New-York tribune., 1902-07-13


I began by showing them frankly my opinion
as 10 their actions. and after we talked for the
rest OF the journey II ignored the whole
hing Barrave saved the gardes du corps who
we're with Is. and whom the national guards
wanted 10 massacre
II the Journey was bearable at all her tact
and dignity did most 20 make It so. In the little
sheat Of letters surviving from that time she
sketches vividly some Of its dramatic episodes,
hut characteristicaIly she onits from her de-
s-ipton OF the irruption Of the pixies into the
uresence Of the royal family any indication Of
her own splendid share n that terrifying scene.
She was taken for the Queen, and threatened,
and to those who wished TO correct the blunder
she said. No 10. let them think am she" and
sne witness says that she added. Their crime
Eculd be less" She stood long by the King
side with the mob surging around them. "Once
when q bayonet almost touched her breast she
turned il aside with her hand. saying: Take
care, Monsieur. you might wound me. and am
sure you would be sorry for that" The story
Of her Imprisonment, examination, condemna-
ton and death follows her letters in this vol
ume. I relates almost incredible brutalties.
she was not tried There was, indeed. nothing
to Try her for. She was simply hailed before
her Judges" to be harangued with insulting
les The crimes Of all kinds, the guilty deeds
CT Capet Of the Messalina AntOinette. Of the
two brothers Capet and Of Elisabeth" she was
told, were written il letters Of blood upon the
annals Of the Revolution; and the Unheard Of
atrocities exercised by the barbaroUs 'emigres'
and the sanguinary satellites OF oespots, the
murders the incendiarisrn, the ravages, the as
sassinations unknown to the most ferocious
monsters which they have committed on French
territory are still commanded by that detesta-
bic family IN order 10 deliver great nation
ouce more to the despotism and fury OF a few
individuals" She listened with superb foru-
tude herself delivered to the despousm and fury
Of the Revolutionists and went with a firm step
70 the doom which would have been hers even
without the farcicaI trial" by which she was
uoulinaIIy prepared for it. In the conciergerte
her spirit shone with a greater lumlnousness
and supported her fellow victims in their last
ag0nized hours. She seemed to regard them
IS friends about to accompany her to heaven.
She spoke to them calmly and gently, and soon
the serenity Of her look the tranquility OF her
mind subdued their anguish" In the last
scene Of all she was sun Madame Elisabeth de
France, the daughter OF q house Of kings, and
one Of the most womanly IN its annals. This
Scene IS thus described:
The next morning the gates Of the prison
opened and the carts Of the eXecutioner, called
by Barere the biers Of the living, came OUT
Madame Elisabeth was in the first with others
among them Nine. de Senozan and Nine de
CTlssol-Am boise, 10 whom she TAXED during tne
passage from the conciergerie TO the Place
Louis AN. Arriving there, she was the nrst 10
descend the executioner offered his hand, but
the princess looked the other way and needed
help. At the foot Of the scanOld was a long
bench on which the victims were told to sit-
BY a refinement of cruelty, Madame Elisabeth
was placed nearest the steps TO the scahoio,
but she was the last OF the twenty-five called
20 ascend them; she was 10 see and hear the
killing of them all before her turn should come
During that time she never ceased to say the
De PrCfUnGis; she who was about 20 die prayed
tor the dead.
TIE first TO be called was Nine. de Crussol.
She rose Immediately; as she passed Madame
Elisabeth she curtsied, and then, bending Tor
ward, asked 10 De allowed to kiss her. Will
hgy. and with all my heart" replied the prin-
cess AL the other women, ten in number, dld
likewise The men. they passed her, each
bowed low the head that instant later was TO
fan into the basket. When the twenty-fourth
bowed thus before her, she said: Courage and
faith In Gods mercy" Then she rose herself,
nounred firmly the steps Of the scaffold- Again
he n an offered his hand, but withdrew IL. see
ing from her bearing that she needed no help,
With an upward look TO heaven she gave her
self into the hands Of the eXecutioner. AS he
fastened her 10 the fatal plank her neckerchief
came loose and fell to the ground. In the
name of your mother monsieur cover me" she
said Those were her last words
At this execution alone cries Of "Nive Ia
RevoUtiOni" were raised; the crowd dispersed
silently. The eye witness from whose lips this
account was written down added; When saw
ue cart on which they were placing the bodies
and heads CT the victims fed like the wind"
Ihe cart held two baskets; into one Of which
hey threw the mound Of bodies, into the other
cemetery al Monceaux, and flung into a grave
Twelve feet s1uara uDOn another. naked.