The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-26
CHARLOTTE CORDAY
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BY THOMAS CARLYLE.

lotte; 1T Is I that killed Marat." BY
whose instigation? BY no ones" What
tempted you, then? His crimes. I killed
one man." added she, raising her voice
extremely (extremenD, as they went on
with their questions-"I killed one man
to save a hundred thousand; a villain to
save innocents; a savage wild beast to
give repose to my country. was a repub-
llean before the revolution; I never want
ed energy" There is therefore nothing to
be said. The public gazes astonished; tha
hasty limners sketch her featlsees, Char
lotte not disappearing; the men of law
proceed with their formalities. The doom
is death as a murderess. To her advocate
she gives thanks; in gentle phrase, in high
flown classical spirit To the priest they
send her she gives thanks; but needs not
any striving. any ghostly or other aid
from him.
On this same evening, therefore, about
half past o'clock, from the gate Of the
Conciergerie, to a city all on tiptoe, the
fatal car issues; seated on it a fair young
creature, sheeted in red smoclS of murder
ess; so beautiful, serene, so fun OF life;
journeying toward death-alone amid the
world Many take off their hats, saluting
reverently; for what heart but must be
touched? Others growl and howl. Adam
Lux of Mentz, declares that she is greater
than Brutus; that It were beautiful to die
with her; the head Of this young man
seems turned. At the Place de la Revo-
luton, the countenance Of Charlotte wears
the same stlll smile, The executiopers
proceed to bind her feet; she resists,
thinking it meant as an insult; on word
of explanation she submits with cheerful
apology AS the last act all being now
ready, they take the neclserchief from. her
neck; blush of maidenly Shame over
spreads that fair face and neck; the
cheeks were still tinged with It when the
exeeutioner lifted the severed head to
show It to the people. 1T Is most tDle."
says Forster, that he struck the cheek
insultingly; for 1 saw it with my eyes;
the police imprisoned him for it,"
In this manner have the beantifullest
and the squalidest come in collision, and
extinguished one another Jean Paul Ma
rat and Marie Anne Charlotte Corday
both, suddenly, are no more. DAY of the
Preparation Of Peace?" Alas, how were
peace possibly or preparable, while, for
example, the hearts of lovely maidens in
their convent stiffness are dreaming not
of love paradises and the light of life, but
of Codrus sacrifices, and death well
earned? That twenty-five million hearts
have got to such temper. this is the an
archy; the soul of it lies in this; whereof
not peace can be the embodiment The
death of Marat, whetting old animosities
tenfold, will be worse than any life. 0 ye
hapless two, mutually extnctive, the
beautiful and the squalid, sleep we we'll
In the mothers bosom that bore you bothi
This was the history of Charlotte Cor
day; most definite, most complete; angel
ic-demonic; like a star! Adam Lux goes
home. half delirious, to pour forth his
apotheosis of her, in paper and print; to
propose that she have a statue with this
inscription Greater than Brutus. Friends
represent his danger; Lux is reckless;
thinks 1t were beautiful to die with her.