The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-06-09
An Incident of the
French Revolution
B, MARTHA V. MONROE

I tNNchuSd ~ Was dpsOiNle. Jean Mile
was leader too. but a Conservative
The revolution was like roarin,
stream. that gathered power us il spe,
! on. Time came when those who haC
been Instrumental in starting it lost
their heads by trying 10 control Il;
Mlllet went into II hoping To reorgan
| lie the existing government Before
II finished its mad course it's object
was TO get rid Of the existing govern
ment and the class that supported il
by means of the guillotiue.
When order was restored under the
directory. lie Beouf who had made
bitter enemies during the period of
blood running from having sent So
many persons To the guilotine. found
himself exposed to plots Matched
against him for purposes of revenge.
One who had lost II near aud dcaG
relative spent n long time in manufac-
turing case of murder against him.
had him arrested and tried MiIlet
presided as judge, and it was in his
PpNtl Np w iiiStl u'l iilf Jul y ludl ilit,
must bring in verdict of guilty or
not guilty. as he chose When it be
came his duty To do this. instead of at
once addressing the jury he addressed
the prisoner
Citizen Antoine le Beouf. stand up"
lie Beouf who was much broken 10y
his troubles. could only stand by lean
ing on his daughter. young woman
perhaps twenty-three or twenty-four
years old.
Citizen le Beouf do YOU remember
during the reign Of terror one who at
the time the GirondistS were executed
protested against their executions"
There was no reply.
DO you remember that You sent out
an order for the arrest Of that person.
that he was brought before you and
adjudged an enemy Of the revolution?
He was confined in room in your
house-the prisons were too full to adj
nit him-till he could no sent to the
guillotine He escaped and strove as
before to keep the French people from
committing political suicide by their
murderous course Tel me. lie Beouf,
do you remember that MANI"
Yes" moaned the prisoner. II re.
member him"
All who heard the Judge speak be
lieved his words to be preliminary to
vengeance upon the accused They
supposed that he would in the end ask
lie Beouf IL he thought that one who
had sent so many 10 the plillotine
should be spared from the guillotine.
then instruct the jury that 1t was their
duty under the law 10 bring in YER
dict Of guilty. The girl who sustained
her father kept her eyes on the judge in
a frightened. reproachful look. like the
rest dreading his final words
This man Milet, who was trying to
stem the butchery of yourself and 9th
ers. kept himself out of your way. You
tried TO get your hands on him by open
means, but. failing. tried treachery.
You sent for him on the ground that
you wished TO form n union between
the Conservatives and the Radicals and
desired him ms representative man of
the Conservatives To- join with YOU TO
make the revolution less bloody. Sus.
pecting your design. he sent n man TO
meet you in n dark court. where you
would not recognize him He was
seized and hurried away But when the
light shone on him YOU saw that it was
you instead Of ] who had been tricked."
The prisoner trembled but said moth.
ing
And now. Antoine Ie Beouf. you who !
IN the bench--not the judicial bench. |
the bench of the revolution-sent So
many innocent persons To- the gullo.
Inc. what do you think that |. Judge |
regularly appointed by the state. should
10 in your case?"
The prisoner bowed his head without |
-eply. but his daughter in "A trembling |
voice said. You should be merciful. Nj |
e Judge"
mo. mademoiselle not merciful. |
Your father does not deserve mercy. |
But first ! should be just. II has not |
,eep proved that the prisoner commit
ed this murder with which he has
)eeD charged Bnt this is not my /
'uling motive. Gratitude is today !
stronger than justice-gratitude TO You,
Who. when was confined in the rear
" your fathers house while he was
n the front sending men and women
q the gulIotine. came and at the risk
If yourself dying TO save me opened
nv door and conducted ME to the
street. II is my duty to instruct the
ury i'm this case to bring in verdict
u not guilty, and il is my pleasure to
rive YOU your fathers life"
When the Judge was speaking the
asst words an Impressive silence reign
ID in the courtroom. Mile. lie Beouf
an TO the judge and. kneeliug before
hin. seized his hand and kissed it.
Raising her. he turned to the jury and
rave them his formal instructions that
reed the prisoner. Then lie Beouf
ried to thank the Judge: but. being an
Ible to speak. he waved his hand to
him and was led away by his daugh-
er.
a part OF the throng followed the re-
eased prisoner. and part remained
With the judge 10 express their interest
n his conduct and their admiration for
lin. He became one Of the prominent