The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-12-28
EXECUTION OF LOUIS XVI.
Sho Unhappy Kipr Went to His death
Bravely and Calmly.

! She Unhappy Kipg Went TO His death
Brayeiy and Calmly.
In The Century there is a graphic
article on 1.-The Last Days of Louis
XVI and Marie Antoinette. The
author, Miss Anna L. Bicknell, says:
1t was a dark, misty, January
morning. The presence of the two
/ soldiers precludcd the possibility of
conversation; the priest therefore
handed his breviary to the king and
pointed out appropriate psalms,
which the king read devoutly and
with lerfect calmness, to the evi-
dent astonishment Of the gendarmes.
The shops were shut along the way,
and crowds of armed citizens stood
on the pavement as the coach, pre-.
cedod and followed 10y cavalry and
artillery, went slowly through the
streets, where all the windows were
closed. Lines of troops stood on
each side, while drums beat golemn-
ly, as if for military funeral.
AS the coach passed along tho
boulevards near the Porte st. Denis,
q few young men rushed forward,
waving swords and crying loudly,
"Cclssc, allfwho would save the
kingl" There was 10 response, and
they were obliged to flee for their
own lives. They were pursued and
several weIo arrested, with fatal
consequences. Tie king, absorbed
in prayer and religious meditation,
had not even perceived tho vain at
tempt to effect his deliverance.
The coach had at last reached the
Rue Royale and the Place dc la Rev
oluticn, where the crowd was i'm
mcnse. The scaifCld stood little
70 the left of the place, where the
obelisk now stands, but nearer the
Champs Elysees, tc ward which the
guillotine was turned. A mass Of
troops formed square around the
fatal spot. Tie coach STOPPED at n
distance Of few PAGES. The king,
feeling that the motion had ceased,
looked up from Ills prayer book,
saying quietly, eve have reached
the place, ! think. p"
One of the eXccutioncr' 8 assistants
opened the door. The king earnest
ly commended the priest who ac-
companicd him 70 the care Of the
gendarmes, and then stepped from
the coach.
Three men sUTrcUrdod Lin and
tried to take eff Lis cost. Ee calm
ly pushed them Lack and removed
it himself, opening his shirt collar
and preparing Lis neck fer the ak.
The cXecutioners, Who seemed at
first disconnected and ain ost awed,
then again cairo arourd linn, hold
ing a rope.
Tho Ling drew back quickly, ex.
claiming:
what DO you want to DOR
"To tic your hands"
The king exclaimed Indignantly:
Tie my handsl no, will not sub
nit to this. DO your dut.., but do
not attempt to tic me; you shall not
do It'll" IEe ozecuticners persisted
and spoke loudly. The king locked
toward lie Able Ed9cwo1th, who
at oroc eaw The imEoS sibihty of re-
eistance, aud said gently, Sire, this
last insult Will only provide fresh
point + resemblance Letwccn your
majesty and the God who will be
your recompense. "
The king locked up 10 heaven.
"Assugc0ly, his eXaml lie aloLo could
induce ne 10 submit 10 such an in
dignity" Ilcn holding cut his
hands: DO cs you Ilease. l will
drink the cup to The dIegs"
Ills hands Welo licd, AID with the
assistance Ct Lis Cou1Csscr lie as.
ceLGed the ltgls ct tie stcfold,
which wero very steep. Wien he
reached the top, lie Lroke away from
The abbe, walked iiImly across the
scaGold, siielced Tie Glrne by &
glance Ct authority, ard then i'll 6
NUlCe eU ioCd That ii Was audible OIL
tho opposite lido Of tie Flaoe dc Ii
Revolution, lie uttered these words
Il die innocent Cf all The crimes
imputed TO lne. forgive these who
have caused my death, ard l Tray
God that the llocd you are iLout
10 shed NAY reyer fan on France. ,
There was sLudder that rar
through tho crowd liLc Il great wave
Lut 1t tie wold Of command the
drums beat prolonged roll, all.
the voice could no longer be heard
Tie king, seeing that all further ad
dress TO tEo crowd would be fruit
less, tuIrod TO Ike eUillotine ant
calmly took Lis place on the fatG
plank, 10 which he was fastened
The apparatus turned over, and The
ak toll. 1t wGs then a quarter pas
10 O'clock q. M. Cf tie &1st of Janu
ary, 1888. The eXecutioner held VI
the severed head, turning as he die
so TO the four sides Of the place.
The king of France was dead.
''Le roi est mort!'' But no one
dared to cry tile traditional response
"Vive le roi!'
lie roi T. The heir to thu once
glorious title was now poor littlt
child weeping Utterly in n prison