Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-08
BARK ri, Of History.

Uucu Tue tcupCob VI uAuu6SH was
speaking of just now FIRST swept through
the streets OF Paris lin the reign OF Louis
XVI), it drove the crazed people in herd
to glut their vengeance upon those who
we're keeping eaptiyes in chains within
the great prison of Bastile. 1t was in
deed grim and dismal-looking building
upon the borders Of Paris, with sluggish
water around it, and its door was entered
by drsw.bridge. Toward the frowning
walls Of this prison There is only tall
bronze column upon the spot now the
populace Of the city rushed headlong,
with whatever weapons they could lay
hands upon. Butchers took their cleav.
ers, stable-men their forks, carriers their
heavy oaken sticks, carpenters their
axes, and there were thousands with
guns and cutlasses, AID there were
brawny women with heavy pistols. The
soldiers who guarded the prison were so
frightened by the sight and sounds OF
the tempest Of the peoples fury that
they could hardly make an opposing
fight at all. The governor of the prison,
seeing what mad rage he must encoun-
ter, would have blown up the huge build
ing altogether, and had actually laid the
match to do 80, but the soldiers rebelled
and forced him to surrender. Then the
raging mob flowed in, and those who
wore the uniform Of the king we're smit-
ten to death, and dungeons were un.
locked, and prisoners staggered out who
had not seen the day for dozens and
scores of years.
A beautiful girl was caught sight Of
flying down one Of the great stairwsys,
aud would have been burned in the court.
yard had not few generous soldiers
stolen her away and secreted her until
the sack was over. AS for the governor,
who was marquis and the king friend
they cut off HE head and bore 1t bleed
ing from the top of a pike.staf all down
the street; and all down the street poured
the mad, rejoicing rabble, Staying many
another as they went, and carrying the
trophies with them-gory heads on pixies,
or CORY heads on chafng dishes carried
by women.
AS it was that day so it was on many
day thereafter, and for many a week
and month; and for years whoever was
noblei or friend of the hated noble-or
rich, or friend Of the hated rich-lived,
if he lived at all in that city of revolu-
ton, in great dread and danger.
There was not much feeling at the first
against Louis XVI, for he was far bet
ter king than those who had gone before
him He was kindly at heart, and what
we might call nowadays gentlemanly,
amiable man, with not much force Of
character, and disposed to yield to the
opinions of those who had been bis old
advisers These, by their obstinacy,
brought him very soon to grief. The
people forced him to trial. and there was
forced condemnation His head, too,
fell before the fury Of the enraged peo.
pie, and was held up by the executioner
upon the scstfold for the thronging mob
to losk upon.
This poor king had left behind him in
the prison son, whom he had taught, as
he. best could in those dreary prison
bonrs, arithmetic and geography. Do
you think the boy ever forgot those les.
soDs, or ever forgot the sorrow and tie
loud wailings Of his mother, the queen,
when the king went out to his bloody
death?
A little after this, those crazy ones
who were governing France so madly in
this time, gave over the prince boy to
the. care OF shoemaker aud his wife, to
whom they furnished lodgment in the
prison for this purpose; and they did
this in order, as they said, that the bring
ing up of the boy might be as low as that
of the lowest Of the people. Poor boy
poor prince
A little later, Marie Antoinette, tae
queen, was taken out of her dungeon TO
70 to trial. They called it trial for the
sake Of decencyi but think they knew
how it would end before they called on
her to appear. If the judges before whom
she stood had said she was innocent and
must go free, am sure that the wives of
the wine-sellers, and the ish-women, and
the hsgs Of Paris would have snatched
her away and carried her off to execu,
tion, IL they had not slain her with their
own bread-knives in the street.
These wild people had such thirst for
blood
1t was better, perhaps, that the judges
should say the Queen must be beheaded
las they did, than that these wild women
Shonld cut her to pieces.
She certainly died an easier death by
the guillotine.
You don't know what guillotine is ?
1t is simply a great knife sliding in
grooves between two upright posts, which
by its fall sewers the head from the body
in an instant; and it is the most humane
way Of executing capital punishment--if
there be any humanity about it.