498 THE WIFE OP LAFAYETTE. wrong side of it." Forty -one years after this memorable scene — that is to say, in the year 1825 — Lafayette was at Buffalo; and among the persons who called upon him was an aged Indian chief, much worn by time, and more by strong drink. He asked the marquis if he remembered the Indian Council at Fort Schuyler. He replied that he had not forgotten it, and he asked the Indian if he knew what had become of the young chief who had opposed with such burning eloquence the burying of the toma- hawk. " He is before you ! " was the old man's reply. " Time," said the marquis, "has much changed us both since that meeting." " Ah ! " rejoined Red Jacket ; " time has not been so hard upon you as it has upon me. It has left to you a fresh countenance and hair to cover your head ; while to me — look ! " Taking a handkerchief from his head he showed his baldness with a sorrowful countenance. To that hour Red Jacket had remained an enemy io everything English, and would not even speak the language. The general, who well understood the art of pleasing, humored the old man so far as to speak to him a few words in the Indian tongue, which greatly pleased the chief, and much increased his estimate of Lafayette's abilities. Such was the amazing power of that mysterious old- world rank which Lafayette possessed. Let us not forget, however, that his rank would have been of small use to us if that had been his only gift. In early life he was noted for two traits of character ; which, however, were not very uncommon among the young French nobles of the period. He had an intense desire to distinguish him- self in his profession, and he had a strong inclination toward Republican principles. He tells us whence he derived this tendency. At the age of nine he fell in with
