Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-02-20

At length the hour of final triumph
came. With the most imposing military
array of infantry, cavalry and artillery,
to guard against the possibility of any
counter revolution, the prisoners were
conducted, in long procession, two by
two, to the Judgment bar. 1t was the
30th of October, 1893 Ateleven o'clock
at night the verdict was brought in, and
they we're doomed to be led, the next
morning, to the guillotine. AS the SEN
tence was pronounced, one of the Giron-
dists, Yalaze, plunged dagger into his
heart aud fell lifeless upon the floor
Another, in the delrium of enthusiasm,
shouted, =" This is the most glorious day
of my life" 1t was midnight when the
victims were conducted back to the Con-
ciergerie AS they marched along their
voices burst into the Marseillaise hymn,
in tones which reverberated through the
corridors of the prison, and echoed thro
the streets:
% Come, children Of your country, come,
! The day Of glory dawns on high,
And tyranny has wide unfurled
! Her blood stained banner to the sky
They were all placed in one large hall
and the lifeless body of their companion
was deposited in one of the corners. -
BY decree of the Assembly the remains
of Valaze were to be taken, with the
rest, to the guillotine, and the axe was
to sever his head from the lifeless body,
and all the headess trunks were to be
inferred together. Some friend of the
Girondists Immediately sent to them a
sumptuous banquet, their final, funeral
repast. A large oaken table was spread.
| Servants entered with brilliant lamps
/ The richest viands of meats and wines
were brought in. Vases of flowers smil-
ed where flowers never before bloomed !;
and the most costly dishes appeared, one
after another, until the'board was covered
with luxury and splendor
In silence they took their places at the
table. They were all men of brilliant
intellect, and most Of them eloquent. A
Priest, Able Lambert, who had gained
admission, with his pencil carefully noted
down their words, their actions, their in
dications of weakness or of heroism. The
repast was prolonged till the dawn faint
| ly entered the grated windows When
the cloth was removed, and the fruits,
the wine and the flowers alone remained,
the conversation became animated with
occasional bursts of gayety. A few Of
the unbelievers in Immortality endeavor-
ed thus to meet their doom. But it was
hilarity unnatural and unworthy of the
men and their condition, Death is not
jest, and he who attempts SO to regard
it does but disbonor himself.
What shall we be doing at this time
tomorrow Z" asked Ducos
" We shall sleep" responded one,
after the fatigues of the day, 10 wake
no more Death is but endless sumber."
"No," rejoined Fouchet; annibila-
ton is not our destiny. These bodies
perish These thoughts never die. To-
morrow, in other worlds, we shall think,
feel, act. We shall have solved the pro-
blem of the destiny of the human mind
All turned to Vcrgniaud, as by a com
mon impulse. His discourse was long
and has beeen described as the most elo-
quent that was ever uttered by human
/ lips. Death" said he in conclusion,
is the greatest act of life. 1t intro
duces us to a noble existence Wero it
not SO there would be something greater
than God 1t would be the just man i'm
violating himself uselessly and hopeless
| ly for his country No Vergniaud is
not greater than God. God will not suf-
fer Vergniaud tomorrow to ascend the
scafFold but to justify and avenge him
in future ages"
As the light Of day penetrated the
dungeon, some sought moments sleep
others wrote last line to friends, while
others gathered in groups for converse
ton. At 10 o'clock the gen d'armes en-
tered, with the executioners. The long
hair was cut from their necks that it
might not impede the axe. Gensonne
picked up lock and sent it to his wife,
saying:
h" Tell her that is the only memorial
Of my love that can transmit to her
and that my last thoughts in death were
hers"
Vergniaud scratched upon bis watch a
few lines Of tender remembrance, and
sent it to the young lady to whom, in a
few days, be was to be married. Five
rude carts conducted them TO the scaflold.
Each cart contained five persons The
streets through which the sad procession
passed was throDged with countless thou
sands 1t was one Of the most splendid
Of October mornings. As the carts moved
the Girondists sang the Marseilles Hymn.
At the end Of each verse there was a mo-
ments silence; and the strain was re-
newed loud and sonorous. Arrived at
the scahold, they all embraced. They
then resumed their funeral chant. One
after another assembled the scafold, con-
tinuing the song ill bis head fell into the
basket. There was no weakness. No,
voice faltercd But each succeeding mo-
ment, as head after head fell, the song
grew more faint. Vergniaud at last stood
alone I,oito confinement had gnread