Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-16

one of whom, Francois Hue. escaped from
the Tuilleries by leaping from window,
and followed the family to their prison.
Another valet de chambre served the king
| in prison until he was taken to the guillo-
! tine.
One Of the most interesting autographs
| is letter dated Paris. March 1s, 1908, by
Joseph Ignace Guillotin. who, June %,
1898. proposed in the national assembly
that the death penalty should be by de-
capitation. His ideas were developed by
DR.. Louis. and the machine was first used
on the Place de Grave April %, 1892. 1t
honor OF the physician, but was afterward
called La Guillotin' in .,onor of the in
ventor.
Relics Of Marat and His Slayer.
My friend has letter written by Jean
Paul Marat, one Of the most famous lead
ers of tie revolution, dated Paris. Sep
TENDER IA, 1872. nine months before he
was assassinated by Charlotte Corday.
Her autograph lies beside 1t in the col
lection. She was a young woman living
at Caen. and became infiamed with the
public utterances of the Girondins. who
fed to that place after the execution Of
Kill Marat. whom she regarded as the
chief cause Oh her countryS troubles.
Reaching Paris July II, 1923. she obtained
admission to his house and assassinAted
IilIIl with q large kH1fe S0e BaQ bOO&nL In
the alais Royal on her way thither.
Her autograph is a letter written to
the abbess of the Convent of the Trinity
and Is dated June g. 1850.
With this is the original order by the
committee of public safety for the arrest
of man named Duperret, who is charged
with being her accomplish; also q letter
written by Claude Francois Chauveau La
garde. distinguished advocate who de-
Tended both Charlotte Corday and Marie
AntOinetfa al IF al oIe 1>tf
written by Louis Gustave Doulcet de
Pontecoulant, a fellow-townsman of Char
lotte Corday. whom she asked to defend
her. He refused, and the last letter she
ever wrote. penned while the executioner
was actually awaiting her, was addressed
to him and declared him coward.
From Danton to the Queen.
One of the most important relics from
a historical standpoint Is letter written
by Georges Jacques Danton, another Of
the fiery leaders Of the revolution. to
Marie Antoinette. 1t came into the pres
ent collection from the descendant Of
duke in France. to whom it was pre-
scented by Louis XVIII, who received it
from his police, who found it among
the effects Of Robespierre. 1t reads as
follows:
ITO Marie Antoinette, former Queen Of
at the ConcierEerie.
"Citizeness: You will place over your
door these words-Unity. Indivisibility Of
the Republic Liberty, Equality Frater-
nifty or Death. DANTON."
My friend believes that there are two
explanations possible Of this interesting
letter. One is that Danton desired to
aid the queen to avoid the extreme PEN
atty contemplated by his associates. The
initiate the queen. as afterward her enc
mics did. when they built the half-door
in her cell. SO that she would be COM
PEELED to bend her proud form as she
passed under it. The letter is dated Au-
gust 4. 1893. two days after her transfer
from the temple to the conciergerie. and
at that time Oanton was president Of tho
convention. She was executed a little
moro than two months later.
A Letter From the Queen.
The police of Louis XVIII found this
remarkable document. an unsigned letter
fthe queen seldom signed her personal
lettcrs) to her sister-in-law, Nine. Eliza
beth, written by Marie Antoinette on the
morning Of her execution. This is re-
garded as her last will and testament
ana is preserved in the national archives
at the Hotel Soubise, Paris: also a letter
from Marie Antoinette to the president
OF the convention. asking delay Of three
days for her execution; also a letter from
a young lawyer, Marc Antoine Martin, |
asking the privilege of defending. the
queen; also a manuscript report Of the
queens examination. a lock Of her hair, |
a package of needles and thread used
by her while embroidering in prison. and |
kid glove that had been worn by the |
dauphin. These objects were evidently
preserved by Robespierre. as interesting |
relics. = Il
There is an autograph Of Robespierre, |
who was himself guillotined a year later, |
July q. 1874; an autograph Of Danton,
who was guillotined. and letters written
about the same time by all Of their asso-
ciates in the Reign of Terror.