The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1909-10-29
THE SLAYER OF MARAT
Charlotte Corday and the Act
That Made Her Famous.
HER PLANS FOR THE MURDER
The Way They Were Worked Out and
How They Were Put Into Execution.
Her Own Tragic End and the Final
Act OF the Brutal Headsman.


Her Own Tragic End and the Final
Act OF the Brutal Hesdsman.
Among the instances OF fanatic zeal
for country and people the act OF
Charlotte Corday. who was born at
st. Saturnin, France. July 81, 170s,
and who was bebeaded nt Paris July
IL. 1903, stands out In tragic force.
Her childhood and early youth were
full OF privation. although she was Of
n noble family. She was educated ut
live with m aunt In the same old town
of Normandy.
She had serene and lofty beauty.
was tall and graceful, and her manner
was full Of dignity.
She spent all her leisure In reading,
aud her books were always those that
related TO bcroism and devotion to
country. when the revolution broke
upon France, Charlotte eagerly took
up the reading Of politics and public
questions. When tho Glrondists were
obliged to fiy from Paris they went TO
Caen and began TO hold meetings and
form plans for future operations IN
Paris.
Tho Glrondists were the true repub-
llcans and got their namo from Gi'
rondc. ns II was the deputies from
this district thnt had formed the lie.
publican party In the national nsscm.
bly,. The massncres had terrified them,
aud they had tried TO stop the violent
measures IN the reign OF terror
Charlotte felt n very madness OF en-
thuslnsm ns she listened 10 the iicry
eloducncc OF these men who dc.
nounccd Marat Dnnton aud Robe
splcrrc escaped much Of the ccnsurc
due for their share IN the frlghtful
work OF cruelty and death. II was
upon Marat that tho Girondlsts poured
their cloqucncc. for II was he who had
pursued and ordered tho death OF their
leaders IN Paris. In the depths OF her
heart n purpose wns formed 10 save
her people from this monster and at
any cost 10 herself.
Into Chariottc's life tender and re-
spcctfp' .tyy ind come to add it's In
aucncc IN these days OF strange tumult
ana caYm purpose. She and young
man named Franquclln Ind been writ
ing each other. aud she had given him
her portrait and told him that he might
at least love that. When this lover
marched away 10 Paris with the Giron'
dlsts ana tho neighboring volunteers.
she babe him a calm farewell. for she
knew she was going TO save him.
After her execution FranquellD went
home 10 his native village IN Nor
mandy. In the tender care Of his moth.
or lie gradually failed, for his heart
was broken the day his love perished
When he came 10 die he requested that
Charlotte's portrait aud letters be
buried with him. ana his grave holds
them sacrediy.
Charlotte began 10 prepare for her
Journey 10 Paris aud the tragedy she
had planned. Every effort was made
10 hide the appearance OF concealed
nurnose. When she arrived ut Paris
she al once set about her plans 10 ilnd |
Marat As n preparation she went 10
one OF the shops OF the palals Royal
and bought dagger shaped knife. pay
lHk " w wis out Nit
folds OF her dress. Her plan had been
10 XIII Marat In the very convention,
where she thought the deed would be |
avenged by killing her on the spot,
But Marat no longer went 10 the con,
vention. lie was III with disease that
was slowly killing him. aud hrs body
was In state OF disorder ana irrup-
Inn NJ n
fering. He was only comfortable when
IN the warm water OF his bath. lie
lived on the first iioor 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 aud journals were sent
Qut.
\After writing two letters asking for
interview. IN which she would give
some important news about sus-
ii persons. she got no reply. Then
she took her way TO the house, Insisted
that she must see him. and when for
bidden entrance by Marat's wife she
sllll urged the Importance OF her er-
rand Marat heard the sound OF their
voices aud shouted out for reason OF
the noise that bothered him. When
told that II was the woman who had
twice written him he bade her come in
The wife, against her will. let her pass.
Marat was In his bath. wrapped In
an Ink stained sheet. and was writing
on board laid across the bath. Ask.
lug her errand. he took down all the
details she gave him. When he had
the name OF each Glrondist who was
at work In CaeD he told her that IN a
week they would be brought 10 the ,
pulllotine. Then as she stood beside
the bath she plunged the knife into
his heart, AMI he died with cry TO
his wife TO come 10 him.
Just before her execution she wrote
TO the Girondlsts at Caen that she an.
Iicipated happiness with Brutus IN
the Elysian fields" after her death, and
she also wrote tender and loving fare
well letters TO her relatives and
friends.
When she had suffered death the ex-
'culioner lifted up her head by the
hair and struck 1t n brutal blow with
MS fist, Just at that moment gleam
II the sun so fell upon II that there ,
was the effect OF blush upon the
lead face Boston Globe.
a.,