Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-04-02
.Haeuer)arp.
The MartyrdOm of Jean Calas.

with head and hand the crowd which pressed 9
round the prison. Two or three cries of "death
at some distance, found no echo. His appearance
had been sufficient TO change the remains of hatre,
in all hearts into respect and pity. When the pro
cession began to move, he threw last look at tn
gloomy building where he left all that he had love-
in the world. This look completed the subiugator
of the crowd Courage" cried voice. "they
shall live"
"God grant it, he said "but they are not more
innocent than l ~
On their way to the place of execution, both he
and the priests were questioned every moment by
| the crowd
"Did you confess" they cried.
"No" ..
"Are you going to contest"
What would You have me contest"
And the questiOner was silent, either cast down
or believed according az he had hoped or feared to
! find him guilty.
/ Farther on, the same questions were put TO the
| priests. They shook their heads.
tAnd do you think he will confess?"
They raised their eyes to heaven. His secret is
between his God and himself" they seemed to say.
But their thoughts went farther. They began to
feel convinced that they about to witness the
execution Of an innocent man.
! And so they questioned him no more. They
mnrmured with trembling voices, their prayers for
the dying. They repeated TO him, and repeated in
French, moreover, passages from the Psalms
Calas listened and prayed; but while he bowed
himself hunbly before his God, he did not for a
moment cease to show, in the eyes of the crowd,
the assurance of just man and the pride of the
oppressed.
At the amende honorable, he refused as Rochette
had done, TO repeat what was read to him. Like
Rochette, he kneeled only to ask pardon of God,
declaring that he had no forgiveness to ask from
men.
THE WHITE CURTAIN.
The procession advanced. In every street the
silence became more profound, aud the crowd more
gloomy and motionCss
When they reached the place, sobs we're heard
on every side.
When Calas appeared upon the scaffold, and
cast around him, over the crowd, glance still
calmer than that with which he had left the prison.
then if this immense assembly had been permitted
to decide upon the fate of him whom they had
come to see expire there would have been but one
voice one cry and he would have been carried back
in triumph to his children, free.
But the exccutioners had already taken posses
sion of him. They extended him upon the floor,
which was formed of solid raiters and tied him by
his feet and hand, to massive rings arranged in
the form of a cross.
lie had easily recognized the window with its
white curtain, where Rabaut. his pastor, was to be.
He could see it as he lay upon his horrid couch.
! The priests kneeled at two corners Of the scat
! fold, and prayed The executoner took his bar of
| iron. The crowd undulated. Some turned away
their heads others covered their faces None wish
| ed to see the first blow
But they heard it presently, followed by cry of
agony; then second, then third blow, but fol-
lowed by no sound. The patient became accus-
toned TO the iron bar-the spectators to rise and
fall.
At the first blow, the first cry, the curtain was
half opened. Calas perceived his friend and be-
side him an open Bible. Rabaut pointed with one
hand to the book, and with the other to heaven
At the last blow, the white curtain was again
closed.
And now came n moment more sgonizing than
the blows with the iron bar, it was when the exc
cutioner came to move and gather up those shat
tered limbs, to carry them mangled, to their last
couch Of anguish
But the executioner, more humane than the
judges, had thought of method Of easing this ter.
rible operation. A sheet which rested beneath the
body Of Calas, permitted him to be carried extend
ed as he was, to the wheel. An expression of the
acutest agony was upon his contenance, but this
sign of compassion had not escaped him. He ac
knowledged it by movement of his head, and for
getting his crushed and broken bones, he seemed tC
strive to extend his hand to his executioner,
One thought had not left his mind. Should h'
still be able to see the window with the white cur
tain? Should he be permitted to expire gazing
upon it? He looked 1t was at his right hand
and still nearer than before.
TWO HOURS OF AGONY.
1t struck one. He must exist, then, for tw,
hours longer. The two priests drew near; Fathe
Bourges wept. He felt all the doubts which re