The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-12-17
EXECUTION OF LOUIS XVI
The Unhappy King Went to AIS DeasA
RPavely.

rhe Unhappy King Went to Hls DeaeA
Bravely.
1t was dark. misty, January morn
ing. The presence of two soldiers pre-
cluded the possibility of couyeksatsons
the priest therefore handed hiS6reviary,
to the king, and pointed out approPrs-
ate psalms, which the king read de-
voutly and with perfect calmness. to
the evident establishment of the gen.
darmes. The shops were shut along the
way. and crowds of armed citizens
stood on the pavement as the coach,
preceded and followed by cavalry and
artillery, went slowly through the
streets. where all the windows were
closed. Lines of troops stood on each
side. while drums beat solemnly. as il
for a military funeral.
AS the coach passed along the boule-
wards near the Porte St. Denis, few
young men rushed forward waving
swords and crying loudly: Come all
who would save the king!" There was
no response. and they were obliged to
flee for their own lives. They were pur-
sued, and several were arrested. with
fatal consequences. The king. alb
sorbed in prayer and religious medita-
ton, had not even perceived the vain at
tempt to effect his deliverance.
The coach had at last reached the
Rue Royale and the Place de la Revolu-
ton, where the crowd was immense.
The scaffold stood little to the left Of
the Place, where the Obelisk now
stands, but nearer the Champs Elysees,
toward which the guillotine was turned.
A mass of troops formed square
around the fatal spot. The coach
stopped at a distance of few PAGES.
The king. feeling that the motion had
ceased. looked up from his prayer
book. saying quietly: I'VE have
reached the place, l think"
One of the cXccutioner's assistants
opened the door. The king earnestly
commended the priest who accom-
panied him to the care of the gen
darmes. and then stepped from the
coach.
Three men surrounded him and tried
to take off his coat. He calmly pushed
them back and removed it himself.
opening his shirt collar and preparing
his neck for the ak. The executioners.
who seemed at first Disconnected and
almost awed, then again came around
him. holding rope.
The king drew back quickly, exclaim-
ing:
What do you want to do?"
ITO tie your hands,"
The king exclaimed. Indignantly:
Tie my hands! No. will not submit
to this. Do your duty, but do not at
tempt to tie me; you shall not do it'll"
The executioners persisted, and spoke
loudly. The king looked toward the
Able Edgeworth. who at once saw the
impossibility of resistance. and said,
gently: Sire, this last insult will only
provide a fresh point of resemblance
between your majesty and the God
who will be your recompense."
The king looked up to Heaven: LAS
suredly, His example alone could in
duce me to submit to such an indig-
nifty" Then holding out his hands:
do as you please; will drink the cup
to the dregs."
His hands were tied, and, with the
assistance of his confessor, he assembled
the steps of the scaffold, which were
very steep. When he reached the top
he broke away from the able, walked
firmly across the scaffold, silenced the
drums by a glance of authority, and
then in a voice SO loud that it was aud
ible on the opposite side of the Place de
Ia Revolution, he uttered these words:
Il die innocent of all the crimes i'm
puted to me. l forgive those who have
caused nv death and | pray God thar
the blood you a-e shout to shed may
never fall on France
There. was a shudder that "a:
through the crowd like a great wave.
but at the word of command the drums
beat prolonged roll. and the voice
could no longer be heard. The king,
seeing that all further address to the
crowd would be fruitless, turned to
the guillotine and calmly took his place
on the fatal plank, to which he was
fastened. The apparatus turned over
and the AK fell. 1t was then quarter
past ten o'clock a. m. of the 21st of Jan
uary, 1898. The executioner held up the
severed head, turning as he did SO to
the four sides of the Place
The king of France was dead
lie foi est mort!"
But no one dared to cry the tradi-
ditional response: 'Vive lie rolf
lie roll" The heir to the once plor-
ious title was now a poor little child
weeping bitterly in prison by the side
of the widowed mother.-Anna L. Bick.
nell, in Century.