Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-11
ROBESPIERRE.

R0BESPIERRE.
i frequently, when stiffly standing II
his olive colored coat, with fixed eve
contracted brow, and shrill voice, &C
companied by hard gestures, Robes
tpierre was pleading at the Tribune fol
the peoples cause Mirabcau, in tn,
midst of whisperings and mockeries, hac
been seen to contemplate in pensive curl.
osity that man-pale-visaged and strange
ly smiling, whose physiognomy brcathet
forth, as it were, dreamy gentleness, ia
whom all things spoke a passion for
ordec' and who appeared full of respec,
for himself-so careful was he of his at
tire, SO grave in his attitude, so studied
in his speech. -
Who might this new conner be, on
whom fingered thus the presentiments of
genius, and what part was he to play in
the revolution! He was to demand JUS
tice for all mentor all, without excep-
tion he was to be the preacher of right.
With him there was to be no compro-
mise /; for is not truth one 2 Let no par
ty claim him; he is of the party of his
own convictions: that sufficeS. At his
first step in the career where he was to
leave the trace Of his blood and name
accursed, he earned the surname of The
lnoorruptt6te. As a simple advocate,
honest people quoted his integrity as
legislator, the wicked feared him. Al
ways ready to defend the people, he knew
not how to fiatter them: he had at once
too much pride and too much virtue. In
the midst of society Ia disorder, he
worshipped regulation. Anarchy he alb
hored. Popularity, earned by cynical
habits and language, he despised. He
never concealed his disdain for extrava-
gances in theory CT action. Yet Freron
admired him, Herbert respected him, and
he forced Marat to praise him. ..
His life was laborious, austere; his
manners did honor TO his principles.
Others, among known Tribunes. might
display suspicious opulence, sup by the
light of golden chandeliers, and intoxi-
cate themselves with wine and luxury.
He occupied, in the Rue Saintonge, 4
wretched apartment, shared and half
paid for by a companion youth. He
spent scarcely thirty sous for his meals,
and went on foot where duty called him,
and out of his salary as deputy, piously
diminished by an annuity paid to his
sister, could not always set aside sufficient
to buy him coat.
But if there arc eimperfections which an
imperfect nature willingly covers with
sympathy, there are weaknesses which
we.adore, and these Robespierre had not.
Something impenetrable enveloped his
mind. His virtue, like a sickly star,
Shone without beaming. Even on the
lips which commonly opened only to exalt
him, it seemed as if his presence checked
light praises and familiar smiles. When
he spoke of mercy, he awakened fears.
Yet, at ArraS, where he was born, his
childhood, We arc assured, had given
evidence of frankness and Of charming
states. Although already inclined to Sc
rious mediations, laughter, even to tears,
came easily to him, for an aviary in those
times formed his repulic. Early an OF.
phan, he tenderly loved his brothers, and
idolized his sisters: next to them cane
his dear birds. Later, when he left the
College of Louis lie Grand, the doors of
which had been opened for him by the
affection of the Able de WAIST, and where
he had Camille Desmoulins for fellow
pupil, his thoughts began to turn towards
love, and took form in gallant verses.
lie entered the society of the Rosatis,
celebrated the light songster of Vert Vert.
in tone worthy of his hero, and earned
the. academical CROWNS of his province.
What shall We add +! The oath which
Mmlle. Deshertis swore to him, that she
would never be another's, but only his
that oath of love broken in absence
plunged him into prodigious and ineffec-
tual grief.-[Louis Blanc. ..-.
THE JEw.-The New York Times does