Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-05-05
not deny the crime, but persisted to the last
in singular kind of defence. He attributed
the crime to mental arrangement caused
by wounds be had received at Marseilles in
1215
THE REIGN OF TERROR,

Very few historic periods are so little un-
derstood as the French Reign of Terror
probably because it has commonly been rep
resented in so partisan a manner. Horrible
as it was, it was less horrible than is common
ly thought. 1t did not last nearly so long,
nor were so many persons killed, as most peo-
pie believe. The terror proper began with
the execution of Marie Antoinette (Oct. 16,
1794,) and ended with the heheading of Rob.
esperre (July %, 1852 who was really the
head and front of its barbarous offending.
1t continued months and II days, though the
popular opinion is that it extended through
several years. The number of it's victims has
been greatly exaggerated, having been re-
ported at as high as 10000, 10000 and even
10000. The number has never been, and
never can be, exactly ascertained but it was
between $500 and $500, so far as can be
computed being probably nearer the former
than the latter figures. Frenchmen are still
euarreling over the cause, characteristics,
and results of their great revolution, each judg-
ing of it by his bias of temperament and polit-
ical opinion. Albeit, few regard it now as a
deliberate onslaught of the populace on law,
order, property and life, judgments of calm
and philosophic men differ widely as to its
consequences. Some esteem it to have been
dreadful slaughter without any compen-
sation; others pronounce it one of the most
inspiring events in history. Robespierre has
been generally portrayed as monster of
cruelty; but he was aminable in private,
absolutely incorruptible, rather callous than
actively cruel, and acquiesced reluctantly in
the atrocities for which he has been held re-
sponsible. He frequently said, probably with
entire truth: death, always death; and
the sconndrels throw the odium of this con.
tinual butchery all upon me. What mem
ory l shall leave behind if this rightful
carnage goes on ! 1t makes my life burden
and horror and yet, whore is my way out
of this unendng massacre7' Another centu-
~ must be far advanced before reasoning
mankind can hold any harmonious view of
the French Revolution.
KEEP IT TO YoURsELF.-You have trou-
bic your feelings are injured, your husband
is unkind, your wife frets, your home is not
pleasant, your brethren do not treat you right,
and things in general move unpleasantly.
Well, what of it ? Keep it to yturself. A
smotherng fire can be found and extinguish'
ed but when the Goals are scattered, who can
pick them up? Fire. brands, when together,
can be trodden under foot, but when tied to
the tails of Samson's foxes, it is difficult to
tell where they will burn.
Bury your sorrow The place for sad and
disgusting things is under the ground. A
sore finger is not improved by pulling off the
rag and sticking it in everybody's face; tie it
up and let it alone; it will get well sooner
than you can cure it. Charity covereth a
multitude of sins. Things thus covered are
often cured without scar; but when they
are once published and confded to meddling
friends there is no end to the trouble they
may cause.
Keep it to yourself. Troubles are tran
sient, and when sorrow is healed and past,
what comfort it is to say, "No one ever
knew it till it was all over!