Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-31
Escape Of Fontane.


During the siege Of Lyons, the poet
Fontane, 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
if he could.
Having obtained passport, a difficulty
arose as to how he could carry away
some plate and other valuable articles,
then considered quite anti-republican.
Among these valuables was chalce, a
present from sovereign, on which an
able artist had engraved the arms Of the
King of Sardinia. Fontane greatly dread
ed lest this chalice should le discovered,
as being vessel used in the service of the
church, and bearing the arms of king,
it would tell as threefold proof Of aris-
tocracy. However, he decided on taking
it, and hastened to the house of friend
| who had been a nursery gardener.
The poet then laid aside all his feudal
| ornaments and set about exchanging his
clothes to give himselfanother appearance.
Having dressed himself in wide panta-
looms, and shoes stuck full of large nails,
his hair cropped, and every grain of pow
der removed, he emerged from the gard
ener's house in the character of laun-
dress's porter, with heavy basket of
clothes on his shoulder-the plate and
chalice carefully packed under the linen.
His young family followed a few PAGES
behind him with the passport, but they
had to pass close to the terrible instru-
ment Of death, for there it stood, always
ready for use. Fontane shuddered. His
wife turned pale. TO them their situa-
ton was awful. But reason and necessi-
ty urged them on. Fontane resolved to
act decided part. He walked up in front
Of the guillotine, grasping the basket
! firmly with his hand, and loosening the
leather strap as if to ease himself, he
looked steadily at the scaffold.
A man Of ruffianly appearance, who at
tended as if he were guard Of the guillo-
tine, came up to him.
Are you afraid" said he to Fontane,
"that you look in this way at the nation
al razor 2"
I" Afraid" said Fontane, " do you take
me for Federalist, that I should be
frightened at the sight of guillotine
Sacre bIeu! Look at me do you see any
thing like an aristocrat in my face g
What are you 2" said second inter
rogator, addressing Fontane.
g. [ am bleacher and a scourer,"
"And this good woman?''
"What a question:" said Fontane.-
g Look at that little one-don't you see
the liSeness--Vire la Republiquen'
"Ah that s right" :" said the miscreant,
"you're good one. Down with the
muscadins and aristocrats. Ftre Ia Re-
puJliq1e! and Viue la GmIotinen'
Fontane could not join in this san
and took her hand.
"Come, wife," said he, 81 let us have a
song"
"Ay, and a dance, too," said the bar
barian who had first spoken, so, down
with your basket, my jovial fellow
Nonsence-nobody will run away
with your basket: down with it, say !
Why, what's the matter: is it glued to
your neck %
Fontaine objected and resisted for
while, but was soon obliged to submit:
and, wiping the cold prespiration from
his forehead, in a state more dead than
alive, was relieved from the burthen of
the basket. He saw it placed On heap
of stones, and feared everything would
be turned topsy-turvy. Oh! the fatal
chalice! All hope of safety was gone: he
was on the point of delivering himself up
and claiming compassion for his wife and
child, in the hope that they would be al
lowed to pass, when, happily he reused
himself, clapped his hands and assumed
a joyful aspect.
'Hollo my friend," cried one of the
fellows, you're wonderfully merry all
at once"
"a thought has struck me'' said Fon-
taine, ga bold idea! You see my poor
wife? / knew the Carmagnole always
raises her spirits. Come, my good fel-
lows, let us dance it. y
| His wife gazed at him with look of
despair, as be snatched the child from her
arms.