Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-05
PART l.

Marat by Charlotte Corday. With the
blood of old Corueille running in her veins.
and possessing something of his stern and
love OF liberty, this simple child
of nature hears in her distant home that her
friends, the Girondists, are prescribed, and
that a hated triumvirate in Paris tramples
on the feelings and liberties Of the people.
Full of one idea, she purchases knife, and
without a single con6dant sets out for the
metropolis, where, procuring an interview
with Marat she stabs him to the heart. and
with one blow accomplishes her revenge
and what she vainly supposed to be the
peoples redemption.
The greatest portion Of the youth of
Charlotte Corday-to give her the name by
which she is generally known-was spent
in the calm obscurity of her convent
solitude Many high visions, many burn
ing dreams, and lofty ASPIRATIONS, already
haunted her imaginative and enthusiastic
mind, as she slowly paced the silent
cloisters or rested, lost in thought, beneath
the shadow of the ancient elms II is said
that, like Madame Roland, she coutem-
plated secluding herself forever from the
world in her monashc retreat; but, affected
by the skepticism Of the age, which peue-
trated even beyond convent walls, she gave
up the project.
All the austerity and republican enthu-
siasm Of her illustrious ancestor Pierre
Corneille, seemed to have come down to
his young descendant. Even Rousseau and
Raynal, the apostles Of democracy, had no
pages that could absorb her so deeply as
those Of ancient history, with its stirring
deeds and immortal recolleetions. Often,
like Manon Philipon in the recess Of her
fathers workshop, might Charlotte Corday
been seen in her convent cell, thoughtfully
bending over an open volume of Plutarch,
that powerful and eloquent historian Of all
heroic sacrifices.
When the Abbaye aux Danes was closed,
in consequence Of the Revolution, Char
lotte was in her twentieth year, in the prime
of life and of wonderful beauty; and never,
perhaps, did a vision of more dazzling
loveliness step forth from beneath the darE
convent portal into the light Of the free
and open world. She was rather tall but
admirably proportioned, with figure full
of native grace and dignity; her hands,
arms and shoulders we're models Of pure
sculptural beauty. An expression Of sing
ular geutleuess and serenity characterized
her fair, oval counteuance and regular
features Her open forehead, dark and
so deep that it was often mistaken for blue,
added to her natural grave aud meditative
appearance her nose was straight and we'll
formed, her mouth serious but exquisitely
beautiful
On leaving the convent in which she had
been educated, Charlotte Corday went to
reside with her aunt, Madame Coutellier de
Bretville Gouville, an old royalist lady who
inhabited an ancient-looking house in one
of the principal streets Of Caen. There
the young GIRL who had inherited a little
property, spent several years, chiefly en-
gagged in watching the progress Of the Revo-
luton.
A silent reserve characterized this epoch
of Charlotte Corday's life her enthusiasm
was not external but inward; she listened to
the discussions which we're carried on
around her without taking part in them
herself. She seemed to feel nstinctively
that great thoughts are always better nursed
in the hearts solitude; that they can only
lose their depth and intensity by being re-
vealed too freely before the indifferent gaze
of the world Those with whom she then
occasionally conversed took little heed of
the substance Of her discourse, and could
remember nothing of it when she afterward
became celebrated, but all recollected well
her voice and spoke with strange enthu-
siasm of its pure silvery sound.
The fall Of the Girondists, on the 3Ist of
May, FIRST suggested to Charlotte Corday
the possibility Of giving an active shape to
her hitherto passive feelings. She watched
with intense, though still silent interest, the
progress Of events, concealing her secret in
dignation and thoughts Of vengeance under
her habitually calm aspect, Those feelings
were heightened in her soul by the presence
of the fugitive Girondists, who had found
refuge in Caen, and were urging the Nor
mans to raise an army to march on Paris.
She found a pretense to call upon Bar
baroux, then with his friends at the Inten-
dance. She came twice, accompanied by
an old servant, and protected by her own
modest dignity. Petition saw her in the
hall, where she was waiting for the hand
some Girondist, and observed with smile
80 the beautiful aristocrat is come to see
republicans" Citizen Petition, she re-
piled, you now Judge me without knowing
me. but a time win come when you shall
learn who am" With Barbaroux Char
1otte chiefly conversed of the imprisoned
Girondists, of Madame Roland and Marat.
The name Of this man had long haunted her
with mingling feeling Of dread and horror.
To Marat she ascribed the prescription of
the Cirondists, the woes OF the republic,
and on him she resolved tosavenge her ill
fated country. Charlotte was not aware
that Marat was but the tool of Dantou and
Robespierre. If such actions could be
counseIed " afterward said Barbaroux, 1T
| is not Marat whom we would have advised
her to strike"
/ While this deadly thought was daily
strengthening itself in Charlotte's mind
she received several offers Of marriage
/ She declined them on the plea Of wishing
to remain free; but strange indeed must
have seemed to herat that moment those
gproposals Of earthly love. One Of those
whom her beauty had enamored, NJ de
Franquelin, young volunteer in the cause
Of the Cirondists, died Of grief on learninp
her fate his last request was that her por
trait and few letters he had formerly re-
ceived from her might be buried with him
in his grave.