Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-01
Escape OrFontape.

w bhI cOlNll VI HIS yOull
wife and infant. he resolved, at al
risks, to escape if he could.
Having obtained apassport. a diff
Guilty arose as to how he could carr
away some plate and other valuable
articles, then considered quite anti
Republican. Among these was
challce, a present from a sovereign, Oh
which an able artist had engraved til,
arms Of the king of Sardinia. Fon
tame greatly dreaded lest the chalic,
should be discovered.as being a yesse
used in the service of the church. anC
bearing the arms of a king. it woulC
be threefold proof of aristocracy
However, he decided on taking it
aud FASTENED to the house of a friend.
who had been a nursery gardener.
The poet then laid aside all his
teudal ornaments, and set about ex-
changing his clothes to give him an
other appearance.
Having dressed himself in wide
pantaloons, and shoes that stuck full
Of hard nails, his hair cropped, and
every grain of powder removed. he
emerged from the gardeners house in
the character of a laundress porter.
with a heavy basket Of clothes on his
shoulder-the plate and chalice care
fully packed under the linen. His
young family followed a few PAGES be-
hind him with the passport. but they
had to pass close to the terrible instru-
ment of death, for there it stood, al
ways ready for use. Fontane shud-
dercd. His wife turned pale. 10
them their situation was awful. But
reason and necessity urged them ON.
FOntane resolved to act a decided part.
lie walked up in front of the guillo-
tine, grasped the basket firmly with
his hand, and, %looscning the leather
straps as If to ease himself he looked
steadily at the scaffold.
A mar of rufianly appearance. who
attended as if he were a guard of the
g%uillotine, came up to him.
Are you afraid" said he 10 Fon-
tame, THAT you look in this way at the
national razor?"
Afraid said Fontane: who do
YOU take INC for, a 'Federalist.' that |
should be frightened at the sight of a
guillotine? Look at me do You see
anything like an aristocrat in INV
face?p
What are your" cried a second
interrogation, addressing Fontane.
| am a bleacher and scourer."
And this good woman p"
What a question said Fontane.
Look at the little one-don't Won see
likeness? Long live the republicl
All! that's rightl' said the mis-
creant your re a good one Down
With the muscadins and ~aristocrats
live the republiol and the gull
forever r
F%ontane could not Join in this san
cry. He saw his wife tremble.
md shook her hand.
Come, wife" said he, lets have
Ay and a dance, too said the
barbarian whe had FIRST spoken; SO
Town with your basket, my ioyial
y
But IL"
Nonsense! Nobody will run away
your basket down with it | saw
Why, what is the matter? Is it glued
10 your neck? ?"
Fontane objected, and resisted for
but was soon obliged to submit:
md, wiping the cold Precipitation from
forehead, in a state more dead
than alive, was relieved from the bur
ien OF his basket. He saw it placed
on a heap of stones, and feared every
thing would be turned topsv turyy
Oh the fatal chalicel All hope of
was gone he was on the point
giving himself up, and claiming
compassion for his wife and child. IN
he hope that they would be allowed
o pass, when, happily, he reused him.
clapped his hands and assumed a
oyful attitude.
Halo, my friend p shouted one
the fellows, you're wonderfully
merry all at once
A thought struck me- said Fon-
.ane "a bold idea. You see my poor
| know the Carmagnole always
her. Come, my good fellows,
ct US dance it
His wife gazed at him with a lool
despair, as he snatched the cb;Id
rom her arms.
What now Don't make ! wry
ace, wife ~ said he. Excuse bos
iho's young and timid. Come. Let
'ut the little n on the basket-thore
le lies on the top Of the linen anJ
ileeps soundly. Wife, YOUR banJ
Vow the ring-thc Republican rins
Jome friends, join hands for the r;ns
tho patriotic dancel'
Madame Fontane now comprohend.
what her husband meant. she
lightly around the ring. and
olnod n tho chorus of the Carmag-
lole. When the dance was over sbc
'ook up her child Fontano was ne.
isted In replacing his basket ON HE
.houlder. He made his wife lead the
yay and walkedof f after her, whisper.
ng the Chant du Depart. And so thew
escaped. '"Ss
Mr. Richard NJ. McSherry. Of Raj.
imore, has received from King Hum
'ert the Order of the Royal Crown Of
taly, in recognition Of his eminant
ega,l services in breaking IN The
padrone system in that city.