The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-04-13
TIE ILLEI SLATE.
BY SYLyANUs COBB, JR.

There was one man in Touon whom |
wished much to see. There were a great
many historic places, and points of sur
passing interest, which had deeply engaged
my anticipations of enjoyment, but of the
thousands of Inhabitants of that famed old
city thele was one alone whom | cared to
see aud to know and for the very good
reason that of only one man surely residing
in 'rouon, had | ever heard anything un-
usually interesting. And who and what do
you suppose this man vase l will tell you:
He was Victor LacOur then kee Iing well
ordered shouting gallery on little cul de-
sac opening out from the Place d Armes,
and formerly a convict and galley slave.
l had heard the story which had been told
throughout France, and which had made
him famous, and which was now making
his shooting gallery one of the most popH-
lar resorts in Toulon. This is the story as
it was told to me
In the department of the Lower Alps, in
1912. there had been famine, and want, and
suffering. There was much sickness, and
the poor people had looked death i'll the
face, for death came very near to them.
Among the few who were blessed with
plenty was nobeman Of Castelane, occu-
pying great old chateau in one of the
most fertile districts of the mountainous
region and owning hundreds upon hundreds
of acres of tie most valuable land. His
crops had thrivcd while other crops had
failed. because his land was so situated that
it lacked not for moisture. In the midst Of
desolaLion monseigneur's galners were
filled to over flowing and his herds were
sleek and fat. The poor people came to
him for bread and lie turned them away
hungry. They begged of him work that
they might earn a few sous and he would
not employ them. Furnishing mothers,
with furnishing children, applied at hs
gatcs-if lie would let them have bread and
oil now, in their sore distress, they would
work for him when the summer came, and
their service would be of use but he would
not listen. His heart was cold and hard,
and for suffering humanity he cared not a
whit II was such rs he that had driven
the sans culottes to revolution, paving the
way for the Reign Of Terror.
BY and by, when suffering had made the
poor people mad, some Of them determined
that monseigneur should be compelled to
yield food to :he furnishing. Victor Lacour
was young artisan of Castelane. He was
not himself suffering, save in So far as lie
suffered in seeing others suffer and this,
in truth, was deep suffering for one with a
heart so tender as was his. When he heard
.hat the people had resolved to break open
monseigneurs store houses and help them
selves to bread, he offered TO lead them.
And lac did it not more To help the suffer
ers than to be of service to monseigneur.
! He knew the excitable temperament of the
sans culottes. He feared, If rhey went upon
their lawless mission without a cool and
4 clear-headed leader, they might plunge into
excesses of simple diaboiism. Victor La
cou: went with them as their leader
| MonseiCneur was asked to give of his great
/ plenty to the poor and tie starving. He
refused with utter GOODNESS and revlcd the
! humble petitioners. Aud then they beat
| down his gates and his great doors, and
carried away much of his breadstuff and
! dried iruit, toEetuei "ish Sveuis Hu'iiVi-
| ty OF wine.
Victor I4acour had been recognized as the
| leader. Monseigneur made no account of
| the prodgious efforts put forth by him to
prevent the muliitude from destroying what
they did not carry away. He only made
account of the evil score. Victor was ar
rested. aad tried ard convicted, and con-
dcmncd to the galleys. 1t WAS in the month