Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-26
DAILY EVENING STAR.
G:s..Sss!sss., .sa S:SsE:S:s.
FOUNDED ON FACT.
= tFKoM THE FRENCH OF merry

s'tNbFsD ON fRC1.
lFKoM TIRE FRENCH OF MERy.l
Before the road of Toulon, and on the
western slope of that ridge of mountains
which unite the peak of Coudon with the
Sorges OF OllioulcS, are to be seen, on
each side, the most charming country
houses in all Provence. They ali have
the same view-the sea, the road, the YES
vesls-and, in short, the most varied and
smiling tableaux. In thewarm and pleas
ant season, the families assemble on the
terraces of these little villas to recover
themselves somewhat from the overwhelm-
ing heat of the day, by the fresh evening
breezes that blow from the sea.
The first stars OH the evening of the
day of St. John, 183-, were Just appear
ing above the grey and naked ridge of
Coudon, when, in the silence of the coun-
try, was heard the roar of cannon,
which was prolonged in echoes from the
bill of Lamalgue into the depths of o.
lonleS. An electric movement of terror
kept pace with the echoes, and disturbed
the enjoyments upon one of the most
lovely summer nights.
LfSi WHY Uii tllc TERRACES where Jne
young men and young ladies' were con-
versing, was heard the cry, "A goliey-
sldue has escaped" 1t seemed as i, each
family expected each moment to see drop
ping down among them tiger with
human ACE, escaped from the menagcrie
OF the arsenal of Toulon.
Had any observer been able to follow
with his eye this alarm, as it spread from
face to face, on the evening of st. Johns
day, he would have remarked, perheps
with surprise, the serenity of ono family,
seated under trelliS between the harbor
and the mountains Of SiX-TourS. This
feeling OF security on the part of these
few, amid the general terror. was easily
explained. Madame dc Mcllan and her
daughter Anna had arrived only few
days before rom New York, in order to
arrange an important family affair, and
had hired pretty country house short
distance from the sea and from the high
road. An old domestic and two Creole
servant girls were seated On the tel race
when the discharge of the cannon was
heard. No one being able to explain to
these strangers the signal of alarm, they
regarded it as a very natural incident in
a military city, and did not even suspend
their conversation.
1t chanced that the convict who had
escaped tune his steps toward the coun-
try-seat occupied by Madame de Melian.
He was man who had lie. Lehind bin
name made conspicuous n the pandemoni-
I'm of crime. 1t was the noted Cardan,
condemned for the crimes of bigamy and
forgery. He had been employed two
months in saving the iron ring which
hound him to his comrade, ard one day,
while the latter was sleeping in tie sun
in the Dock yard of Mourillon. Cardan
broke the last link of the ring, and escapo1 /.
His comrade, after short sleep, concealed
himself from the vigilance of the guard,
in cellar filled with beams and blanks,
IN order to escape in turn, at some pro-
pltious moment; but he was discovered
the next day. 1t was not until night
that they discovered the escape of Cardan.
This notorious galley-slave was then th;r-
ty years of age-hc had spent four in the
galleys. His tall and we]l-shaped figure,
his easy manners, lis pale and haug
face, all proved him criminal who had
been accustomed to goCi company, he.
fore the red vest, which levels all distinc-
ton of rank, had conce:l led the respecta-
bic gentlemen in the gallcy-slaye. This
night Cardan only wore fis coarse
pantaloons; he had thrown away bis vest
among somenettles. Active and vigorous,
he bounded along more like bird or a
panther, than with the dclil crate steps of
man. Having arrived under the large
trees about the house of Madame de
Mellan he surveyed the ground with that
subtle instinct such as nature s ives to a
wild beast: and climbing like monkey
along pole that was leaning upon the
back Of the house, he entered the cham
berS of the first story, and, in the course
of five minutes he had, in the darkness,
seen all and visited all, as if he had been
lighted either by his red locks or bis eyes.
Ifmen like bin world turn to good ac-
count the powerful faculties devoted to
evil, tie human race would be soon re-
generated. Cardan found pile of few
crowns in secretary: he folded them in
1ti0 III ioe piCCC VI pdpei lildt ideIletl L ltlci
his hands. He contented himself with
this small sum, which was sufficient f r
his urgent w.ntS, and sprang at single
bound into lie garden At the earliest
dawn he had reached the volcanic peak of
Evenos, which blends with the clouds the
lava of its extinct volcano. There he pur-
chased some cast-of clothes of shepherd
and some sheep, and by some goat paths,
stick in hand, he descended into the plains
Of Bausset. Knowing that highway al
ways leads.to some large town, Cardan
followed the long path that winds from
the chapel of st. Annie to the plain OF
Cuges, and on his way saluted the send
almes who were conducting some refrac-
tory recruits, sailors on leave Of absence,
soldiers arriving from Afiica, mounto-
banks, organ grinders-in short all the
curious mixture of foot-passengers that
people the road between Toulon and Mar