The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-09-04


N ,,,oyyinp what to do with myself in the coun-
..' during the long aud rainy evenings,
"',Lr,onl, 10 read Il collection of books, that
.r ,Ncsc twenty years had lain forgotten in
Nv nld chest Some dilapidoted volumes by
Rcrnordin 81 Pierre, were the least ancient
"A ,ftbc collection. Our reading was carried
~, aloud at the work table. We generally
,"I for ouraudilors the tax gatherer and an
olIoGvocntc ut the royal court orNimes. The
n ny aathorer had some prctcnslons TO ntclll-
n r,rcr and learning; the advocate was wor-
n yman simple in his manners, and ngrcea-
n i,mcouvcrsation-h was accused Of hav-
y ,rwritton poetry, and Of being as fond of ro-
nance as school girl. have never been
AN, to satisfy myself whether this was II
lulr or not. One evening, when we had
v alAished "La chaltmiere mdicnnc," the tux
lcrcr hustcncd up to say that it was YER
. rnoctical story, but was not only entirely
@nting in truth, but even wholly improba-
Me- We all Of us exclaimed at ths-Wo-
men ever wish to believe in that poor Pari-
s. who combined such noble sentiments
with such exalted philosophy.
"lll, n,licS,' cried the tax gathcrcT "thls
cannot be, How can you believe it possible
ra, This race, rcputcd So uncle0n, can have
p.rcndcd, without Il single exception, to the
r.rpcss GIFTS condition. Contempt bcgctS
,r,mv A caste thus cursed with general
pprumiion must necessarily attain howl-
M, pcrvcrstV both of sentiments and habits.
Those whom prejudice has marked with this
terrible seal. must remain on level with its
migin; Paria can no more be philosopher
hau an honest man."
"Yct the contrary has been shown" said
Lcadyocalc very gravcly, at the same time
boxing at some prints of"La Cha,micrG IN
Ennc" "Tllc contrary has been proved. l.,
vino speak 90 you, I nave known well Il fam
Iy of Parias and assure you they were YER
yloncst people, and enjoyed their CONVEX
salon."
"Ilaya YOU, then, ever been to India?" de-
maudcd the tax gatherer, with jocose Curl
o,lr
No, sir, never"
"th! 1 had thought-as you seemed TO
speak as an eve witness"
ut was in France that knew the family
Of Parias," replied the advocate, simply.
"lcs, of Parius, oftrue Parius, pcrsons whom
the poorest wretches regarded as much be-
low them, from whom each one fled
whose touch was dishonoring. Persons who
lived isolated from the rest of the world,
from whom an insurmountable prejudice sep
nw,cd them. No one seated themselves AT
their table, no one touched their hand, or adj
dressed single word to them. And yet
,hcy were good. inoflensjve beings, full of
rcsruatiun and generous sentiments. Should
vou like to have me give you their history
Ncprcssed around the table in silence.
The advocate passed his hand through the
locks of his wig, and asked for glass OF
sugarcd water. he then related the following
narrative:
"Some thirty years ago was young, and
was Studying law at AK. The old capital
ofProyence was then in bad condition. The
Revolution had ruined its nobility both civl!
and military, its clergy, and even part OF
the upper class Of its trades people. Yet the
cmgrantS had returned, although in poverty
and yet much broken IN spirit, they conceal
cd themselves in their mansions:once so mag
nifccnt, and now deprived both of windows
and shutters. The grass was growing IN tie
deserted streets, it was like pasture III from
olccrtuin irequcntcd doors, and especially
before that of the University. ! should have
died Of ennui ut AK, but for its vicinity tc
}arseiIles. travelled between the two pIac
rs 50 often. Won would have said had chOs
en- my dwelling upon the main road. lc
Glanced to pass a whole week in the idle
ness Of my university studies. This was dur
ing the session of the assiZes. They were
trying case Of deliberate murder. vii
not speak of the details. The accused be-
longed to Il wealthy family, and one which
had played a conspicuous and bloody part III
the political changes. Without the excuse
otPany feelings, rs between royalists and
republicans, there had been acts ofvengeance
committed by the father, by the chldreT,up-
on the person ola brother or some near rela-
tive all the members of this family of Atridcs
died, each by the others hand. Several had
been outawed; the last had just murdered
his wife in fit of jealousy. He was con
demncd to death. The trial lasted five days
There was an immense concoursc; |, as al
ways, arrived too late 10 get place. | only
saw the accused once; he was a large, ligh
CompIeXioncd, insipid looking fellow, rca
mutton head. His brother, man of wealh
II was said, kept near him, and, courageous
ly assisted him; every one was touched by I'M
devotion, yet when he came out to obtain
some air in the lower hall, every one drew
ont of the way, rs if he had he plague, an'
he yentured to accost no one. This famiI.
seemed devoted 20 crime. All who bore hi
nane were disgraced and despised. Whel
the sentence had been pronounced, the con
demncd was embraced by his brother, WIN
accompanied him, giving him his arm as ia
as tho prison. | saw them pass from dis
lance. 1t was pititul spectacle, such as t
excite even your tears. The condemned I'll,
not wish to appeal, and some days after i
was announced that the execution wouI'
lake place at Marseillcs, the next day but on
Tor 1t was ut Marseles the assassinatio!
lad been committed.
was attending the courts with some
H'ers like myself when this news was an
nounced. twas Immediately decided tha
we We're to 60 10 MarselIes, not to witnes
,ne execution ofths wretch; but to observ
1ne crowd that would rush thither from tn
surrounding country. The rendezvous wa
SSyen, on the spot, at five o'clock precisely
we all set out in CHAR a-bancs. Unfortu
ia'eIy slept too sound that night, aud TIN
next day at six o'clock, when arrived at tn
LlilEn- llnI.n Il: