The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-07-13
OHARLOTTB OORDAY,


This famous French heroine, born at
st. Saturnin des Lignerets, in the De-
partment of Orne, July %, l76s, was
guillotined in Paris July II, 1893.
France was enduring the reign of ter
ror. The name of Robespierre had be-
come synonym of the guillotine. Ma
rat, through his journal, L'a'ni du peo-
pie, was an ardent supporter of the
bloody revolutionist, and Charlotte Cor
day became inspired with the feeling
that Marat or RObespierre must die to
save France. Succeeding with much
difficulty in gaining an audience with
Marat, she gave him list of persons
whom she personally knew to be the
enemies Of Robespierre. Marat cOOlly
took down the names, and remarked,
with smile, that "within a week they
will all go to the guillotine." These
words aroused Charlotte to desperation.
Drawing knife from beneath the hand
kerchief which covered her bosom, she
plunged it to the hilt in the journalists
heart.
II did it to save hundred thousand
lives" was her Only'explanation. She
was hurried to the nearest prison, the
Abbaye, where her trial took place on
the morning of July II. She was SEN
fenced to death, and guillotined on the
evening of the same day. She was as
beautiful as courageous, and her lofty
bearing on her way to the murderer's
block sent thrill through the hearts of
even her executioners. The law of ter
ror was memorable. The few friends
who dared to admire her heroism and
speak her praises through the public
prints were arrested and guillotined.
But Time, the great avenger, is doing
tardy justice to the memory of Char
lotte COrday.
Jesus of Nazareth had been martyred
seventy years before even a word con-
cerning his mighty deeds and ignomin-
ious death had been chronicled for the
salvation of nations.
Three-quarters of a century have
elapsed since the beautiful heroine who
died for France was beheaded; and to-
day her memory is greener than at any
time since her death. Artists and poets
join with the historian to perpetuate the
memory of the heroic young girl, who
combined the beauty of Beatrice with
the spirit of a Joan of Arc, and laid
them both a willing sacrifice upon the
altar of the couRtry she loved.
Of the different paintings we have
seen commemorative of this remarkable
character, none have been so strikingly
true to life as one by Charles Arnon, o
Washington, D. c., the property of ex
Governor Thompson, of this city, now
on exhibition in the art gallery of Mr.
w. T. Shanahan. The painting repre-
sents the young girl in prison, looking
with "eyes surcharged with unsheC
tears" through the iron grating of he
gloomy cell, and awaiting the hour o
her doom with dreamy expectancy ant
apprehensive dread, as though tn
agony of Gethsemene were upon her.
AS you gaze upon the picture, the de
grees of light and shade are yet NOR
strongly marked, and pretty soon yOl
see the gloomy outlines of the inne
dungeon where this lovely maid hold
solitary court with death. Visit th
picture, everybody. Study not only it
outlines but its history. The reflection
thus awakened will be a sermon NOR
powerful than written eulogy or silver
tongued Oratory. Lead your little chill
dren to the window and, while the,
gaze, relate to them the history of th
woman who died for humanity. 1t will
do them good.