Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-07-03
Charlotte COrday.

Charlotte COrday.
After her condemnation she requested
the painter might be called, whom, during
her trial she remarked as studying her fea-
lures. She sat to him on condition that he
would send copy of her portrait to her
father. In about an hour and half the
executioner entered with the scissors and
| the red chemise. Charlotte could not re-
press slight shudder, and said, involun-
tarily =" What already ?" She soon,
however, became calm, and taking the scis-
sors, cut beautiful tress of blonde hair,
and presenting it to the artist, said -" Sir,
have this TO offer you; keep it in mem
ory Of me"
| She arrived at the place of execution,
| her face Illuminated, almost transfgured,
in the light of the setting sun. 1t is said,
! that, on first view of the knife, she turned
slightly pale; but her color came again,
and she mounted the scaffold with firm
step. The young girl modestly prevented
the executioner from uncovering her neck,
and advanced of her own accord the prep
aration for death. At the moment the
head was severed, a coarse carpenter seized
it roughly, showing it to the people, and
with brutal ferocity struck the lovely face.
A shudder of horror ran through the crowd,
and it is stated that the cheek of the poor
victim flushed at the insult. The man was
imprisoned. The intrepidity of this charm
ing young girl gave to death almost an
attraction. More than one considered it
happiness TO follow her into the great un-
known.
In the only portrait that remains Of Char
lote painted few moments before death,
we remark the extreme sofness of the ex-
preston. The face is that OF young
Normande, a ma1ona countenance, covered
with the delicate tints of the apple-blosson.
She appears much younger than her age,
(twenty-fve.) In this tragic picture she
appears Infinitely sensible, serious, reasona-
Bile like her Norman country. She is al
most like painting CHILD; ber lips seem
to move one fancies they utter the last
words che wrote to her father -" Pardon
me, papa The painter has left to man.
kind despair, an eternal regret. None
can behold this portrait without exclaiming
" Oh, why was l born so late how /
should have loved her!" .....
Her counsel, Cheveau Legarde says
!, " Her features may be depicated, her face
reproduced, but art is powerless to paint
the soul breathing from her face" Hci
{ replies might have served as dialogues fol-
Corneille =
!. "Who inspired you with so much ha
= tired ?"
! ! 81 required none from others, my owr
u ae was sufficient"
"This act must have been suggested tC
you?"
We execute badly that which we con
ceive not ourselves"
!. What did you hate in him 2
= His crimes"
:, "What mean you p
= "The ravages of France"
n What did you hope for, by killing
: him p
f ITO bring back peace to my country"
s Do you think you have killed all th'
: Marats ?"
. Him dead, the others, perhaps, may be
: frightened"
: Since when did you form this design?
! "'Since the arrest of the representative
o of the people"
! Her accusation having been read, th'
"a President asked if she would make reply.
4 Nothing, except that have succeeded.
The scene of the murder is thus drawn
: Marat was in bath, covered with
{. soied sheet, and writing on a board; hi
! head, shoulders and right arm being alon
r visible. The greasy hair, bound in towel
the yellow skin, the wiry arms, the wild
IS mouth, scarcely proclaimed the creature
v man. lie asked the young girl the name
i of the deputies, refugees at Caen. Sh
4 named them. Good said he, in eigh
! days they shall suffer the guillotine.' Thes
! words lent TO Charlotte additional strength
# she drew from her bosom the knife, an'
v plunged it up to the hilt in the heart 0
5 Marat. The perpendicular blow was to-
o sure, river of blood flowed from tn
e wound. An! moi! me chere dnaie,' wer
I all the words he could utter, when he ex
n pired."
A SAD Truth" Educate the people,
COWS the nolitirian and Won will easie