Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-07-23
A FATAL FRIENDSHIP,
Devotion OF Princess LambaIIe
to Marie Antoinette.
SLAIN By A PAFxsIAN MOB.
The Assassination of the Princess.
Who Escaped and Returned to Com
fort Her Friend, Was One Of the

""o ESCAPED ana Returned to Com
fort Her Friend, Was One Of the
Worst Acts Of the Reign of Terror.
IL was In the historic Carignano
palace at Turin that the Princess Lam
bale was born. Her father was Iouis
Victor OF Carignan, OF the royal house
Of Sardinia and Savoy.
Her childhood was spent In Turin
during the period that followed the
defeat OF the French through the bril-
liant military tactics OF Prince Eugene
(, or Vienna. At eighteen she was mar.
ried TO Stanislaus, son of the Duke of
, Penthievre OF France.
The chief place OF this duchy was
the town OF Lamballe. about fifty
miles from Reunes. The Prince de
Lamballe died In one year, aud as soon
as etiquette allowed n marriage with
Louis Nv. was contemplated. This
I did not go into effect. however, aud
| the princess withdrew FROM the court.
She met Marie Antoinette when that
princess first came to Paris. aud they
were mutually attracted and became
| friends. The Princess de Lamballe
saw the dangers to which this young
foreigner was exposeI,.r, md when Ma
| RE Antoinette became VLcen OF France
In 17T4 and appointed the princess SUI
perintenden' Of the royal household she
entered upon her duties with the SYM
pathetic understanding OF n loyal
friend. The closest ties OF affectionate
regard drew these two young royal
personages together. Through the care
less gayety OF court life the Princess
de Lamballe was the judicious friend.
When illness came to the queen she
was faithful and devoted,
When the storm OF adversely broke
| over the royal family and II was ar
ranged that an escape should be eff
fected Nine. de Lamballe got safely
to England, going across from Dieppe.
but the royal family were arrested at
Varennes and declared traitors to
| France.
Mime. de Lamballe's devotion was SC
true she at once FASTENED back to
Paris to be with the queen. Her
friends urFed and implored her to
| think OF the danger 10 herself and
| pointed out that she could be OF no
real service at such q critical time
But she knew better than they did
what comfort her presence would be.
and her heart was entirely occupied
with the sorrows OF her sovereign
She was allowed TO become n prisoner
with the royal family IN the temple.
| and for one week she was q cheerful
and helpful companion. full OF affec-
tionate arts to make the hours less
bitter and giving to Marie Antoinette
the loving. devoted care that only a
friend SO loyal could give.
When those about the prison saw
what an influence OF Joy Nine. de
Lamballe brought to the royal prison.
ers an order was issued for her re-
moval to the prison OF Ia Force. From
here she was taken for mock trial
and offered her life II she would take
oath against the monarchy. With
scorn she refused to do this.
Then came one or the most terrible
! acts OF the period of the reign OF
terror. She was delivered to the peo-
pie, wild with the desire for blood.
| and was killed I'm the COURTYARD OF Ia
Force prison. They stabbed her with
sabers. cut or her head. tore her heart
from her body while It VIVA yet pal
plating and then dragged her body
through the streets to the temple.
On the way there they stopped nj n
hairdresser's and made him rouge the
beautiful face and fritz and powder the
hair. This man nearly died with fear
while at this awful work When 10
was done and the head set ,In u pike.
the long fair curis OF her pretty hair
fell about the neck. These az the
mob who suggested this hiieous work
upon the head said. "Antoinette viii
now recognize her friend"
The heart was also put on the end
or pike and the route To the temple
resumed. The royal family were to-
gether. and Louis was reading to them.
when they heard the sound OF the
mob and loud. high voices Suddenly
the door was opened violently. and as
they all started TO their feet some men
pushed themselves past the guard and
shouted to the king: THE people have
something TO show you. II you don't
wish them to bring II up here you
had better go to the window"
With the deadly fear In their hearts
they did as directed and looked into
the dead and painted face OF their de-
voted friend and also saw her tender
heart and her poor body. hacked by
the sabers Of these wretches.
With a cry OF horror and despair
Marie Anto:nette fell into n state of
stupor. Mime. Elizabeth forced her
Into chair. and her children chung 10
her and cried with fear Louis tried
to control his voice as he said with
pathetic dignity. You might have
spared the queen the knowledge of
this frightrui calamitv" RoSton