Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-08-27
Catharine Mercier.
A TALE OF THE INUNDATION OF FRANCE.


| ATALE OF THE INUNDATION OF FRANCE.
Lyons, the second city in France, and the
seat OF the celebrated manufacture in silks is
built principally upon a tongue of land formed
/ bv the confluence of the Saone with the Rhone,
! situation of great advantage commercially, as
it affords the facility of water communication
both with the Mediterranean and the Atlantic :;
but from the low level upon which most of the
CITY stands, and from the rapid, and often swo-
len currents of the river, it has frequently been
the scene of most terrible foundations. En-
banImcnts have been formed at var Gus points
TO ruard the CITY from its watery foes but tho
useful in restraining any ordinary rise, they are
totally inadequate to protect the lower parts OF
the place from the powerful floods which occa-
sionalv overwhelm the unprepared inhabitants
causing such loss of life and property as can
scarcely be imagined by the people at distance
Lyons has had however, even more terrible Gle
mpnt than the angry water running thro' Ter
streets,
IN 1891, when Collet d'Herbois and his Ter
rorst associates held their tribunal in the Hotel
de Vile the executions were so numerous that
human blood was poured forth like water, and
with its crimson current flooded the Place des
Te~rearv So horrible was the sight that the
agents Of the Convention, fearing lest the inhab-
itaufs should rise, gave up the gullotine as too
much exposed, and too tardy for their ven
geance; they transported their prisoners across
the Rhone, and in the open fields on the left
bank of that river, with no hearts near them
that felt one touch of pity, were the helpless
victims slowly moved down by discharges of
crane and canister, and scenes were enacted
which gave TO Lyons pre-eminence of suffer
ing even amongst the many ill-tated cities of
France.
But the open fields which witnessed these
guilty deeds are open fields no more. Though
the city at the time of the Revolution was con-
/ fined to the narrow tongue Of land between the
rivers, it has since the commencement OF the
I present century, extended to the left bank of
the Rhone, and the populous and stately dis
/ tricts Of Les Broutteaux and La Guillotin are
/ connected with tn parent city by several hand
some bridges. The faubOurg of Les Brotteaux
! is built upon the very ground on which the revo-
4 luti0narv massacres took place, the memory Of
which it preserves in monumental chapel,
erected at the end of street called the Ave
nue. des Martyrs" Stately buildings are arising
on all Sides but, as in the city itself the more
retired streets are narrow and dirty, with tail
houses on either hand, making perpetual twi-
/ lieht containing family above family in their
eight nine or ten flats, until an almost incrcdi-
bic population dwells upon very small super
+ fetal space Of ground
The sun was setting one evening during the
| last week in May, 1886. Heavy rains had pour
ed down hopeiessiy the whole day, and the sky
i was dark and lowering, except in the west where
! The san had broken through the clouds, after
4 many struggles, to throw his welcome light mp
on tie city for few minutes His rays were
but feeble, for the same relentless rain which
had inst ceased had prevailed for many days
aud he air seemed saturated. Newborn rivu-
lets ram down the narrow streets, finding their
way 10 the great. swollen, yellow Rhone, which
co,irscd along with accelerated specific It's ocean
home
But. as butterflies come forth to the summer
=, : ct
forth to enjoy for Il short time the flesh air I'M
mixed with rain. and the streets were crowded.
Amongst the many foot passengers who We're
crossing the Point MUrand, was young so1er,
walking briSklv in the direction OF Les Brot-
teaux. His regimentals were faded and worn,
having evidently seen hard service HIS race
was StnhUrnt. but pleasant ono Wlthal, to look
~ and the smiling mouth. lust oyershadowed
bv a tuvemle mousache, and the sparkling. in
: telieeut eyes, seemed to say that he-N ictor
Chararcau-waS in good humOr with himself
and all tie world. And certainly, If any one
i had reason to be happy and thankful 1t was he;
for h. Ind inst returned in honor and safety
from fine Crinea, and was ON his way to Les
Bro.teaux to sec Catharine MERCER, who, four
wears before, when he left Lyons, had almost
promised 10 be lis bride.
Victor Chapcreau was the son of Soldier
who was killed in the riots OF the silk weavers
Lyons, in i55i. His mother, previous TO hes
d AaG bNti lt'Ilt-t5t tl'tt'tN ia "a ~
higua,s Iami.y in The country; and when she
, was I-.s a widow, with an infant in her arms,
= her Il r!ulr ms lfess showed her great kindness
- established her as 81 - HuEeFe Ga Ectjor up oi
. fine #.tuy .u the suburb ui FouTYlctcs, lusiodu-
c.ug Ter to the notice Of several influential fam
r Hes iu he neghburuucd. Jeanne industry
= a"l skill Wocurtj her plenty Of customers. aHa
s.. vs- thus enabled mes only 60 support hen
eft.5 boss. st!y, Gul also 10 give ham the ajYan-
ta-. ..u good gGU'gfl0I.-
N..ea Victor reached the age Of fifteen, moth
'n~..pu.l satisfy him but tina. he must be sol
der rs lis father had been before him; and at
.t-ru.uy a struggle, and mach secret g:let. his
mother rave her consent. To lose her cheer
a tal boy was hard trial to the poor woman, but
" she bore il with true resignation, and, instead
y of folding her hands in DESPAIR, only worked
g more diligently that she might lay by store
for her Gully child. For three years she saw
him frequently, as his regiment was stationed At
F. LYONS, or in some neighborlng place but after
that time it was sent to Marsel,ies; and when
In two wears THE war broke ont with Russia
. she received a hasty line from Victor TO say
n that he was 70 embark that day for the Crmea
IS without tie opportunity OF bidding her fare
well,
1t was indeed with an anxious and loving
{ heart nat ,the poor mother joined her prayers
I to the many strong suppIcatons which rose
from q parts OF the land for the safety OF loNet
ones who were fighting IN the tar OH last. DC
{: ca,ionIv she heard from her son, who wrot,
whenever he had time; but sometimes The let
tiers were lost, and sometimes they were writer
. on the eve Of an assault, and then came th
f. s;cAeniug suspense as TO the result.
u But al last al France rang with the glad Il
% diucs that Sebastopvl was taken-taben, now
y ever with such a loss OF lie that many widow
and orphan were the fruits Of all the glory an,
JEANNE knew that Nictor's regiment had beer
one OF the first 80 rush up the death Hill OF tn
Nalako;r. and she dreaded the post, lest, iustea
Of the bold writing OF her son, Il should brn
her cold official letter 10 tell her that her oni
child lad followed has father 10 a soldier
rave.
But happier fate was in store for her; sh
received a letter from Victor, full Of Thankful
ness that he had been spared, when his oompaT
ions on both sides were moved down in the
desperate rush upon the Malakoff and til
iEy.heT read with pride that he had been one
the first to enter the Tort, which had procure
leg him tie special notice OF his commandin
- officer.
re- some months after, when the welcome PeaC
was proclaimed. Jeannie set herself to work
prepare the house fer his return; ard early
= the afternoon on which our story commences
She was kuee.ng down on the floor, arrangiu
some linen which she had just ironed, IN
Dol basket, she ielt two hands laid upon her shou