The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-12-30
S[AYEB'O Of MARA7
4 Charlotte corday and the Act
That Made Her Famous.
HER PLANS FOR THE MURDER
The Way They Wore Worked Out and
}& Row They Were Put into Execution.
n n Her. Own Tragic End and tho Final
Sgi Act of tho Brutal Headsman.

tS&S tfoW They Were Put Into Execution.
Her. Own Tragic End and tho Final
Mn Act of tho Brutal Headsman.
Among the Instances of~anatic zeal
&S0r. country and people the act Of
sSNhariotte Corday, who was born at
& tAest Gaturnin, France. July %. 17GS.
4 ana who was beheaded at Paris July
S13. 1873, stands out in tragic force.
axe Her childhood and early youth were
NSful OF privation, although she was Of
I noble family. She was educated at
: convent In Caen and then went to
live with an aunt in the same old town
Of Normandy.
She had n serene and lofty beauty,
was tall and graceful, and her manner
was full Of dignity.
She spent all her leisure In reading,
and her books were always those that
/ related to -heroism and devotion to
country. When the revolution broke
upon France. Charlotte eagerly took
up the reading Of politics and public
questions. When the GiroudiSts were
Obliged to fly from Paris they went to
Caen and began to hold meetings and
form plans for future operations In
Paris.
IN The Girondists were the true repub-
3lieans and got their name from Gil
rQnde, as il was the deputies from
this district that had formed the Re
publican party IN the national assem-
big. The massacres had terrified them,
and they had tried to stop the violent
measures in the reign of terror.
Charlotte felt very madness Of en-
thusiasm as she listened to the fiery
elOquence of these men who de.
bounced Marat. Danton and Robe
sphere escaped much Of the cenSure
due for their share In the frightful
work Of cruelty and death. 1t was
upon Marat that the Girondists poured
their, eloquence. for it was be who had
pursued and ordered the death Of their
leaders In Paris. In the depths of her
heart purpose was formed TO save
her people from this monster and at
any cost TO herself.
Into CharlottPs life g. tender and re-
spectful love had come to add its in
duence in these days Of strange tumult
and calm purpose. She and a young
man named FranQuelin had been writ
Ing each other. and she had given him
her portrait and told him that he might
at least love that. When this lover
marched away TO Paris with the GiroD-
dists and the neighboring volunteers.
she babe him calm farewell. for she
knew she was going TO save him
A no
home to bis native village in Nor
mandy. In the tender care of his moth
er be gradually failed. for his heart
was broken the day his love persisted
When he came to die he requested that
Charlotte's portrait and letters be
buried with him, and his grave holds
them Sacredly.
charlotte began to prepare for her
Journey to Paris and the tragedy she
had planned. Every effort was made
TO hide the appearance Of a concealed
purpose. When she arrived at Paris
she at once set about her plans to fine
Marat AS preparat ton she went to
one or the shops Of the Palais ROYAL
and bought dagger shaped knife, pay
ing for it 90 cents. This she hid in the
folds Of her dress. Her plan had been
to Kill Marat in the very convention.
where she thought the deed would be
avenged by killing her on the spot.
But Marat no longer went to the cor
Vention. He was Ill with disease that
was slowly killing him. and hfs body
was In state of disorder and irruD
ton that gave him an agony of SUI
fertng. He was only comfortable when
I'D the warm water Of bis bath. He
lived on the first floor of a house in
the Rue des COrdeliers. and connected
with his home were all the affairs of
MS journalistic work and from here all
his pamphlets and journals we're sent
out.
After writing two letters askiur for
an interview in which she would give
hid some important news about sus-
pected persons, she got no reply. Then
she TOOK her way to the house, insisted
mat she must see him, and when for
biddeD entrance by Marats wife she
Still urged the importance Of her or
Fand. Marat heard the sound Of their
voices and shouted out for q reason Of
the noise that bothered him. When
told that it was the woman who had
twice written him be babe her come in,
The wife, against her will, let her pass.
Marat was in his bath, wrap Dcd in
an ink stained sheet. and was writing
on board laid across the bath. Ask
ing her erraDd. he took down all the
details she gave him. When be had
the pane Of each Giropdist who was
at work In Caen be told her that in q
week they would be brought to tho
Euntotine. Then as she stood beside
the bath she plunged the knife into
bis heart, and be died with O cry to
bis wife to come to him.
just before her execution she wrote
to the Girondists at CaeD that She an
ucipated happiness with Brutls in
the Elysian 6elds" after her death. and