Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-07-18

Bhe FAN OF the Rnstiles
Under more enlightened, more Just
and equitable, and, let us trust, an en-
during republic, the France OF yesterday
for in large sense Paris continues to
be Frsnee-looked backward through
the storm.olouded political kaleidoscope
Of one hundred years to that ever mem.
orable day when ths nihilissic forces OF
Jacquerie, rallying arouud the icnno.
elastic banner Of 'lioerte, egalite. fra
ternite," swept onward to the leveling
of the Bastlle; that stronghold decay.
ing o. autocracy within whose wall, still
fingered echoes OF the grosns wruns from
the victims Of past ages OF tyranny. 1t
was monument of ipju,ties doomed to
destruction by the aveugins frenzy of a
lawless mob, marlhAlsd under slogan
Of freedom and human rights led wildly
astray and f4ted soon to usher in the ter.
rible carnival OF tbs reizn OF terror,
when, in the name OF di.enthra'led man.
hood, an unreasoniug vengeance was to
be glutted with rivers of blood, the blood
Of innocent and guilty, of frisnd and
Zoe, Of unstained childhood and shrink.
ing womsnhood IS well as OF vigorous
manhood and decrepit age. The capital,
all France, had been stirred to their
lowest depths. There had been q
winter of almost unprecedented destitu
ton; and, following on this, severe
hailstorm had destroyed tina ripsniag
grain in all the more productive dlstrlctt
The poor we're famishiug for bread
Crowds Of desperate and starsiog men
had swarmed into the capital to consume
the food that was insuffi silent for those
who dwelt there ..All this mass floats
about Paris" writes historian Of the
day, sis engulphed therein, as in great
sewer, the honest poor aud tbs criminal
alike; some beg, all prowl about
Q prey to hunger and the ruuors
of the streets. The Off ials note
that large number Of sinister look
ing men pass the barriers inward.
The general aspect Of the mob
changes; il contains now q1tn,ity OF
strangers from all parts Of the country
mostly in rags, armed with great sticks,
whose very look Is msnaciug. ya9a.
bonds, ragged fellows, many almost
naked, with appalling faces beings ons
does not remember to have seen by day.
Ight-a trightiul physiognomg, hidsous
ATTIRE Such was the material out OF
which the mob that inaugurated the
French revolution was largely made.
Under ordinary conditions IL was a
wildly foolhardy assault to which this
rabble rushed with uuressoning fury
on that i4th of July one hundred years
ago. To any weapons such aveng
era could bring to bear upon its
frowning walls the Bastile was absolutely
impregnaole. Balls from their meagre
and Ineffective artillery, served by
unframed cannoniers, fls,tened as harm
lessly against its massive sides a.
did the bullets from thousands of
stolen muskets. a small garrison,
bent on holding the fortress prison. could
have laughed such N lb TO scorn, and
from the security OF us high rampasts,
have picked ont and shot down the aasail.
ants at leisure, while every di.charRe
OF artillery from the defenders OF the
Bastiie woald have moved great sgeths
through the Singing misses ns!tw
Bat the BAstile's defenders did not
defend. They answered the feeble
assault by the waving OF white
handkerchief. The massive Gates were
thrown open the triumphant rapble
poured in; the besieged welcomed and
fraternized with tue beaiegers. Deserted
by his men, reckless OF ii'e di4honoted
by no cowardics OF his own the c@m.
msndsnt rushed to fire the magazine
which With its 200 tous OF powder won d
have wrecked onsthltd Of Paris. Two
aoldiets with crossed bayonets barred us
way, and within a few minltes despite
ene utmost efforts Of those WHO stroye t,
surb the whirlwind they had raised, tbs
CORY decapitatsi bead Of almos. the only
defender Of the B4stile las being paradet
through the street on the point Of
pike. The revolution hal begun
1t may be that France has not worke,
out to its ultimation the problem OF selt
government but the Paris OF to-day
commemorative By worlds display o
progress in science aud art the cen eaat
Of the assembling Of the States. Genera
and Of the Inauguration OF democrat
rule, is q very hopeful contrast 10 til
il Paris of q hundred years ago.