The San Francisco call., 1896-03-03
The Noted Woman Anarchist
Will Soon Lecture in
This City.
WAS A CoMMUNARD LEADER.
At One Time She Went About Paris
Firing Houses in the Cause
of Anarchy.

Louise Michel. the famous French COM
munard, is coming to San Francisco in the
course of the next two months to deliver
several lectures here on her peculiar social
views.
Louise, who has a worldwide though
unenviable notoriety, has frequently been
offered engagements TO lecture in America
Her friends, of whom Pietro Gori
is one of the most enthusiastic, states that
she is only coming to America now to
raise funds to build a home in London
for political refugees who have been exiled
from other countries for holding startling
and advanced views on social questions.
Louise Michel, the French revolutionary
leader, was born in Vroncourt in 1880.
She was first brought into notice by her
poetical and musical talent, in which she
was encouraged by Victor Hugo.
In 1860 she opened school IN the Quar-
tier Montmartre and there gave lessons IN
music, and followed in that line until her
revolutionary spirit was reused IN the
days of the terrible Commune, IN
1871. when the Blanquists, collectivlsts
and anarchists terroriZed the me tropolls
of France, and she forsook her avocatlon
to take the part of leader of the commu-
nards and petroleuses, who, torch In hand,
thrive by pillage.
During a meeting of crowd that was
favorable 10 the communiStc doctrines on
the Esplanade des Inyalides, Louise
Michel appeared to address the meeting,
she having been chosen as the orator OF
the day, but before she had fairly started
her address the police concluded that her
language was too anarchistic and forced
her to desist. The crowd that
looked upon her as second Joan
dare, who had come to save them,
made a move on the gendarme es
we finding that useless moved on the resi-
dence of President Grevy, but there were
driven back. A crowd followed Louise
Michel along the boulevard, and on the
way entered shops and asked for what
they wanted. If it was refused they took
it. The female leader did not take part in
these m alters, but laughed at the discom-
fiture of the shopkeepers.
a second demonstration by the commu-
nists was suppressed by the authorities
and a mum Der of those who took part in
the proceedings were arrested and sent to
prison for short terms. Louise Michel
surrendered herself TO the authorities and
she was placed on trial for inciting
to pillage. Before this she had
been in exile in New Caledonia, and had
returned with pardoned communar. She
was Jointly charged with one Pougel, in
whose possession were found pamphlets
some OF which had been sent to soldiers,
advising them to burn the barracks. The
two prisoners were found guilty, and
Louise was sent to prison for six years ano
Pougel for eight years.
She was released before her term ex
pired, but her communistic spirit would
not down, for she took part in agitations
in 1886, and for this was sent to prison
again. She was again released and then
left France, and since has appeared at
20 Loot ~ frJn nas
that are advanced here bv Pietro Gori,
who is an intimate friend of hers.
She is now in the sixty-ffth year of
her age and Gori declares that she still re-
tains traces of her former beauty. He says
that she is a remarkably well preserved
woman whose light hair and light blue
eyes make her very attractive.
''She has sweet countenance," he said,
"and it is only her enemies who declare
that she is an old hag."