The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-15
THE PLOT OF THE PINK.

The story of the last attempt TO rescue
darie Antoinette from the guillotine Is
Memoirs, letters and police reports OF the
day are at variance, and In these latter
papers so improbable part is assigned to
the Queen herself that no single statement
can bo relied on as correct or even credi-
BILE. The actors, the means adopted, the
very scenes in which the incidents re-
corded took place are matters OF contro-
versy, and when conflicting versions from
political documents and stolen notes come
TO he compared the case seems HOPELESS.
The mind Is driven out OF its proper
course and Is half Inclined TO believe that
a more satisfactory issue may he found
out of the beaten track, and nearer
approach to truth in the pages OF novel
than In any of the archives.
History has been compared to stage
decorations: where splendid buildings
give every illusion of substantially until
one goes behind the scenes, when marble
and granite are discovered To be simply
paper and paint; and there are occasions
when IL may be safer TO trust To nction
founded on fact than TO supposed fnct
founded on fiction.
~
a.firms that having carefully studied all
the public documents relating To the flight
of the royal family TO Narennos, he found
the only really satisfactory description OF
IL in a chapter from the pen OF Alexandre
Dumas. The truth is scrupulously re-
spectcd the fugitives are followed step by
step, and a lesson in narrative given by
which the historian might safely proft
were IL not for the fact that no serious
writer could hope To maintain his reputa-
tion but at the expense of brightness. An
amusing historian must be AT once dis
credited.
The "Chevalier do Maison Rouge, ="
the most dramatic of all Dumas entranc-
ing novels NAV safely be taken as tho
best picture of the time. IL could not
fail TO lie the most sensational, since II
treats OF an epoch without parallel In
horror and interest
From the beginning of time there have
been, doubtless terrible crimes, revolis,
rebellions-days in which there was no
law, no security, no retribution-where
there have been cruel martyrdoms, and
where the innocent have been the chief
sufferers; but there has only Dcen one
tragedy like the tragedy OF l793-only one
Reign OF Terror.
In years of order and quietness II Is
difficult TO picture such day; its deeds
OF violence seem like dreams of disor-
dered fancy; the widest imagination
could conceive no greater chaos, and le
grand reconteur. only separated from the
dramatis personae of his story by the
briefest space, was able 10 draw them as
they were In real life-creatures of flesh
and blood. with some of whom he had
even spoken face TO face.
Pere Dumas. as the younger men were
pleased TO call him, was republican
though not communist and had many
acquaintances among the people; ~ has
elas af In nrt.a
in the "Plot of the Pink" was personally
known to him. The Tisons, the Simons,
the Santerres Of the ConcIergerie were
types which he bad closely studied and al
though he may have sometimes been ac-
cused OF historic impossibilities It Is ad-
mitted that when he chose TO be accurate
he could be as accurate as anybody else
His novel was just about to be pub
iished undcr the title Of 1.-THE Marquis de
Rougeville" since that was the real desig
nation Of the Queens devoted adherent
when he received letter from the son
OF his hero IT was ms follows:
''Monsieur-My fathers mark in the
evolution was so brief. and also so
mysterious, that Ii is not without anxiety.
heing aware of your forthcoming romance
/ would venture to ask with what Incl
dents You have accompanied the bare facts
which attach to his name although | am
we'll aware Of the respect you profess for
fallen greatness, and your sympathy with
noble devotions. Accept monsieur, ETC..
etc.
"MARQUISE DE ROUGEVILLE
Dumas at once replied that he was not
aware OF the existence OF any descendant
of the late Marquis and that although the
story was wholly in his favor, from that
moment the Chevalier de Rougeviiie
should cease TO exist, and should become
tine Chevalier de Maison Rouge.
He then receiypd N second letter.
"Mopsieur-Call your story what you
will. am the last of my family, and In
another hour shall have blown out my
brains.
"DE ROUGEVILLE.
Not altogether putting faith in this
sensational announcement, Dumas sent
his secretary for news of the Marquis,
ard found that he had In fact destroyed
himself; but still feeling bound To keep
TO bis word, the novel was published with
the title Of "Chevaler dc Maison Rouge I"
In the first week Of the revolution the
royal family still counted large number
OF faithful adherents, who kept up tho
illusion of court, whilst the patient
King submitted 10 take a minor part
and TO DO almost effaced In the terrible
drama going IN around him. He made
no appeal, and even when the Temple
gates had closed upon him, refused 10 bc-
lieye In the imminence of his danger.
IL was not until the drums had drowned
his voice IN the Place DC ~ Revolution
that the Queen herself could realize tho
end.
That Europe should have stood still
with folded arms before the appalling
spectacle offered by France in 1893 is
one of the historic secrets which have
never yet been explained. The onIy sover-
eign prepared To take Bn active part
against the revolution was Gustavus of
Sweden. he was about TO put himself at
the head Of an invading army when he
was shot through the breast. possibly
message from the communists. AT all
events the deed was extclled in Paris
as noble and as praisewortby.
But there was n voiceless sympathy for
Mario AntOinette in quarters where IL
might be least expected ard manv tender
hearts bled for her. IL Is painful fact
that it was not the associates of her pros
porous days VINO showed any readiness
20 sacrifice personal safety for her sake:
they might bitterly lament the insults
and the tortures inflicted on her. hut IL
WAS in silence and IN action. while her
true partisaDs were 10 he found among
the people.