The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-09-12
grateful recollection of him to my last mo-

~ WIZ AaAANAAhF NAAN ~ Jul
have accepted the office and Charlotte bore
an error and injustice to the scaffold.
The artist who had sketched Charlotte's like
ness at the tribunal, was M. Hauer, a painter
and officer of the National Guard, of the sec
ton of the Theatre Francois. On her return
to the prison she requested the concierge to al
low him to finish his work, and, Oh his arrival,
Charlotte thanked him for the interest he APP
peared TO take in h%er,a and quietly sat to him, as
though, while she permitted him to transmit her
form and features to posterity, she also charg-
ed him to hand dow her mind and her pat
riotism to unborn generations. She conversed
with NJ. Hauer on his profession, the events
of the day, and the peace of mind she felt af-
Ter the execution of her design she also spoke
of her young friend at Caen, and requested
him to paint a miniature from the portrait, and
send it to her family.
Suddenly a knock was heard at the door,
and the executioner entered. Charlotte turn
ing round, perceived the scissors and red che
mise he carried over his arm.
What already exclaimed she, turning
pale.
Then recovering her composure, and CLAN
cling at the unfinished portrait, Monsieur
said she to the artist, 4 know not how to thank
you for the trouble you have taken; l have
only this TO offer you. Keep it in memory of
your kindness and my gratitude
As she spoke, she took the scissors from the
executioner, and severing a lock of her long
fair hair, gave it to NJ. Hauer.
This portrait, interrupted by death, is still
in the possession of the family of M. Hauer.
The head only was painted, and the bust mere
ly sketched. But the painter, who watched
the preparations for the scaffold, was so struck
with the sinister splendcr added by the red
chemise to the beauty of his model, that after
Charlotte's death, he painted her in this COS
A priest, sent by the public accuser, pre-
scented himself to offer the last consolation Of
religion. Thank said she to him, those who
have had the attention to send you but / need
not your ministry. The blood l have spilt,a n
my own which / am about to shed, are the only
sacrifices l can offer the Eternal The exc
%cutioner then cut off her hair, bound her hands
and put on the chemiSe des condemneS. This
said she, is the toilet of death, arranged by
somewhat rude hands, but it leads to immor-
tality.'
She collected her long hair, looked at it for
the last time, and gave it TO Madam Richard.
As she mouoted the fatal cart, a violent storm
broke over Paris, but the lightning and rain
did not dispense the crowd who blocked up
the squares, the bridges, and the streets which
she passed. Hordes of women or rather fu-
ries, followed her with the fercest impreca-
tons but insensible to these insults, she gaz-
ed on the populace with eyes beaming with
serenity and compassion.
The sky cleared up, and the rain which
wetted her 10 the skin, displayed the exquis-
tie symmetry other form like that of a woman
leaving The bath. Her hands bound behind
her back, obliged her 10 hold up her head,
and this forced rigidity Of the muscles gave
more fixity TO her attitude, and set oil The
outlines Other figure. The rays of the set
ting sun fell on her head and her complex
ion, heightened by The red chemise, seemed
of an unearlhly %brllliancy. R~obespierre,
Danton, and Camille Desmoulins, had plac-
ed themselves on her passage, TO gaze on
her, for all those who anticipated assasslna>
ton were curious 10 study in her features the
oppression of thai fanaticism which might
threaten them on the morrow. She resem-
bled celestial vengeance appeased and trans
figured, and fro time to lime seemed 10 seeka
glance ofintelligence on which her eye could
rest. Adam Lux awaited the cart at the en-
trance of the Rue ST.. Honore. and followed
it TO the foot OF the scaffold. He engraved
III Ills llCdlis " QOOlO iHo " "O'H1 49,
unutterable sweetness, amid the barbarous
o~u,cries Of The crowd, that look so gentle YET
penetrating-,hose vivid flashes that broke
forth like burning ideas from those bright
eyes, in which spoke a soul as intrepid as
tender. Charming eyes which should have
melted a stone
Thus an enthusiastic and unearthly attach
ment accompanied her, without her knowl-
edge, 10 The very scaliold, and prepared to fol-
low her, in hope of an eternal reunion The
cart stopped, and Charlotte, at the sight Of
the fatal instrument, turned pale, but, soon re-
covering herself, assembled the scaffold with as
light and rapid a step as the long chemise and
her plnioned arms permitted. When the ex-
e~cutioner, to bare her neck, removed the hand
kerchief that covered her bosom, this insult to
her modesty moved her more than her impend-
ing death; then, turning to the guillotlne,
she placed herself under the Ak. The heavy
blade fell, and her head rolled on the Scaffold.
One Of the assistants, named Legros, took 1t IN
his hand and struck it on the cheek. 1t issaid
that a deep crimson ~suffusion overspread the
face, as though dignity and modeSty had tor
an instant lasted longer, even, than life.
Such was the death of Marat; such were the
life and death of Charlotte Corday. In the
face of murder, history does not praise, and In
the face Of heroism, dares not condemn her.
The appreciation of such an act places us in
the terrible alternative of blaming virtue or ap-
plauding assassination. Like the painter who,
despairing of rendering the expression OF a
mingled sentiment, cast a veil over the face OF
the figure, we must leave this mystery to be
debated in the abysses of the human heart
There are deeds of which men are no judges,
and which mount, without appeal, direct to
the tribunal of God. There are human ac-
tons so strange a mixture of weakness and
strength, pure intent and culpable means, er-
ror and truth, murder and martyrdom, that we
know not whether to term them crime or viz
tue. The culpable devotion of Charlotte Cor.
day is among those acts which admiration and
horror would leave e%ternally in doubt, did not
morality reprove them. Had we to find for
this sublime liberatrix of her country, and
generous murderess of a tyrant, aname which
should at once convey the enthusiasm OF our
feelings toward her and the severity OF our
Judgment on her action, we would coin aphrase
combining the extreme of admiration and
horror, and term her the Angel OF Assassl-