Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-07-02


Prudhomme says that in this interview Chariot
te Corday appeared to him woman of most
elevated mind and striking talent.
The day after this visit she went to the Palas
Royal and bought sharp pointed carving knife
with black sheath On her return to the hotel
in which she lodged-Hotel de Ia Providence,
Rue des Augustin-she made her preparations
for the deed she intended to commit next day.
Having put her papers in order, she placed a
certificate OF her baptism i'll red pocket-book
in order to take it with her and thus establish
her indentity. This she did because she had
resolved to make no attempt at escape, and was
therefore certain she would leave Marat's house
for the conciergerie preparatory to her appear
ing before the revolutionary tribunal.
Next morning the l4th, taking with her the
knife which she had purchased and her red
pocket-book she proceeded to Marats residence
at Rue de |, Ecole de Medicine. The repre-
sentative was i'll and could, not be seen, and
Charlotte's entreaties for admittance on the most
urgent business were unavailing. She therefore
withdrew and wrote the following note which
she herself delivered to Marat's servant
"CrTIzEN REPRESENTATIVE Il am just arrived
from Caen. Your we'll known patriotism leads
me to presume that you will be glad to be made
acquainted with what is passing in that part OF
the republic. will call on you in the course
of the day; have the goodness to give orders
that may be admitted, and grant me few
minutes conversation. have important secrets
to reveal to you. CHARLOTTE CoRDAY."
At seven o'clock in the evening she returned
and reached Marat's antechamber, but the wo-
man who waited on him refused to admit her to
his presence. Marat however, who was in q
bath in the next room, hearing the voice of the
young girl, and little thinking she had come to
deprive him of life, ordered that she should be
shown in. Charlotte seated herself by the side
of the BATH The conversation ran upon the
disturbances in the department of Calvados, and
Charlotte fixing her eyes upon Marat's counter.
ance as if to scrutinize his most secret thoughts
pronounced the names of several Girondist de-
puties
"They shall be arrested" he cried with rage
sand executed"
He had scarcely uttered these words when
Charlotte's knife was buried in his bosom. lie
died Immediately.
Charlotte might have escaped, but she had nc
such intention. She had undertaken what she
conceived merltorous action, and was resolved
to stay and ascertain whether her aim had beer
sure. In short time the screams of Marat',
servant brought crowd of people into the room
Some of them beat and i'll used her, but the mem
bers of the Section having arrived she placed
herself under their protection. They were al
struck with her extraordinary beauty as we'll a.
the calm and lofty heroSm that beamed from hel
countenance. Accustomed as they were to the
shedding of blood, they could not behold unmoveG
this beautiful girl who had not yet reached hel
twenty-ffth year standing before them with un-
blenchng eye but with modest dignity awaiting
+lo E,t 1oal ~ Hood
would save her country from destruction Al
length Danton arrived and treated her with the
most debasing indignty, to which she only op-
into the street, placed in coach, and Drouet
was directed to conduct her to the conciergerie
On her way thitler she was attacked by the in
furiated multitude Here, for the first time, she
evinced symptoms of alarm. The possibility ot
being torn to pieces in the streets had never
occurred to her. The firmnesS of Drouet, how
ever, saved her and she thanked him warmly.
| Whilst she was at the concegerie, great ma
ny persons obtained leave to see her, and fell
the utmost enthusiastic admiration on beholdina
young creature of surprising loveliness, will
endowments that did honor to her sex, and he
rosm to which few of the stronger sex have at
tained, who had deliberately executed thai
which no man in tho country had resolution tc
attempt, though the Whole nation wished it, anG
calmly gave up her life for the public veal.
Charlottes examination before the revolution
ary tribunal is remarkable for the dignified sim
plicity of her answers. | shall only mention
one, which deserves to be handed down to pos
terity.
Accused" said the president, chow happen
ed it that thou couldst reach the heart at thu
very first blow2 Hadst thou been practising
beforehand"
"Indignation had reused my heart, and tina
showed me the way to his"
Sentence of death was passed on her. When til,
executioner came to make preparations for he
execution, she entreated him not to cut off he
hair. ''It shall not be in your way" she said
and taking her staylace, she tied her thick ant
beautiful hair on the top of her head, so as no
to impede the stroke of the axe.
As the cart in which she was seated proceed
ed towards the place Of execution, a crowd o
wretehes in the street, ever ready to insult tn
unfortunate, and glut their eyes with the sigh
of blood, called out, "To the gpillotine !"
u am ON my way thither, she mildly replied
turning towards them,
She was a striking figure as she sat in th'
cart. The extraordinary beauty OF her features
and the mildness of her look, strangely contrast
ed with the murderer's garment which she
wore. She smiled at the spectators when sht
perceived marks of sympathy rather than OF Gu
riosity. Adam Lux, deputy OF Mayence hav
ng met the cart shortly after it left the concier-
gerie gaze1 with wonder at this beautiful appa
riton-for he had never before seen Charlotte
and passion singular as it was deep, inHnedi
ately took possession of his mind. AnXou:
once more to behold her, he ran at full speed
towards the Palais Royal, which he reached be
fore the cart arrived in front Of it. Another
look which he cast upon, Charlotte Corday
completely unsettled his reason. Rushing like
madman to his own house, he wrote letter
to the revolutionary tribunal, full of admiration
for Charlotte Cortay, and concluded by asking
to be condemned to death, in order that he
might Join her in better world His request
was granted and he was executed soon after
Before he died, he begged the exeeutioner te
to bind him with the very cord that had before
encircled the delicate limbs of Charlotte upon
the scaffold and his head fell as he was pro,
nouncirg her name.
Charlotte Corday, wholly absorbed by the
solemnity of her last moments. did not perceive
the effect she had produced upon Adam Lux, and
died in ignorance oft. Having reached the foot
of the guillotine she ascended the platform with
firm step, but with the greatest modesty OF
demeanor. But the executioner having remov-
ed the handkerchief which covered her shoul-
ders and bosom, her face became suffused with
deep blush
| When her head fell the executioner took it up
and buffeted it upon one of the cheeks, The
eyes, which were already closed again opens
ed and cast look of indignation upon the
brute, as if consciousness had survived the sepa-
ration Of the head from the body This fact as
extraordinary as it may seem, has been averred
by thousands Of eye witnesses; has been ac-
counted for in various way. but no one has ev-
er questioned its truth
DUEL ExTRAoRDINARY-A duel of most fe-
rocious character, says the Los Angeles Star, has
caused little stir la TOWN the mast week but