The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-27
1.-THE WORLD .s.s.***&
ONE HUNDRED YEARS
AGO TODAY".%.S&&%% y
Copyright, 1900. by r. Z. Hughes, Louis
ville.l
NNE JOSEPH DE MERrcoURT WHO played

A NNE JOSEPH DE MERTCOURT. WHO played
n a sensational part in one Of Frances most
IA exciting periods became a raving maniac
and had to be confined in the Petites Mai
sons At the beginning of her career she was
quickwitted, strikingly handsome in appearance
and intensely passionate in temper, and she had
a strong and almost volcanic power Of eloquence,
which she used with great effect on the Partisan
mobs. Going to Paris from her home in Lux
embourg after a quarrel with her step-mother,
she was, on the outbreak Of the revolution, sur
rounded by coteuc OF well-known men, chief
Of whom were Petion and Desmoulins Afiliating
herself with their party, she became the Fury
Of the Gironde.' For four years thereafter she
was seen inthe stormicst Of the revolution,
being known as "la belle Liegoise' and sng'l-
larly attired in riding habit, plume in her
hat, pistols in her belt and swords dangling by
her side. No horror appalled, her, and the vio-
lencc Of her language and her power with the
mob were remarkable She commanded in per-
son the Third corps OF the Army of Faubourvs,
and later shared heavy responsibility with
more riots, but the tide at last turned against
her. The furics of the "Mountain' seized the
"Fury Of the Gironde." They stripped her naked
and fogged her in the public garden Of Tuicrcs.
The infamous affront drove her mad.
Sarah Siddons the English actress, who never
had an equal in the role Of Lady Macbeth, was
now the rage of London theatcr-goers. John
Brallan, celebrated English vocalist returning
from triumphant tour OF Italy, also began q
successful public career of forty years at Covent
Garden. Tie "Caliph OF Bagdad' was first put
en- a Paris stage. The Alelphi theater was
built in London. Joanna Baillie's "Plays on
the Passions produced after careful study OF
the nature of dramatic poety, illustrating the
deepest and strongest passions Of the human
mind, such as hate. jealousy, fear and love,
were attracting attention in the old world.
Odd Fellows lodges in England were broken
up by state prosecutions on the suspision that
their purposes were ''selitous" but the society,
changing its name and location continued to en-
ist in a sort OF morbund condition as the Union
Order Of Odd Fellows. The name became again
Independent Order OF Odd Fellows in 1913. Six
years aiterward it was introduced into the United
States.
The Island OF Perrin, which divides Babel
Mandeb, the strait which connects the Red Sea
with the Indian Ocean, known as the Gate OF
Tears "a name derived, according to an Arabic
legend, from the numbers who were drowned by
the earthquake which separated Asia and Africa,
was now taken possession OF by the British, who
held it as military post of the Indian Empire.
Nikoli Grundtyig, who held unique position
in the literature Of Denmark. having been styled
the Danish Carlyle, entered the University Of
Copenhagen at the age Of II years.
Canada had its fur troubles even now. Tile
Hudson Bay company, chartered by Charles II,
in 1870, had to face formidable rival in the
Northwest company. They impeded each others
operations for several years before junction
was effected
John Brown, an American aboitionist, cee-
brated as the originator OF the IIarpers Ferry
insurectoin, which resulted in his being hanged,
was born at Torrington, Conn.