National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-11-24
The Inst Hours of Marie AntOinette.

ut vMst IuVNI> VI
But the end OF nl was Mt hand -hel
trial and death, No one could he found
bold enough TO defend her, and the
tribunal was obliged itself TO appoint
counsel. Ii was on dull October morn
inc that she was conducted from the
Conciorgerie through the dark winding
pnssages of the ancient monastery IN
which the trials were held. The Hall OF
Convention is a large, gloomy apartment,
with sparse and narrow windows, through
the dusty panes of which the dull yellow
LIGHT without creeps slugeishly. A few
dimly lit lanterns are scattered here and
there, but the atmosphere is heavy and
foggy, and half the hall is indistinct and
full of shadows. % the lower benches
sit the butchers with their blood-stained
aprons, and long, sharp knives cleaning
in their belts Above them SIT the EteO-
teuses terrible MS the Parcn-weaving
the welt of fate /; some have cards in
their hands, upon which, by the prick OF
pin, they count the votes for and against
MS they are declared from the Tribune.
Everywhere are scattered scowllng faces
eager for the blood of the unhappy wo-
man. From without come the murmurS
of the savage crowd, threatening death
to those deputies who dare to vote against
the condemnation of IWricbieHHe;
and as the doors open and shut, their
stir and fierce cries surge heavily into the
Court. The trial lasts three days, On
the last day the proceedings begin at
noon and last until 4 the next morning,
thn httann nf Ernnnl
stands in the hot polluted atmosphere,
without aught passing her lips. Burning
with thirst, she begs for a drink of water !;
no one dares to stir, least he should be
marked as suspect Faint and exhaust
ed, she asks n second time, and IN off
Ger of gcnda1mes, in whose heart spark
of humanity yet fingers, puts cup OF
water in her eager, trembling hands.
A howl of disapprobation follows the
act. He will be dismissed, but history
will immortalizc him. The indictments
against her are numerous, some absurd
for instance. one charge is the number
of shoes she has worn out The money
she has distributed in charity is charged
against her as brides to buy over the
people. To all her answers are calm,
simple, and concise. At length Hebert
accuses her Of having corrupted her own
child At that horrible charge "A shud-
der runs through the Court. She is 81
lent, but the muscles of her face culver.
The question is pressed, and then, witha
heaving breast, she turns upon her adj
cuser with sublime Indignation, crying.
'IfI have not answered, it is because
o,1nb M
cusation brought against n mother. |
appeal to all mothers who are here-is it
possible ?" murmur runs through the
Court-even the fures of the guillotine
are softened by that pathetic appeal.
Calmly she listens to the sentence of
death, and leaves the Court without n
murmur. If strikes as she is conduct
ed back to her cell A few hours more,
and the tumbril takes her to the Place de
In Revolution. There, facing the gar
dens of the Tuileries, the guillotIne raises
its grisly head and there facing that
palace, whittier she had been conducted
by king amid the acclamations of a
nation, surrounded by adoring noble
who would have risked their lives a
thousand times to win smile from her
bps. consort to the heir of the most
splendid throne in Christendom, young,
dazzlingly beautiful, splendid in jewels,
buoyant with happiness, knowing sorrow
only as IA name, prematurely-aged wo-
man with white hair, apalhd, worn face,
furrowed by tears, attired in filthy tat
tiers. lays her weary head beneath the
knife, amid the obscene songs, the eX-
ecrations of the vilest of the human race :;
and the body of her who for thirty-five
years had reposed npon velvet and satin
is thrown into ditch, and there consum-
ed with quicklime. - Temple Bar.