The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-03-17
Misfellaneons.
THE ASSASSINATION OF HEN.
RY THE FOURTH.
nv JAMES rARrox,

On the nth OF MAY. 1910, Henry ".
King OF France, was riding in the streets 8
OF Paris In q huge royal coach. with seven
noblemen OF his court. The vehicle was
rs large rs a modern omnibus. and not nn.
like one in shape. the occupants being seat
ed with their backs towards the wheels,
and exposed TO view from the waist up.
wards. The King. who was 10 leave Par.
10 for the seat OF war. in which he had TAX
en- the side OF the Protestant power against
the Catholic. was going TO take leave Of
the Duke OF Sully, the Grand Mister al
Artillery
lie was in the fourteenth year OF his
reign and iifty.seventh OF his age 4 war.
rior from his youth up his beard was griz.
xled and his hair whitening but his naiu.
raj force was still abundanily capable OF
sustaining the fatigue Of campaign. by
his valor aud clemency. France. from being
torn and impoverished by civil war, had
become united and tranquil. had aitainad
in Europe commanding emincnce, and
was able 20 oppose with fair prospect OF
success. the enormous power OF Spain and
Austria combined. Frcnchmen to this
day. esteem him the greatest and best Of
their kings. They style him the Father OF
his Country. AS u general, he was the bra.
vest OF tho brave-activc, skillfnl, patient
under reyerses. moderate and just in the
hour OF triumph. Asa monarch. he was
element. tolerant. and profoundly saga.
cious. II was he who established in France
adegree Of religious liberty. II was he who
conceived. \ century aud half in advance
OF his time. that system Of general politics
which is called the Balance Of Power, with
q view 10 prevent wars and protect the
rights of feeble States.
In onc Of the narrow streets of the city.
the numbering coach was stopped by an oh.
structiOu. At that moment very tall
man, muliled iu n cloak. with wide brim.
med hat drawn over his forehead, stepped
upon one Of the wheels. dashed his arm
through the window. and struck at the
breast Of tho king with dagger. lilo stab.
bed him u second time. and the kin. fell
dead. Both wounds had pierced his heat.
The assassin jumped from the wheel 10
the ground. and remained standing near il
with bloody knife in his hand. In the hor.
ror Of the moment he might have escaped !:
but he stood erect and mo;ionless near the
carriage. One Of the king 5 attendants was
about 10 run him through with his sword.
but a n0bleman parricd the blow. aud he
was saved nnd secured. lIc avowed on
the spot that he hal done the deed aud
added. "lf il were still 10 be done, |
would do il again Being told that the
king was breathing aud might recover. he
replied, NO. I struck home ] am sure
he is dead
Nothing could exceed the calmness OF
bis demcanor, lie had the air OF man
who had ncrvcd himself 10 do q solemn du-
Is, OF which he had counted the cost, and
the consequences which he was prepared
TO abide.
IL was at once surmised by the PrOtes.
taut faction the assassin was but the tool OF
the Catholic powers against whom the king
had declared war. II was n natural
thought but il was erroneous. The morn.
ing after the murder, the man was examined,
and the particulars Of his life. and the mo.
tive Of his fell deed were so FULLY ascertain
ed. that nothing additional was ever OBJ.
tanned. lie declared then and always iha,
he had no accomplices aud no conhdant.--
The act was wholly his own.
Francois Ravaillac was his name--his
ago thirty two-the son OF an obscure pet.
tiiogger. TO which calling he had himself
been bred but was afterwa rds teacher oI
q school OF eighty pupils. lie had been
always very poor. and was naturally OF a
gloomy disposition. unsocial. morosc. hut
not vicious or inclined to violence. lie
was religious even 10 fanaticism observing
with the utmost rigor. all the fasts and 9th.
or requirements OF the Churh, exceeding.
~ devout nj all times. When asked what
had induced him 10 assassinatc the king.
he constantly replied that he had believed
IL to DO his duty. lie said be had dreams
aud revelations melting him 10 the deed,
but that no human voice had suggested IL
aud no onc had known his intention. lie
added that he had long laborcd under the
impression that Il was his mission 10 kill
the king. but that al first hc had deemed II
a temptation OF the devil, and rs such had
resisted IL. aud had on one occasion abstain.
cd from taking the communion because he
felt that such thoughts rendered him un,
worry 10 receive t. but at length he had
become fully convinced that IL was his du
~, and had attended the Mass ON the morn
| ing Of tho day OF tho murder TO cousecrats
himself anew 10 the work. lie added af
terward, that now the deed was done, hs
saw that he had committed n horrible crime
but he hoped BY a irus repentance TO OBJ
tain the ahsolution. Nothing appeared Il
astouish him 80 much as the universal hor
ror which the murder excited. lie bad evi
deutiy felt that France desired the death o
the kiug. aud that Il was France that strucl
81 tho Kings heart by bis arm.
AccOrdiDg 10 the savage cnstom OF th'
time, be WAS subject 10 the torture, 10 CON
pei The disclosure OF aecompllces. III
bore the aeutest anguish with surprising
fortitnde. and never varied fr0m ASSERTING