The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1853-06-04
From Gatignani.
Escape of Fontane.

During the siege OF Lyons, the poet Fontanc
had been shut up with his family in the midst
Of the city in ruins. Full of alarm for the fate
OF his young wife and infant, he resolved, at all
risks, TO escape il he could.
Having obtained n passport, n difficulty arose
as to how no could carry away some plate and
other valuable articles, then considered quite
anti-republican. Amcng these valuablcs was
. chalicc, a present from n sovereign, on which
an able artist had engraved the arms of the
King Of Sardinia. Fontanc greatly dreaded les.
this chahce should be discovered, rs being n
vessel used in the service of the Church, and
bearing the arms Of n king, II would tell as "A
throefold proof of aristocracy. However, Inc
decided Oh taking 1t, and FASTENED to the house
Of n friend, who had been n nursery gardener.
The poet then laid aside all his lcudal orna-
ments, and set about exchanging his clothes to
give himself another appearance.
Having dressed himself in wide pantaloons,
and shoes stuck full of large nails, his hair
cropped, and every grain of powder removed,
he emerged from the gardeners house in the
character of n laundress's porter, with n heavy
basket Of clothes on his shoulder--thc plate
and chalice carefully packed under the linen.
His young family followed a few PAGES behind
him with the passport, but thoy had to pass
close to tho terrible instrument OF death; for
there 1t stood, always ready for use. Fontane
LIE WIN III Itlt. ~ tutIl
their situation was awful But reason and nc.
cessity urged them on. Fontanc resolved to
act q decided part. He walked up in front of
the guillotine, grasping the basket firmly with
his hand, and looscning the leather strap ms il
TO ease himself, he looked steadily at the scat.
fold.
A man Of rufhanly appearance, who atten-
dcd us Il he were a guard of the ga!l!o;ine, came
zap to him.
"Are you afraid" said he to Fontane, "that
you look In this way at the national razorY"
"Ahaid!" said Fontanc; "do you take me
for a Fcderalist, that l should be frightened at
the sight of n guillotinc! !S,cro Meui Look
at me; do you see anything like an aristoclat
"iYhat are your" said a second interroga-
tor, addressing Fontanc.
81 am a bleacher and scourcr."
"Andt this good woman"
"Nhat u question:" said Fcnianc, Look
at the little one-don't you see the likeness
Tite Ia RepubtiqUe?"
"Ahi that's righti' said the miscrcant
"you'rc a good one, Down with muscadins
aud aristocrats. Wee Ia Hepubliguei and
Vire Ia GpiitotiRoi"
Fontane could not join in this sanguinary
sry. He saw his wife trcmble, aud took her
hand.
"Come, wife" said he, "lot us have n song"
"Ay, aud a dance, too" said the barbarian
who had first spoken; $50, down with your
basket, my ~icyial fellow"
"But II"
"Nonsenso--nobody will run away with
your basket; down with IL, I say Why,
what's the msttert is i, glued to your neck 2"
foniane objected and resisted for u while,
but was soon obliged TO admit and. WIRING
the cold pc,spirasion frc,n his 10, ch,al. ia a
state moro dead than alive, WAS relieved from
the hurthcn Of his basket. Tie saw II placed
Oh a heap cf stones and feared everything
would be turned topsy.turvy, uh' the fatal
chalce' All hope uf safety was gone be- WAS
Oh the poin, %, delivering himself up and clal,
ming compassion fer his wife aud child, 10 the
hope that the, would bs allow I'd Ia pas, when,
happily, ho rottScd himself, Clapped hhs hands
md assumed y JOYFUL aspect.
"%liolio' ms ftiend," CtiCd one 1T the tel
lows, you're wonderfully maryy all ., utro I"
IA thought kaS struck uac y said t%ontanc,
"a bold idea You scv my pvor w.irs l
know ,tp Carmagnnlo a,sayS rsiSoS hs, spirits
Come, nay Tossi fellow, let a. dance IL"
Ills vile CARED At hirA with a ict& 81 despair
n he snatchtd the ,iiia ,fuso htr arms
"Wha, nov Z don { make a WY tscV we.
sAii be. EXCUSE ifr, shes Young and uutsi
tyauc h, us pat the httle ozie GA ihc iasks,
,i,erv he las oa The toy ot tbs linen AMI
lecIs so0utiy wifv yosar hand Nav ga,
the tcIsatAtCan fiuE tngBC, fss1rds, J0in
asids it tsie ring Ills r~&tffotic daHeaF
Madame fcOsAne non ,uasgfpaefalsi What
hss hgA<iss saeSai She hs.gpt hehgly rn,Bi
The rng. sssi }eSnsd IN thv citsgNs ~ ,iss tsr
~inagnolo Wien this dance oSs o,cf ske u-ix
up hsF child fun,Anv ws> Askistel "a rcpls
eng ho basket en i,ls shoalicr isr msle MS
sth hsd tho wsy, ard walkesi oft SIZES ls&s,
"a his,liug tbs tAsNf ~ 8y-sgt Aipl "a tl,rg
: o AIRED