Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-05-14
The last dayS Of Marie AntOiMctte.
From Julia kavanagh's "Women in France in
the eighteenth century."J

On the l1Ih of October, Marie Antoi-
|nete was summoned before the tribunal,
HELD in the adjoining Palais de Justice
She was NEARLY clad but with evident at
rention to neamess and dccency; her bear
ing was calm and digniied she heard
with indifference the long act OF accusation
read by Fouquier TinvlIle, who asserted
that the crimes attributed TO MessaIna,
Bunchault. Frcdegonde, and Catherine of
Mcdici. wee far surpassed by those COM
mltird bv the widow Capet. She was
charged with having diIapdaled the linan-
rcs. with plotting against the nation, with
having caused famine, and various other
political offences. Her replies were la
ronic and composed. Submitting TO e.
vents she could not control, she entered
INTO no useless and indignant protest
against the past; she also avoided com.
promising her own lfe and the safety Of
her friends by any imprudent defiance :;
To bear patiently had become her lot. One
l@i her motives for taking tins line of con-
,Iuct was that such had been the course
aGop;cd by Louis XVI. Jealous Of his
honor, sh, Gid not wish to be conraStcd
with him 10 bis disadvantage. The most
infamous accusation against her was that
| of Ilehert; who asserted that she had de-
Ipravcd her own child, the Dauphin, Ma
rie Autoinetle disdained to make any an
swer. One of the jury having pressed
her 10 reply. she turned towards the crowd,
her coun}euance lit up by scorn and m
dignant majesty, merely said, s. | appeal
t0 all the mothers present The mothers
who heard her then were the furious Tri-
Icoueuscs who daily accompanied VIC
TINS to the scafToId but even they had
mot 50 far given up all the feelings Of wo-
ImanhO3d rs to remain insenslble 10 such
an appeal, and a murmur of horror and
against Icbert ran throughout
rhe court. Whsn all the accusations
against her had been heard, Marie AntOl-
|nette was asked if she had anything to
say: she answered, Il was Queen, and
YOU took away my crown; w!ie, and
YOU killed my husband; mother, and
/ YOU deprived me of my children; ; my
blood alone remains; take it, rut do not
make me suffer long" Chauveau de Ia
Garde and TrUnson du Coudray, her de-
fenders, were then heard; but their noble
and courageous efforts remained unayal!-
ing.
At four clock, on the morning Of the
10th, she was condemned to die. She
heard her sentence with the admirable
dignity and self-possession which had nev.
,er deserted her since the beginning OF her
trial on the l4th although with barbar-
.ily worthy Of them, her judges had re-
fused to let her retire. even for one mo-
ment's rest, and scarcely allowed her any
food, in the hope Of subduing her courage
with her physical strength. Once, feel
Ing verv thirsty, she asked for some wa
ter; no one dared TO bring her any, until
she repeated her request, when an officer
.of the gendarmes, unable to resist the I'M
pulse, brought her a glass; he lost his
post for this simple act of humanity. II
When the President Of the Tribunal
asked if she had any objection to make 70
10 reply. The fierce applause which fol-
lowed her out of the court could no, DIS
lurb her proud comrosure. She rcilre4
to the Conciergerie. and having obiaInef
writing materials, addressed 10 Nadame
Elizabeth last letter hich never reached
her. In this letter she recommended her
orphan children to her sisters care, fer
yent'y blessing them and her; protesting
that she died in the faith of her fathers,
and freely fo,givlng her enemies. She
then threw herself OH her bed, and SLEPT
for two hours. A Constitutional priest
was sent TO her, but she declined his min
isirv.
&" Your death,'' he began, " is going to
,expIate-"
&" Faults. not crimes" she interrupted.
Two other Constitutional priests who