The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-03-07
philadelphia Press)


character, great mental gifts or per
sonal fascination, exercised an infu
ence over the prominent actors in that
terrible drama, the most distinguished
was Nine. Roland de la Platiere, the
wife of the Girondist Minister of Louis
XVI.
In her wonderful gift of eloquence
she far outshone Nine. de Stael, whose
papers on freedom were mainly in
spired by overweening vanity and CON
slant craving for admiration. But the
sentiments of Nine. Roland came from
the heart, and whether written or spok-
en-, her true feelings were expressed
in them.
Nine. Roland was born Marie-Jeanne
Philipson, or Manon, as she was called
for short. The chief interest of the
Philipson household was centered in
it's one little girl, the only child of
seven left.
From long and diligent study of the
dHClGUL DullObbDhClp luu
their lofty views of independence and
ardent patriotism. Above all, she be-
lieved in liberty. The very word
seemed to fire her soul The Individual
who did not enjoy personal liberty, did
not, in her estimation, live at all.
Although her mother was a pious
woman, she permitted her daughter u
wide range of reading. She tried to
inspire her with religion, not to force
1t, for forced religion appeared in
Nine. Philipson's eyes degradation
and slavery which could not be ac-
cepted by God as tribute worthy of
Him.
At all events Nine. Roland's devo-
| ton was ardent She really yearned
after the cloister and dreamed of mar
| tyrdom She entered convent at the
age of and found herself happy for
season. She loved the mysticism of
| it all The mystic sounds OF the or
gan accompanied by the youthful voic-
es of the nuns and novices completed
/
her religious ecstacy.
! And yet from the depths of this re-
tired life she caught occasional glimps-
es of the great world which rolled on
in splendor around her; the pride Of
this aristocratic world which saw her
without deigning her q single thought
| oppressed her soul. she resented this
A state of society in which she held
no rank seemed wrong. 1t was not at
all question of envy, but a sense OF
offended justice.
She was taken to spend week In
! Versailles in the palace of that kine
and Queen whose throne she was one
day destined to overthrow. Lodged
in that attic with some of the servants
she had chance of viewing the wild
orgies and woeful extravagances oI
the aristocrats. This made her blood
boil and she made solemn vow that
/ she would avenge the people out ol
whose pockets the money came for the
qualification of these Roman holidays
The monarchy must be overthrown
and the people of the nation allowed
to come into their own. II was mad
Idea perhaps, and one, which II sue
cessfully carried out, she would have
to pay for with her life. No matter
II must be done and she would do all
In her power to accomplish this de
sired end.
Some historian has said that woman
Is concerned In the origin Of all nigh
ty events. Certainly this woman was
destined to be an actor In the origin
of the French republic, and woman
who was not an aristocrat. No one
was prouder OF this fact than Mime
Roland herself It gave her more free
dom to act.
Certain men, some Girondists, 9th
ers Jacobms, but all known under the
common name of patriots, were form
ing the nucleus of Il grand republican
government There were Robespierre
Brissot and host of others.
The home of Nine Roland was the
center of this movement, II was there
that these two factions met, and to.
gether worked to overthrow the mon,
archy, She had youth, beauty and gen.
ius, and she used them, all for her pur.
pose. And yet 1t was neither her
wealth nor her celebrity which sue.
cessfully attracted these men. 1t was
the invisible attraction of common
faith. They all pulled together, They
felt they had justice on their side and
madam said she was willing to die for
the cause.
Madam wrote patriotic letters and
contributed frequently to the political
journals of the day, and in this way
did all in her power to urge on the pa
triotic cause, She paid particular at
tention to the patriotic clubs and sent
letters to some of them. She never
signed these letters, for she believed