Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-11-03
Journal oran Unfortunate lady.

Entered at the PoStacc CT alexandria, VirginiG az
second class matter.
Journal oEan Unfortunate Lady.
A book containing the most touching his.
tory is soon to appear in Paris Il is The
work of the Duchess de Duras, nee De
Noailes, one OF the victims Of the Reign OF
Terror The daily journal of the Duchess
has been religiously preserved by her fam-
ly, and only at this lste day is it given 10
the public. Some of the proof sheets of this
sad recital are now lying before me. and
from them / shall make few extracts:
"The door of Pleesis WIS the end of Our
painful journey. Our conductor raped un.
successfully for long timo-it was one
o'clock in the morning-bnt at last the por-
not where we were. feared that the cart
separated from tho others, bnt with s sad
satisfaction saw them ento; ;he frightful
place. Our guards were charitable enough
to sid liz in cur descent from tbe ungsinly
vehicle Without their aid, ve might not
have hai the strength, 30 iatigued were we
By q journey OF fourteen houra
Hc NOV OpJCSV tb@S PiSctiitSb iEVi' W
my eyes was man drsped in robe de
cbanbre, calling himself the porter. at
his belt was Suspended an immense bunch
of keys, and by the light OF his lantern
saw enormous bars Of iron, plies OF stone, In.
deed, prison in process OF repsiation. In
mediately on entering we were surrounded
ed, sleeves rolled up. on their heads
red caps, and issuing lrcm their lips
the coarseat language referring 10 their
meager costumes. tremblcd az heir fami
liarity with the young girls, and asked
each lady with me 10 take ut least one of
these poor innocent children under her pro-
tector OF Mademoiselie dc Pons l myself
took Charge. / told Ter 10 ho!d ne by my
taller, who resembled Goiia.n. read with
much difficulty the lisi of prsonere. He led
us To q windowiess room, where pe seated
ourself upon wooden benches. There our
worst jailer, Baptiste, brought us a pitcher
OF water. 1t was received with great joy,
for our thirst was inteuse. But Baptiste's
visit filled me with horror, for his words
were vile, disgusting. About two o'clock In
the morning arrived the concierge His
name was Haly, and smiling Oh the young
girls, he said My little ones, you are not
yet In prison. shall keep you here for hui
manity's sake. This house is destined for
contre-revolutionnaires aud belongs to the
public accuser, ouquier-Tiaville. To-mor
row / shall let you know you: fate
"We all told Haly that we had never heen
condemned, were only suspected, and asked
to be carried to Luxembourg. To cur sup.
plcatlons he paid no attention. aud ordered
that the mattresses belonging to tho prieon.
ers be brought in from The carts. had no
mattress, and passed the night seated on
wooden bench, trying 10 conceal the few
assignats left to me. Not one of Us slept,
but my sadness was calmed by The hope of
finding my relatives the next day. During
the night Baptiste came in with his compan.
ions, who regarded US with ferocious joy. A
gendarme whispered in my ear, Conceal
your money, your jewels. They will take
away knives and scissors and leave you only
fifty francs in assigpats.
"In spite Of our anguish, we were tor
mented by hunger; in the morning we
asked food of our jailers Two hours after
we had coffee and chocolate. When Jailer
Martin came in the young girls begged him
to let their mothers know where they were.
Not note would he deliver. One of the in.
spectors, Grandpre, seemed astonished to
find harmless women in prison, and prom
ised TO use his influence for our transfer to
house prepared for suspected aristocrats.
But Haly said we had been condemned as
agitatora, and we must remain in prison.
We did not merit this qualification, and I
caunot explain my astonishment, my con-
sternation. False accusations we're the least
of nv troubles; innocence consoles one
easily. but to be deprived of seeing my fami-
~ broke my heart.
"Our fate was that of the accused, the con-
demned for fifteen hours we had been in
this room, and as the day advanced We saw
the excitement of our jailers. However,
found q quiet corner, where | recited my
prayers, but towards evening news came
that we were to be searched, then placed
under lock and key; how we tried to con.
ceal our watches and assignats The con
cierge ordered us to appear before him, two
by two then asked for knives, scissors,
forks and watches, because bars have been
filed with watch springs. 1t was then the
turn of our money and jewels. l gave him
all had, except an ugly little bfass clock,
to me very precious, because in my ears it
had sounded the last hours Of my dearest
friends. Mines. de Cbaulne5 and De Mailiy.
I was not allowed to keep it, however, and
soon as it was taken from ME We were told
to follow the jailers.
Away to the top of the building they led
us, and at each story there was an iron door
With Immense bots, guarded by four men.
Mile. de Pops aad l were placed in the same
room, and when The poor child saw the mis-
erable closet, she burst into tears and ex-
claimed We must perish nerel' We had
two chaiIs, two mattresses on the hosr. and
for pillows, the wall. Happily, it had just
been mhitewasbed, and was clean. They
locked us in, aud told us jailer kept watch
in the corridor should we need anything.
think, for one Of my neighbors
phrieked with pain the entire night, and no
one came to her aid. When Hely arrived
in the morning lie seemed sstonished that be
were not delighted with our new home. He
opened all the doors, and we found our