Smyrna times., 1868-03-11
M l S G E LILA NEOUS
CHARLOTTE CORDAY.

Marie Anne Charlotte de Cordav wo, hor,
on the 9th of July, 1868. at Argentun -
Normandy. Her father was direct descend
ant OF the great dramatist, Corneille. His
iamlly consisted of two sons and three dauph.
ters; they lived in a condition bordering unon
lndigence, though sustained with dignity.
On the death Of her mother, which occurrod
during CharlOtte's infancy, she was placed in q
convent OF Caen with her sisters, where thew
remained until the revolution of 1889. At tbe
latter date Charlotte found an ASYLUM at the
mouse OF an aunt, and remained with her until
july 1893, the period of her Journey To Paris
on the mission which has made her immortaI
Charlotte lived in an atmosphere Of discontent
ana rebellion. Robespierre, Danton and Marat,
III the name OF liberty, were committing the
most atroclous crimes, and the latter was then
considered the worst of the three demapooues
Ehariotte, we learn from her own declaration
at her trial, believed that in DESTROYING Marat
sne should deprive anarchy of it's chief and
clvll war OF Its motive. She hoped to arrest
the shedding of innocent blood and to preserve
the thousands OF lives and liberties that were
;nreatened by the continuance of his power.
animated by thus purpose, she babe adieu to
her trends at Caen, and on Thursday, the 9th
OF July, took the diligence to Paris Her
passport was three months old, Indicating the
length OF time that she had nursed this project
On Thursday, the llth, she reached Paris.
ana stopped at the Hotel de la Providence =
one went to bed at five in the afternoon and
slept without interruption until eight the next
morning. On the following Saturday She
pought at the Palais Royal, an ebonv-handled
knife. She then called at Marat' house, but
was not a1mltted; She returned home and
Mlo'e 10 Marat the following note, which was
sent through the post
bt(!TTJzEN- II have
I our love for your country leads me to nresnma
that you would be glad to learn the nnbannv
occurrences In that part of the Republic.
Will call upon you at one o'clock. Have the
kindness to receive me, and to grant me a mo-
ments Interview. [ will enable Won to renJor
France signal service
CHARLOTTE CoRDAY."
10 this she received no answer. She then
wrote another letter, and dressing herself with
care and elegance, called with it herself at
Marats residence at seven in the evening.
She was admitted and the second letter was
found upon her person when she was searched
Marat was In his bath writing; his counte
nance was much disfgured by leprosy. and he
was forced to lie for hours daily in mineral |
baths. The tub was covered with boards |
which served hiE as table, on which many
OF his Infamous DEGREES were written. He |
heard the servants refusing admittance to |
Charlotte Corday, and ordered her to be intro.
dqced. He questioned her upon the events
which had transpired at Caen, and asked her
the name of the deputies who had taken re-
fuge in that city. These he wrote upon his
lists of prescription and then said, III will (
soon have these people guiotined in Paris"
Charlotte Corday Immediately advanced to-
ward him, and drawing from her bosom and
1nsheating her knife, she plunged it into his
side. Marat could only exclaim, "Help, nv
Owe, help" speaking to the woman whom he
called his governess. He expired almost i'm
and without groan.
The people of the house at once rushed into
he room, and Charlotte Corday was felled to
he ground and trampled under foot. A tu-
nutuous crowd soon assembled beneath the +
window and demanded the assassin head. , I,
Marat was buried on the 18th, and on the
I7th Charlotte was tried for his murder. The
rial lasted but half an hour, and all of her
answers to the questions put to her bespeak
he sincerity of her convictions and the purity
IF her motives. ~,
During the judicial proceedings Charlotte
loticed a young man in the audience engaged
n sketching her portrait. She at once turned |
oward him that he might the more readily re-
produce her features. This portrait, and anoth-
" taken as she was on her way TO the scafold, (