The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-19
Madame Remier
b. E. French STROLLER


was between the day when she es- |
capped the first sentence through a |
soldiers jest and the day when she |
was led the second time to public exc
cution. | heard her story from one
who knew what was before and after.
NJ. Renter, her husband. lost his
mind a few years after she was mar
ried, through conduct that gave his
wife no couse to pity him, and left her
with three children to raise. and the
bills for his care at the Hospital St.
Anne, which was home for the
feeble-minded Sometimes NJ. Remier
escaped from his lax guards, and there
were more bills for returning him to
the hospital
Then came Napoleon the Third.
Nine. Renter taught school in the
daytime, and cCnspired against the
monarchy at night. She was inteili-
gent enough and radical enough to be
leader among the Republicans. She
was also clever enough not to be
caught for some time. But when the
first fury came against the Repub-
llCdLS, size Was one Ol tuOSc diTtSteu
and sentenced to be shot at once.
There was little ceremony about the
executions. Only one formality was
observed, when the condemned were
huddled at the allday -slaughters on
the sand-shelves beside the Seine.
They were told off in squads of 80.
who were all tied along one rope to
be shot together.
When Nine. Renter turn came. her
lot fell to be tied at the end of the
rope with % men. Thus they stood
bareheaded in the sun, almost before
the dead bodies of the score and ten
who had preceded them were tumbled
into barge to be towed away for
burial
1t was too late to think of herself
she was lost-but what of Renter.
the imbe lie and of little Paul and
Victor and Ic:n? Dieu. Would the
soldiers shoot before she could think
how they might be cared for? Why
doesn't the sergeant leave that little
priest and command the men to fire?
One! Two" What's the matter?
What are they waiting for?
The sergeant stopped his count and
stepped forward.
For shame! 1t is almost night, and
one woman must not lie in the same
/ bed with so many men"
| They united her and put a man In
her place. The rifles quickly sang
the 80 to sleep. II was too dark to
kill more that night-the others must
wat until morning. On the return to
! the prison, Nine. Renter escaped into
/ the darkness
II was few weeks later when
met her Victor and Paul had been
put to bed in the corner and Jean was
room she occupied. We talked brief
ly of her countrymen in America, to
which | was about to return. | asked
her If she should not try to escape
with the children to go on my vessel
No, there was Renter; and more
France. The republic must be re
stored, and she must do her part. She
wished me safe passage, and wished
her deliverance, and left. never
saw her again. | have the rest from
NJ Passaud, who lived to receive many
hOnors from the republic.
The Commune began. Nine. Remiel
left the children with weaker friend
streets She fought with the men anC
slept on the cobblestones. She was In
the final struggle, heaving stones from
"a barricade at the gendarmes. and she
was captured while her fingers were
throttling the last breath of soldier
of Napoleon.
Again her name was inscribed or
the death roll. The day after hel
mock trial she was among the thou
sands of condemned waiting to heal
their names called for them to steI
out before the cathedral doors and b,
shot down. From six In the morning
until noon, and from noon until foul
O'Clock she stood and watched tn,
monotonOus succession of name,
called, men and women taking thei
positions before the guns, the ser
| geants count. the flash and the report
and blood running into the gutte
from the steps,
Now they were down to the RS.
Rabutin, Racine. Ragon, Ram
baud Rambouillet Rameau, Ra
NEE! Families, Rance, Ravallac
Ready, One, Two, Three, Fire.
And more little rivulets of blood
Now they were ready for the es.
Recamier, Recife, RecolIet, Reg
nier! Renard, Rene, Renter
"Ah, At last"
"Remier, Remier, Where is Re
mier?"
Here" Mime. Remier heard som,
one answer
Step lively, Remier,"
Shambling from the press. the bod,
and the vacant face of NJ Renter ap
cared With child's obedience h,
stepped to the place a soldier pointed
him.
Nine. Rcmier screamed Her or,
was unnoticed 1T was like many tina
Lad been heard that day. She coulc
not move This was her husband II.
the father of her children.
All right. sergeant"
Ready, One, Two, Three Fret
And NJ Remier slipped to the pave
ment falling with his face In a littl.
pool OF blood.