks so unusual - so different from what I have seen of the city so far! What is this?

[Jane catches up on the history of the city since the 19th-century. ]

This hill, remember the hills Providence was built on?, was a strategic location for the early city. A beacon was placed here to communicate with the towns along the Narragansett Bay. A taller beacon was erected during that war for independence as part of a system of defense and fortifications for the area. In 1775, a fort was built around the beacon at the brow of the hill.

Long afterwards, to the 1850s, earthenwork remains could be seen here. In 1863 a group of citizens donated the land as a public park. A wall was built, creating a terrace overlook. Benches, a carriageway, a tall flagpole made this an impressive place to visit. A spot in the center of the terrace, overlooking the city was chosen for a grand monument to Mr. Roger Williams.

The NINETEEN Thirtys? How extradordinary! In the 1930s, in honor of the city's tricentennial, a memorial statue to state founder Mr. Roger Williams (remember him?) was erected on this spot. The architect had big plans for a memorial, reflecting pool and steps up to the park. Alas, it was not meant to be and all that was built is a sculpture of Mr. Williams looking out over the city.

The remains of Mr. Roger Williams were uncovered and it was found that some of his bones had grown into the root of an apple tree next to his grave. The root took on the shape of a human form. This root and the remainder of his bones were removed and the bones placed under the statue. The root was preserved by historians of this town. 

The modern skyline of Providence! It's changed a lot since 1815!

Moving along, the scenery begins to change and I am quite perplexed by what I am seeing. I believe I am viewing the future!

Rhode Island gifts at Rhody Craft on Hope Street in Providence

Rhode Island is now the smallest state. It is a weird, wonderful place known as the Ocean State. 

A sample of Rhode Island geography and gifts at Rhody Craft

Jane learns more about RI at Frog & Toad gift shop on Hope Street in Providence

The state symbol is an anchor and the motto is "Hope."

They seem to love unusual foods here such as pork and veal sausages on bread topped with mustard, chopped onion, celery salt, and a spicy ground meat mixture; frozen lemonade, and seafood like lobsters and large clams. 

I bid you adieu from Providence! I shall be with you soon, God willing.

Yours affectionately,

JA

Flat Jane Austen in Providence, Rhode Island

 Flat Jane Austen in Providence, Rhode Island:

A Visit to the Circulating Library 

(and a peek into the future)

Back upstairs [1914 addition] I spy a map showing the English origins of the first settlers in Providence. I am pleased to see Hampshire represented, altho' rather surprised as Hampshire is not noted for dissenters. Nicholas Easton. Who was he? 

I peruse the shelves to learn more about the history of Rhode Island. Goodness this will take forever! Who knew there were so many books on this place? I certainly had never heard of it til now. Nicholas Easton  (1593-1675) was assistant to the governor and president of the four towns of the colony in Newport; a minister and Quaker! 

I find a quiet spot to sit and read on the mezzanine level I find myself gazing out the window.

I decided to leave off reading about history and look for a good novel. Should I choose an old favorite? Or something new?

We know Jane read Oliver Goldsmith

and even Tom Jones! 

She was a big fan of Sir Walter Scott but was slightly jealous of his success as a novelist

"Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. —It is not fair. —He has Fame and Profit enough as a Poet, and should not be taking the bread out of other people's mouths."

Hmm Something else perhaps?

Turn to page 49 of the self-guided brochure!

Do my eyes deceive me?  No, I see my name of these books. How peculiar! My books have not been published in America, nor have they been published under my own name. 

Why are there books about me? Books about my books? How odd.

Austen biographies

Am I the most famous writer in America? How about of he century? Or in Rhode Island?

No?! Who is? 

This fellow? Edgar Allen Poe... a poet and short story writer. What type of story does he write? Horror? Is that like gothic? "The Telltale Heart", "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Fall of the House of Usher". Is this man deranged? These are all about death! Is his poetry as awful? "Once upon a midnight dreary..." I guess so. 

Who is the lady? His betrothed? Poetess Sarah Helen Whitman? Is she famous? No? This Poe person seems to have come to an untimely end and was lamented by no one aside from Miss Whitman. 

Editor's note: The Ath has reportedly been haunted by Edgar Allen Poe who courted Providence widow and poet Sarah Helen Whitman here in the Athenaeum reading room. They became engaged but her family forced her to break it off with him as he was unable to quit drinking. Poe left Providence and a short time later turned up in Baltimore, dead in the river wearing someone else's clothes. Sarah Helen Whitman sacrificed her own reputation to save his and make him famous. Read their story at the Athenaeum website.

The Athenaeum also boasts a lithograph of Poe's Raven from a painting by the French painter Edouard Manet.

"quoth the raven, 'Nevermore'", 

The "Raven Bookplate" inscribed lithographic print from by French author Stephane Mallarmé to Sarah Helen Whitman, from a French translation of Poe's works illustrated by Edouard Manet

Actually, the most famous writer of all would shock Jane even more- H.P. Lovecraft, writer of weird science fiction, lived in Providence and loved it here. His gravestone is inscribed "I am Providence." 

I must leave off now. I shall try to write again before I leave here. Until then, I am, as always,

Yours,
Jane