The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-07-22


the moment when all on earth abandoned
her, kindred spirit attached itself TO hers,
and that, amidst this hostile or Indifferent
lhrong. she possessed an unknown friend,
and thanked him with look.
This young stranger was Adam Lux,
German republican, sent to Paris by the
revolutionisls Of Mayence, TO concert the
movements OF Germany with those Of
France, in the common cause Of human
reason and the liberty Of the people. His
ewes followed Charlotte until she disappear
ed amidst the gems d'armes beneath the
arch Of the stairs His though never quit
ted her.
On her return to the Conciergerie, which
was so soon to yield her up to the scafiold,
Charlotte Corday smiled on her companions
in prison, who had ranged themselves in
the corridors end courts TO see her pass. She
said 10 the concierge:
Il had hoped that we should breakfast once
more together, but the Judges detained me
so long that You must forgive me Tor having
broken my word
The executioner arrived; she requested
him TO allow her time to finish letter,
which was neither the outPouring OF weak
ness nor regret, but the last act Of wounded
Iriendship--addressing an eternal Teproach
to the cowardly spirit which had abandoned
her.
1t was addressed to Doulcet de Pontecou-
liant, whom she had seen at her aunt's, and,
on whom she believed she had called in
vain to be her defender. The letter was as
follows;
'Doulcet de Pontecoulant is a coward to
have refused to defend me when it was so
easy. He who undertook il performed his
task with all possible dignity, and shall re-
tain grateful recollection Of him to my
last moments
Her indignation was unjust the young
Pontecoulant, who was absent from Paris,
had not received her letter; his generosity
and courage were sufficient guaranty that
he would have accepted the Office; and
Charlotte bore an error and and an injustice
to the scafold.
The artist who had sketched Charlotte s
likeness at the tribunal. was M. Hauer, a
painter and officer of the National Guard,
of the section Of the Theatre Francais. On
her return to the prison, she requested the
concierge to allow him to finish his work,
and, on his arrival, Charlotte thanked him
for the interest he appeared to take in her,
and quietly sat to him, as though, while she
permitted him TO transmit her form and fea-
lures to posterity, she also charged him to
hand down her mind and her patriotism to
unborn generations. She conveTsed with
NJ. Hauer on his profession, the events OF
the day, and the peace of mind she felt after
the execution of her design; she also spoke
Of her young friends at Caen, and requested
him to paint a miniature from the portrait.
and send it TO her family.
Suddenly, a gentle knock was heard at
the door, and the executioner eGtered.--
Charlotte, turning round, perceived the
scissors and red chem;se he carried over his
arm.
What already exclaimed she, turning
pale.
Then, recovering her compoSuTe, and
glancing at the unfinished portrait, Mon
sieur,' said she to the artist, d know not
how to thank you for the trouble you have
taken: | have only this to offer you. Keep
it in memory Of your kindness and my graft.
tude.'
AS she spoke, she took the scissors from
the executioner, and, severing 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 nj.
IIauer The head only was painted, and
the bust merely sketched. But the painter,
who watched the preparations for the scat
fold, was so struck with the sinister splen-
dor added by the red chemise to the beauty
Of his model, that, after Charlotte's death, he
painted her in this costume.
A priest, sent by the public accuser, pre-
sented himself to offer the last consultations
of religion. Thank said she 10 him,
those who have had the attention TO send
you, but | need not your ministry. The
blood | have split, and my own, which am
about to shed, are tie only sacrifices can
offer the Eternal The executioner then
cut off her hair, bound her hands, and put
on the chemise des oondamnes. This,
said she, SIS the toilette of death, arranged
by somewhat rude hands, but it leads to i'm
mortality
She collected her long hair, looked at it
loT the last time, and gave il 10 Madame
Richard. As she mounted the fatal cart, a
violent storm broke over Paris, but the light
ming 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 furies followed her, with
the fercest imprecations; but insensible to
these insults, she gazed on the populace
with eyes beaming with serenity and com
passion.
The sky cleared up, and the rain, which
wetted her TO the skin, displayed the exqui-
site symmetry Of her form, like those of a
woman leaving the bath. Her hands, bound
behind her back, obliged her TO hold up her
mead, and this forced rigidity Of the muscles
gave InOre GXity to her attitude, ond set Oft
the outlines Of her figure. The rays of the |
setting sun fell on her head; and her CON-
plexion, heightened by the red chemise,
seemed OF an unearthly brilliancy. Robes |
pierre, Danton and Camille Desmoulins,
had placed themselves on her passage, to
gaze on her; for all those who anticipated |
assassination were curious TO study in her
features the expression Of that lanaticism
which might threaten them tomorrow. She
celestial vengeance appeased /