Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-14

LucERNE, SWITZERLAND, I
June II, 1884. (
the Editor Of the Globe Republic:

| 1885, just 500 years ego. This gives 1t an
old and picturesque appearance. 1t is sit
uated on the lake, between the mountains
Rigi and Piarus, and facing the snow-clad
Alps OF Uri and Erselberg, and is splendid
| almost past description.
Lake Lucerne, or as it is called, the Lake
of the Four Forest Cantoas," is unsurpasse d
in Switzerland, or even in Europe, in mag
nficence of scenery. Its banks are intimately
associated with the historical events and tra-
: ditions of the lite and times Of William Tell.
1t is situated on the most popular route to
Italy, which is by the way of the st. Gothard
railway, on which you pass both over and
under mountains, and along valleys between
mountains capped with snow, for the greater
part OF the day before You enter Italy.
The river Reuss rushes from the lake with
the swiftness OF a torrent, and its banks are
connected by four bridges. One of these,
called the Kspellbruke, has been carried
obliquely across the river and is covered with
a root, which il painted with one hundred
and fifty-four scenes from the lives OF 81.
Leodegar and St. Mauritius, the patron
Saints of Lucerne, and from Swiss history.
But q still mort interesting monument may
be seen here, which is the famous Lion of
Lucerne, most impressive work, exc
cuted In 1926, to the memory of twenty-six
officers and about seven hundred and sixty
men of the Swiss Guard, who fell in defense
of :he Tuileries on the 10th OF August, 1892.
The dying lion, of giant size, is reclining
in a grotto, transhxed by broken lance, and
is sheltering the Bourbon lily with its paw
and is hewn out OF the natural sandstone
rock in the mountain beds, after model by
the celebrated Danish sculptor, Thorvsldson.
The rock which bears the inscription and
names of the officers is overhung with trees
and creepeIs. A spring at the top flows
down on one side aId forms a dark pool at
the base. This monument is illuminated
with Bengal light every Saturday evening.
Impressive as this huge lion is to look at. it
is still more 50 to trace the history of events
that placed it in the grotto, and these de-
sire to explain. as they pressed upon my
memory while stood in front OF the monu-
ment.
The good. the wise, and brave are never
forgotten; but in disturbed state OF society
mad men and intellectual monsters appear
and exercise large influence for mischief,
when the public temper is inf1amed, as often
happens in the transformation OF govern
ments. But what seems unaccountable is
that the most vicious and extravagant mem
bers of society. in dangerous times, find in
the masses friends, admirers and followers.
One of the most wonderful persons, be-
longing to this erratic class was the French
Anarchist Marat, who was designated as the
Friend of the people" He was deformed
in person, coarse in mind, impure in morals,
and dirty in his personal habits. To illus
trate what dreadful monster he was, he an
nounced as a remedy for the evils of the
French Revolution that a dictator ought to
he appointed with the following qualiica-
tons: This dictator was to have a cannon
ball attached to his leg, that he might always
! be in the power of the people. He was to
have only one faculty left him, that of point
ing out victims and ordering death as their
chsstisement" He insisted further that it
was necessary to strike off the heads OF
several thousand citizens and to destroy all
the aristocrat. who rendered liberty impossi-
bic. These atrocious sentiments, published
in his newspaper, largely contributed to the
insurrection in Paris on the 10th Of August,
1892. when the royal family sought protec-
ton in the hall of the Legislature, and the
Swiss officers and soldiers on duty at the
palace OF the Tuilleries were msssscred, and
dare not defend themselves because the King
ordered them not to fire on the people. He
was as fierce and bloody, but less noble, than
was Hotspur described in the exaggerated
declaration of Prince Henry as one that
"Would kill some six or seven dozen OF
Scots at a brakefast, v ash his hands, and say
to his wife: 'Fie upon this quiet life, |
want work."
Revolutions are usually the elimination OF
long train of abuses OF the privileges OF the
higher classes, and the oppression of the COM
mon or less favored part OF society, but hid
den away in the eIcesses OF life, often for the
moment obscured from observation. All polit-
ical changes carry with them remedies out OF
the dangers of anarchy. Marat was an an
achist and desired to destroy all that seemed
good, merciful, true or beautiful.
The monster attracted the attention Of
Charlotte Corday, who was an enthusiast tor
the French Revolution. and was intoxicated
with the idea of a republic submissive to the
laws, and fertile in virtues, and she resolved
upon bis death by assassination. He, con-
duct cannot be justii, d, but the act seemed
consistent with the wild and bloody times
and resulted in good. She obtained an in-
terview with the bloody scoundrel and
plunged a blade into his hear. He was
buried in the Pantheon at Paris, by the peo-
pie, but his remains were afterwards taken
out Of this splendid temple and cast into II
common sewer, fit last resting place for such
a villain.
hafiuk OCSu thlfu anu Suhi-
lotte Corday maintained a noble and diguifed
department, welcoming death, not as the ex-
piation OF a crime, but as the inevitable con-
sequence of mighty effort TO aveny ye the in-
juries OF a nation.
History will not let US entertain this senti-
ment alone, but it indics,es that revenge
PLAYED its part in Charlotte's act She was
attached to young man whom Marat de-
nounced as counter-revolutionist, and he
vas guillotined. This fact may have inspired
the deed. Nearly every person is familiar
with her portrait, which represents her look
ing out of -her prison window. 1t is often
seen, as well as representations OF Marat, dy-
ing in bis bath-tub, with the knife plunged
into his heart.