Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-10-15

Charlotte Nay and the Act
That Ma Her Famous.
HER PLANS b THE MURDER
The Way They Ww..L.a IN, ard
"ey were Into Execution.
Wv" r"s'c and tho Final
Act of the Brutal -,

and tho FinaI
Nv ~ tdsman.
Among the instencs n,.,o mo,
for country and NaeXo .no ao+ ~
Charlotte Corday. Nj voc norm ot
81, 80 '''.a n , ri ia July q, 176S,
an" w. "n' ""' oeie" at Paris July
Her childhood and eA rorth were
full Of privation, althon\ sho mas ~
noble family. She wasdrcoted ar
convent In Caen and E. vent n
live with an aunt in the san o,d town
Of Normandy.
She had serene and loft, oautv
was taii ana graceful anu ner Tanner
was full Of dignity.
She spent all her leisure In reine
and her books were always thosSat
related to heroism and devotioto
country. When the revolution bt.,
upon France. Charlotte eagerly to
up the reading Of politics and pubN
questions. When the Qirondists wert
obliged to fly from Paris they went to
Caen and began to hold meetings and
form plans for future operations In
Paris.
The Girondlsts were the true repub-
leans and got their name from I'll
ronde, as 1t was the deputies from
this district that had formed the Re-
publican party In the national assem-
bly,. 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
eloouence of these men who de-
nounced Marat. Danton and Robe
sphere escaped much Of the censure
due for their share in the frightfui
work of cruelty and death. 1t was
upon Marat that the Girondlsts poured
their eloquence. for 1t was he who had
pursued and ordered the death Of their
leaders In Paris. In the depths OF her
heart a purpose was formed to save
her people from this monster and at
any cost to herself.
Into Charlotte's life tender and re-
spectful love had come to add its in
fluence In these days of strange tumult
and calm purpose. She and young
man named Franquelin had beM 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 Giron-
dists and the neighboring volunteers,
she babe him calm farewell. for she
knew she was going to save him.
After her execution Franquelin went
home to his native village In Nor
mandy. In the tender care of his moth
err he gradually failed. for his heart
was broken the day his love persisted.
When he came to die he requested that
Charlottes 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 preparation she went t.
one Of the shops Of the Palais Roya!
and bought dagger shaped knife. pay
ing for it co 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 con-
vention. He was iii with disease that
was slowly killing him. and hrs body
was in q state of disorder and irrup-
ton that gave him an agony Of suf-
fering. He was only comfortable when
In the warm water Of his bath. He
lived on the first floor Of house in
the Rue des Cordeliers, and connected
with his home were all the affairs OF
his journalistic work and from here all
his pamphlets and journals were sent
out.
After writing two letters asking for
an interview. IN which she would give
him some important news about sus-
pected persons, she got no reply. Then
she took her way to the house, insisted
that she must see him. and when for
hidden entrance by Marat's wife she
still urged the Importance Of her err
rand. Marat heard the sound Of their
voices and shouted out for reason OF
the noise that bothered him. When
told that 1t was the woman who had
twice written him he babe her come in.
The wife. against her will, let her pass.
sIarat was In his bath. wrapped in
an ink stained sheet. and was writing
on board laid across the bath. Ask
ing her GRAND. he took down all the
details she gave him. When he had
the name Of each Glrondist who was
Mt work in Caep he told her that In
week they would he brought to the
,,uillotine. Then as she stood beside
the bath she plunged the knife into
his heart. and he died with cry to
his wife TO come to him.
Just before her execution she wrote
to the Girordists at Caen that she an
ticipated happiness with Brutus in
tie Elysian fields" after her death. and
she also wrote tender and loving fare
we'll letters to her relatives and
friends.
When she had suffered death the ex-
ecutioner lifted up her head by the
hair and struck it brutal blow with
his fist. Just at that moment CLEAN
of the sun so fell upon it that there
was the effect of q blush upon the
dead face.-Boston Globe.
Good Kitchen Company.
Ono housewife I'm this town doesn't