The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-26

not ripe for what the French would cal
the Forthcoming of Marat.
But as radical and revolutionary ideas
progress, so do politicians of the present
day revert to the heroes of the Reign oil
Terror, and it Is seriously contemplated
to dig up the remains of Marat to do them
honor-if they can be found.
The idea was suggested to one of the
modern Jacobins of the Paris Municipal
Council by study of a work written by
NJ. J. Lenotre, an antiquary who has at
tempted to reconstruct the history of the
quarters of Paris during the Revolution by
means OF unpublished sketches by Dema-
chv, Fragonard. Dubercourt, Raffet, David
and others. This work is in six numbers,
TWO OF which have already appeared. The
first treats of the old Bastile, and the Sec
ond OF the crypt of the Church of Sainte-
Genevleve, now the Pantheon and the
vaults are existing to-day.
According to NJ. Lenotre Marat was bur-
led in the cemetery of st. Genevieve, the
fact being attested by process verbal
drawn up by Michel Perot, Civil Commits
sioner of the Pantheon section. Accord
ing to the document the lead coffin con-
tanning the remains of Marat was taken
out of the wooden shell and buried with
out being opened. Consequently there ex-
lists somewhere under ground lead coffin
containing intact the body of "the friend
OF the people"
Precisely where the coffin is can only be
ascertained by digging; but approximately
NJ. Lenotre has shown in his book. The
cemetery of st. Genevieye was situated
in front of the church of St. Etienne-du-
Mont, diagonally with the front. The
ground has not been disturbed since the
days of the Revolution, consequently the
coffin should be under the pavement in
the place st. Etienne-du-Mon or in the
small garden of a wineshop close BY,
known as "Vieux Paris" It is probable
that the modern Jacobins of Paris will
not rest until they have obtained permls-
sion from the Municipal Council to dig up
the ground in the square.
1t might have been supposed that NJ
Lenotre, who has unintentionally inspired
the Idea OF seeking for the body of Marat
would have been one OF he first to seek to
verify his conclusions.
Nothing OF the kind! M. Lenotre has
been interviewed. Digging" he says,
sis not my business. If thew want to dig
up Marat let them do it without me. You
tell me that my book suggested the search.
Possibly it did. 1t is a work calculated to
suggest research. But am quite satisfied
II L have put any one on the track of an
interesting verifcation."
Asked if it was known in the quarter
where Marat was buried he replied: 81
should say so. Go and take drink at the
sign oi F4ed4 fafis. Inc patron Will tell
you that you can dig up shovelsful OF
bonets in his garden, and will add as he
stamps on the ground, tVous savez que
Marat est enterre ici' If permission can
be obtained to dig under the pavement OF
the Rue Sainte-Genevieve Marat will GER
tainly be found"
So says NJ. Lenotre, and permission will
certainly be asked. The municipal Coun.
Gil, however, might save money if, instead
of disturbing the SDOt thew WOuld mt mr.
stone in the garden of "Vieux Paris
with an inscription something like this:
Marat lies here. There let him be-
He is at rest and so are we.