The Shasta courier., 1864-02-20
SHASTA COURIER.
Alexander Dumus and the Headsnsen of
Paris

from the drama if quote to you Mons. AL
exander Dnmas's account of his visit to Mon
sieur de Paris. Do you know who Monsieur
de Paris is? The headsman. He has borne
from time immemorial this title, which was
probably given him to crafty French love of
euphony. You know the French carry their
fondness for euphony so far that they call
provincial hangman executors of transcen-
dental works." the secret police are the
~high police" and our headsman is :. Mon
sieur de Paris" This is Mons. Alexander
Dumas's account of his visit
| had read in many narratives Of the death
of Louis XVI. that he refused to ascend the
scafold, that it was found necessary to use
force, and that struggle took place between
him and the executioner's assistants. This
astonished me, for know the Kings charac
ter. Charles l. died like cavalier. Louis
XVI. died like martyr. The frstdied no.
bly,; the last died with resignation. As
Charles I. went by the axe he struck it with
a small stick he held in his hand, saying
. Headsman's axe fear thee not !" Had
Louis XVI. passed by the knife Of the gull
sotine he would have knelt and prayed.
therefore resolved to discover the truth on
this subject. Everybody knows that during
my whole life had devoted yself to the dis
covery of truth. am reproached for doing
SO at Naples. To ascertain the truth there
was very simple step to take, which was
to inquire of Monsieur de Paris himself.
Monsieur de Paris was the son of Samson,
who guillotined Louis XVI; he was only
twelve or fourteen years old at the time ; but
he ought to remember everything, for he was
ON the scaffold that day. But | could not
enter Lis house without some pretext; | soon
found one.
called on Monsieur Sanson one evening
pretending to buy a small pot of ointment
against the rheumatism. Samson had sort
of ointment which the public said was made
with human fat; do notassert that this was
true. | entered the house without announc-
ing who was; l simply told the servant !
came for pot of ointmens. l was shown
into Monsieur Sanson's study. He was
seated at a table making up some accounts.
In an adjoining chamber some one was play
ing the piano forte with good deal of skill.
Monsieur Samson rose, came towards me and
having heard what wished, ordered the SER
want to give me pot of ointment. | asked
the price.
He replied That depends upon circum-
stances"
] said. "Ah Have you two prices?'
He answered? "No, | have but one, but
| sell it dear to the rich that may be able
to give it gratis to the poor"
| responded: Il am not rich but l can
pay your price"
He said: 1.-THE price is ten francs"
gave him the ten francs, and as the oint
ment was, as have just said, mere pre-.
sext, thought what would be the best way
of opening conversation to lead it to Louis
XVI. Samson saw that had something else
tolask him and that | hesitated.
He said 81 dare not offer you seat"
replied: "You are wrong, for l would
accept it with pleasure"
He drew an arm chair towards me and I
satdown.
| said to him: Monsieur Samson. | see
you suspect the pot of ointment is only pre-
text, and that you will aid me to explain
what | wished to say to you."
=" Have you something to ask me, sir?
Speak without hesitation the happy days of
my life are those when persons belonging to
society do me the honor to talk to me'
. do not belong to society, am dra-
matte poet and aspire to the honor of becom-
ing historian. | am the author of Henry
H., OF Christine, of Antony, of La Tour de
Nesle, and OF other small pieces of that sort
What! are you Alexander Dumas ?''
(People as long ago as then did me honor to
suppress Monsieur when they spoke of me.
lbowed. Samson continued 81 All Mon
sieur, what disturbance you produce in my
household. My son passes away every day
standing in la queue at the door of theatres
where your pieces are played and my daugh
ter spends all her time reading them. l am
exceedingly honored that you should visit my
humble house. How can | be agreeable to
you sirT
:. You can clear up an historical doubt"
Speak, Ibeg of you."
You were present at the execution of
Louis XVI.?'
81 was"
And remember it perfeetly?a
81 edc.n
"Well, some historians say that at the foot
ofthe scaffold, Louis XVI shrank from death /:
that he struggled with the executioners and
was in manner lifted on the scaffold. For
my own part do not believe the statement,
as it was contrary to his character and tenn
peramento
Fhere is, nevertheless, some truth in It, -
replied Samson, ''as Louis XVI. did struggle
violently for moment with my fathers as
sistants, and for the reasons that am about
to explain. You are aware that Louis XEI.
was conveyed to the place of execution in his
own carriage and without being pinioned
Before he assembled the steps the cxecutioner's
assistants, fearing be might struggle at the
last moment, wished to bind his hands with
cord; but this indignity reused all the pride
still surviving in the unhappy monarch,
and he resisted, exclaimipg. No, no:
will never submit to thatl The men were
about to use force, when my father stepped
forward and, taking from his pocket hand
kerchief, said in tremulous voice and with
fearful eyes: With this handkerchief. sire?
Louis XVI. had not beard himself called sire
for six months before. He looked at nv fa-
ther, saw his tears. and at once held out his
hands, which my father tied with the hand
kerchief. The rest passed as related by the
historians
Having obtained Sanson's permission to
ask few more questions, l requested to
know whether it was true that the Office he
held was hereditary and obligatory in his
family.
No, SIR" he replied, but in the alb
sence of positive law, there is the law of
proprietors. What profession but his IA
ther's can the son of an exeeutionar follow?
await your other questions
My next inquiry was whether it was true
that he could not have a carriage except en-
condition that his name should be inscribed
on its doors.
He replied: There is no obligation. but
such is the custom. Should you like to see
how we elude it in practice %