Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-06-30
Robespierre.

& small, mean-looking man weak
limbs, always palpitating with a nervous
shiver, and timid, irresolute gait. His
dress is faultlessly neat and precise.
Head powdered, not single hair awry.
Bright blue coat, buttoned tightly at
the hips. but open at the chest to display
the spotless white waistcoat yellow
breeches, white stockings, shoes and
buckles. This costume is never varied,
except that the shoes are sometimes ex-
changed for topboots. The face is sharp
and peaky; the forehead projects over
the temples, and is compressed at each
side like that of wild beast; eyes blue,
deeply sunken, with heavy lids, and
latent savage sparkle; nose small,
straight, expanded at the nostrils );
mouth large; lips thin and pallid, and
compressed at the corners; chin small
and pointed complexion yellow, livid,
cadaverous. Habitual expression grave,
with half sweet, half sinister smile
Every muscle of the face working with
a ceaseless twitch. Over the whole a
terrible expression of concentrated pur-
pose. When he speaks his gestures are
awkward, his fingers work nervously ::
/ his voice is shrill and discordant; when
agitated by rage or exultation it sounds
| like the scream of hyena.
After leaving college, Robespierre be-
came student Of jurisprudence. His
studies completed, he returned to Arras.
His old friend, the Bishop, procured him
an appointment in the Criminal Court
He now distinguished himself as siren
uous advocate for the abolition of capital
punishment and not long after he had
accepted the membership, being com
PEELED, in virtue Of his Office, to condemn
a criminal to death, he was 50 painfully
afflicted that, rather than again undergo
the same infiiction, he chose to resign his
Office. Does not this read like the Wild
est fable? 1t was no hypocrisy for what
could he gain by it? Only the displeas-
ure of his patrons. No: the pature of the
man was utterly devoid of physical cour-
age, and all such natures instinclively
shrink from blood, which is, in their
minds, inextricably associated with vio-
lence-with that physical contention for
which their nerves unfit them. | have
said they instinctively shrink from blood /;
yes, until they taste it; then their appe-
tite grows Unsuitable for it.
Even as late as 1871, we find him hotly
maintaining his old war against capital
punishment, On the occasion of a mo-
ton of Lepelletier Pargeau for its aboli
| ton, he uttered these remarkable words,
"In the eyes of justice and mercy these
death-scenes, which are got up with so
much solemnity, are nothing less than
base assassinations, solemn crimes, COM
mitted, not by individuals, but by ma
tions, and of which every individual must
bear the responsibility. To take
away from man the responsibility of ex-
plating his misdeeds by repentance or by
acts Of virtue, is, in my eyes, the most
horrible refinement of cruelty"
Listen to these passages from the very
speech in which he was urging upon the
Assembly the death of tie King; "For
myself, / abhor the penalty of death :
but dethroned king in
the heart of republic not yet condemn
ed neither prison nor exile
can give him harmless existence. 1t is
with regret | pronounce the fatal truth,
Louis must perish because our country
must live. | vote for death"
The mind of this man had passed
through many phases since he resigned
his office at Arras IN similar question,
His was a sluggish mind-its qualities de
veloped slowly, and each quality requir-
ed separate stimulant to become active.
He felt but little of ambition then for he
beheld no great object within his reach ;
ard remember, he possessed no daring,
no talent for the impracticable; but little
of envy, for his associations were medic
. crs. Egotism must have always been
prominent, but it was the egotism OF
ideas, the worship of an ideal standard
of lofty principles which he had created
within, the worship of selfin the abstract.
Bnt now, in the year 1871, the supreme
greatness was within his grasp; he might
become the founder of the republic OF
his dreams, establish the idolized princi-
Piles of Rousseau, be the creator of new
order of things. the great philanthropisi
Of all ages. He had been brought into