Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-07-08
Charlotte Corday.
From n. MicheleEs Women OF the French Revol
ton

tiSi4.l
After her condemnation She requested the
painter might be called, whom, during her
trail She remarked as studying her features.
She sat 20 him. on condition that he promised
+ to send a copy of her portrait to her family.
In about an hour and half the executioner
entered with the scissors and red chemise.
Charlotte could not repress a slight shudder,
a13 said, involuntarily " What already p
She soon, however became calm, and taking
the scissors, cut beautiful tress Of tlonde
hair, and presenting it to the artist, said: Sir
I have this to offer you; keep it in memory
of me"
She arrived at the place Of execution, her
face illuminated, almost TRANSPORTED, in the
light of the setting sun. It is said that, at
first view of the knife, she turned slightly
pale; but her color came again, and she mount
ed the scafold with firm step. The young
maiden modestly prevented the executioner
from uncoyering her neck, and advanced Of
her own accord the preparations for death
At the moment the head was severed, a course
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 intrepldity OF this
charming young girl gave to death almost an
attraction. More than one considered it a
happiness to follow her into the great un-
known:
In the only portrait which remains OF Char
lotte painted a few moments before death.
we remark the extreme sotness Of the expires
sion. The face is that Of young Normande,
a madonna countenauce, colored with the del
icate tints Of the apple-blossom She appears
much younger than her age, {tweuty-fve)
In this stragic picture she appears infinitely
sensible, serious, reasonable, like her Norman
country-womcn. She is almost like a paint
ing child; her lips seem to move; one fancies
they utter the last words she wrote to her
father: Pardon NE, papa The painter
has left to mankind despair, an eterDal re-
sret. None can behold this portrait without
excliuing: "Oh why was 7 born so late
how should have loved her"
Her counscI, Chaveu LagarJe, says: Her
features may be depicted, her face reproduced,
but art is powerless TO paint the soul breath
ing from her face" Her replies might have
served d:a3og es for Com iIIe:
"Who inspired you with SO much hatred p
Il required nyne from others, my own was
sufficient"
"This act must have been suggested to
you?"
We execute badly that which we con-
IccIve not ourselves"
"What did,you hate in him ?"
His crimes"
"What mean youH7
'The rava2es Of France"
"What did you hope for, by killing him p
To bring back peace to my country"
do you think you have killed all the
Marats?1
Him dead, the others, perhaps; may be
frightened"
Since when did you form this design ?"
Since the arrest Of the representative Of
/ the people ~ sa
Her accusation having been read, the Pres
ident asked if she would make reply.
Nothing, except that have succeeded" J"
The scene Of the murder is thus drawn:
"Marat was in a bath, covered with a soil
ed sheet, and writing on board his head,
shoulders and right arm being alone visible.
The greasy hair, bound in towel, the yellow
skin, the wiry arms, the wide mouth, scarcely
proclaimed the creature a man. He asked
the young giIl the names of the deputies ref
ugces at Caen. She named them. Good"
said he, 'in eight days they shall suffer the
guillotne" These words lent to Charlotte
additional strength; she drew from her bosom
the knife, and plunged it up to the hilt in the
heart Of Marat The perpendicular blow was
too sure, river Of blood flowed from the
wound. Ah! mo! ma chere anis," were
all the words he could utter, when he expir-
ed"