The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-11-22
IS. VII. IoRTDAY, NOVEMBER p, 1867.

fervent prayers to God in behalf of
Marie AntOinette, whom, in their
hearts, they continued to call "the
queen" it may be that thousands are
pouring out tears of compassion for
her who now mounts the wretehed car,
and sits down on the board which is
bound 10y ropes to the sides OF the We
hicles.
But those who are praying and
weeping have withdrawn to the soli-
tude of their own apartments, and on
ly God can see their tears and hear
their cries. The eyes which witnessed
the Queen in this last drive were not
all owed to shed tear; the words
which followed her on her last way
could express no compassion.
All Paris knew the hour Of the exc
cution and the people were ready to
witness it. On the streets, at the win
dow, on the roofs, immense masses
had congregated, and the whole Place
de la Revolution nov the Place Go la
Concorde) was filed with dark, surg
ing crowd
And now the drums of the guards
stationed before the Cunciergerie be
gan to beat. The great white horse
(Which drew the car 10 which the
queen sat, side by side with the priest,
and facing backward), was driven for
ward by a man who was upon his
back. Behind Marie Antoinette were
Samson and his assistants.
The queen was pale. all the blood
had left her cheeks and lips, but her
eyes were red Poor queen, she bore
even then the marks of much weeping.
Eut she could shed no tears then
Not single one obscured her eve as
her look ranged gravely and calmly,
over the mass, mp the houses to the
very roofs, then slowly down, and then
away Over the boundless sea of humln
faces.
Her face was as cold and grave as
her eyes, her lips were firmly com
pressed, not quiver betrayed wheth-
she was suffering, and whether she
shrank from the thousand and ten
thousand scornful and curious looks
which were fixed upon her. And yet
Marie Antoinette saw it all She saw
woman raise child, she saw the
child throw her kiss with its little
hand At that the queen gave way
for an instant. her lips quivered, her
eyes eyes darkened with tear. This
solitary sign of human sympathy re-
animated the heart of the queen,
and gave her a little fresh life and
animation.
Bat the people took good care that
Marie Antoinette should not carry this
one drop of comfort to the end of her
Journe / h e populace thronged
around the car, howed, groaned, sang
rlbald songs, clapped their hands, and
pointed their fingers in derision nj
Madame Veto.
The queen, however, remained calm,
her gaze wandering coldly over the
vast multitude, only once did her eye
flash on the route 1t was as she
passed the palais Royal where Phil
lippe Egahte. once the Duke Orleans,
lived, and read the Inscription which
he had caused to be placed over the
main entrance Of the palace.
At noon the car reached its desti
nation. 1t came to halt at the foot
Of the scaffold; Marie Antoinette dis
mounted, and then w liked slowly, aud
with erect head, ND the steps.
Not once during her dreadful ride
hid her lips opened, not complaint
la l es aped her. not tar we had
she spoken. The only adieu which
she had to give on earth was n look =
one long, sad look directed toward
the Tuileries; and as she gazed at the
great pile her cheek grew paler and
IA deep sigh escaped from her lips
Then she placed her head under the
guillotine-a momentary, breathless
silence followed
Samson lifted up the pale head that
had once belonged to the Queen of
France, and the people greeted the
sight with the cry Long live the Re
public