Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-06-12

The day after this visit she went to the Paais Roy
al and bought sharp pointed carving knife with
black sheath On her return TO the hotel in which
she lodged--iotel de Ia Providence Rue des Angus
tinshe made her preparations for the deed she In
tended to commit next day. Having put her papers
in order she placed certificate Of her baptism in
rcd in order TO take II 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 should leave Marats house for
the conccrgeric preparatory to her appearing before
the revolutionary tribunal.
Next morning the 14th, taking with her the knife
which she had purchased and her red pocket-book
she proceeded to Marats residence at no Rue do
Ecoe de Medicine. The representative was III and
could not be and Gharlottes entreaties Tor ad-
mittanee the most urgent business were unavail-
ing She therefore Withdrew and wrote the follow
ing note which she herself delivered TO Marats SER
yant.- F
"CIrIzns RErREsrsrArvr:--Iam arm just arrived from
Caen Your well known patriotism leads me to pre-
sumo that you will be glad to be made acquainted
with what Is passing In that part of the republic
viii call you in the ofthe dayhaye the good
ness To give orders that may be admitted and grant
me few minutes conversation. | have Important
secrets to reveal To YOU CHARLOTTE CoRDAy"
AT o'clock In the evening she returned, ana
reached Marats antechamber, but the woman who
waited upon him refused TO admit her to his pres
cnce. Marnt however, who was In bath IN the next
room, hearing the voice ofa young girl, and little
thinking she hnd come to deprive him fife, order
cd 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 CAL
vados, Charlotte fixing her eyes upon Marats coun-
tcnanee ifto scrutnze his most secret thoughts,
pronounced the names Of several Girondist deputies
'They shall bo arrested p he cried with rage, "and
executed"
lie had scarcely uttered these words when Char
lottes knife was buried in his BOSOM He died mme-
diately.
Charlotte might have escaped, but she had no such
intention. She had undertaken what she conceived
AtNaA tn attn
certain whether her airn had been sure In short
time tho screams Of Marats servant brought crowd
Of people into the room. Some OF them peat anu
i'll used her but the members of the Section having
arrived she placed herself under their protection
They were all struck with her extraordinary beauty
as well Ms the calm and lofty heroism that beamed
from her countenance. Accustomed as they were 10
the shedding of blood they could not behold unmo-
we'd this beautiful girl who had not yet reached her
twenty fifth year standing bcforethem with unbench-
ing eye but with modest dignity awaiting their nat
for deed of blood which she imagined would save
her country from destruction. At length Dantoh
arrived and treated her with the most debasing In
dignity, to which she only opposed silent contempt
She then dragged into the street, placed IN q
COACH and Drouet directed to conduct her to the
conciergerc. On her way thither site was attacked
by the infurated multitude. Here, for the hrst ume
she evinced symptoms Of alarm. The possibility OF
being torn pieces In the streets had never occurred
to her Tho frmness of Drouet, however, saved her,
| and she thanked him warmly.
| Whilst she was ut the conciegerie, great many
persons obtained leave to her, and felt the most
| enthusiastic admiration on beholding young crea-
ture of surprising oveiness, with endowments that
| did honor to her sex, and herosm to which few OF
the stronger have attained who had deliberately
executed that which man In the country had res
| oluton to attempt though the whole nation wished
it, and calmly gave up her life for the public veal
| Charlottes examination before the revolutionary
tribunal Is remarkable for the dgnihod simplicity OF
| her answers. ! shall only mention one which de-
| ho hap had dawn In
Accused said the president, "how happehea IL
that thou coudst reach the heart ut the very hrst
| blow2 Iadst thou been practising beforehand
| HIndgnntion had reused my heart, ana that
showed me the way to his"
Sentence of death passed on her. When the
exeentioner came TO make preparations for her exc
cuton, she cntrcated him not to cut oil her hair t
shall not be In your way, she SAID ana taxing ner
saylace she tied her thick and beautiful hair on tho
top of her head 80 rs not impede the stroke OF the
|
As the cart in which she was seated proceeded to-
wards the place OF execution, crowd OF wretches IN
the street ever ready to insult the unfortunate, ana
gut their eyes with the sight Of blood, called out,
| "To the gnotineP
~ am on my way thither," she mildly replied, tur-
| ming towards them.
She was striking figure as she sat in the cart.
The extraordinary beauty of her features, and the
| mdness of her look strangely contrasted with the
| murderer's garment which she wore. She smiled Mt
| tho spectators when she perceived marks OF sympa-
thy rather tlln OF curiosity if"A uoP"V "
Mayence having met the cart shortly after 1t LETT the
conciergerc gazed with wonder at this beautiful APP
| partion--for he had never before seen Chanotte-
| and passion singular Ms il was deep, Immediately
| took possession of his mind. Anxious once more TO
| behold her, he ran at full speed towards the Paias
| Royal which he reached before the cart arrived In
front Of it, Another look which he cast upon CHAR
lotte Corday completely unsettled his reason RUSH
| ing like "A mailman to his own house. he wrote let
ter to the revolutionary tribunal full OF admiration TOT
Charlotte Corday and concluded by asking to be con-
demned 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
execution or to bind him with the very cord that had
before encrcled the delicate limbs of Charlotte upon
the scaffold and his head fell he was pronouncing
| her name.
Charlotte Corday, wholly absorbed by the solem-
nifty of her last moments did not perceive the effect
she had produced upon Adam Lux, and died in igno-
rance of It, Having reached the foot of the guillotne
she ascended the platform with firm step, but with
| the greatest modesty of demeanor. But the execu-
tioner having removed the handkerchief which cover
ed her shoulders aud bosom, her face became suffus-
| ed with n deep blush.
When her head fell the executioncr took it up and
| buffeted it upon one ofthe cheeks The eyes, which
already closed again opened and cast look OF IN
| dignation upon the brute, as If consciousness had
survived the separation of the head from the body
This fact as extraordinary rs it may seem has been
averred by thousands of eye Witnesses has been ac
counted for in various way but no one has ever ques-
| toned its truth.
| PIANOS. Finnes!-The subscriber