The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-04-13
THE G1LLEI SLAVE.
BY SYLvANUS COBB, JR.

There was one man in Toulon whom
wished much to see. There were great
many historic places, and points of sur
passing interest, which had deeply engaged
my anticipatious of enjoyment, but of the
thousands of Inhabitants of that famed old
city there was one alone whom | cared to
see aud to know and for the very good
reason that of only one man surely residing
in ToUlon, had | ever heard anything un-
usually interesting. And who and what do
you suppose this man was? will tell you /:
He was Victor Lacour, then kee bing well
ordered shooting gallery on little cul de-
sac opening out from the Place d. d'Armes,
and formerly a convict and a galley-slave
| 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 poru-
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
ihe poor people had looked death in the
face, for death came very near to them.
Among the few who were blessed with
plenty was a nobleman of Castelanc, occu-
most fertile districts of the mountainous
region and owning hundreds upon hundreds
of acres Of the most valuable land. His
crops had thrived while other crops had
failed, because his land was so situated that
it lacked not for moisture. In the midst Of
desolation monseigneur's garners were
filed 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 few sous and he would
not employ them. Famishing mothers,
with fanlishing children, applied at his
gates-if be 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 1t was such as he that had driven
the sans cu5ottes 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 10 :he furnishing. Victor Lacour
was young artisan Of Castelane. He was
not himself suffering, save in SO far as he
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
shat the people had resolved to break open
monseigneur's store houses and help them
selves to bread, he offered to lead them.
And he 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 they went upon
their lawless mission without cool and
clear-headed leader, they might plunge into
excesses of simple diabolism. Victor La
cou: went with them as their leader
Monseigneur was asked to give of his great
plenty to the poor and the starving. lie
refused with utter coldness and reviled the
humble petitioners. And then they beat
down his gates and his great doors. and
carried away much of bis breadstuff and
dried fruit, together with goodly quanti-
ty Of wine.
Victor Lacour had been recognized as the
leader. Monseigneur made no account of
the prodigious efforts put forth by him to
prevent the multitude from destroying what
they did not carry away. He only made
account of the evil score. Victor was ar
rested, and tried. and convicted, and con-
dcmned to the galleys. 1t was in the month