Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-28

ABOUT the tlI[lS OF the FTellCn rev.
olution, Jean Vatican, of La Brie,
day laborer, earned a sCanty living
for his sister and her seven chill
dren. One time. when the IL j
was starving, he stole a loaf OF
bread. was caught and condemned to
the galleys for five years. Twice he
attempted to escape and failed. He
was a convict for nineteen years.
When he was discharged in 1915 he
was wicked, silent, chaste, ignorant
nd ferocious; his affectionate nature
had been poisoned against society.
But he had taught himself how to
cad. and he had thought.
Refused shelter or food at tavern
or private house, he came to Mon
signeur Myriel, bishop Of D, in the
foothills of the Alps. He was treat
ed like a prince; but in the night he
stole some Of the bishops silver
plate, was caught as he made off and
was brought back to the good bishop,
who, with a smile, assured the gen.
darmes that the articles were MOI
stolen. but given. Adding two silver
randlesticks, the bishop said to him:
Take them and become an honest
man. My brother, you no longer be-
.ong to the evil, but to good. | have
bought your soul Of you. I give 1t
to God"
AS he fed, he yielded to one last
temptation to do wrong; he too.
from a hurdy-gurdy boy a. two-franc
piece, but almost Immediately, filled
with remorse, he tried in vain to
find the boy. Two years later
stranger, dressed like a working
man, arrived in the little city of NJ
sur NJ. Just as he arrived a fire
broke out in the town hall and he
rescued two children belonging to
the captain of police. This saved
him from having to show his pass
port. He made an invention and soou
became prosperous. He built great
workshops, endowed hospital,
founded schools, paid high wages ana
was made mayor.
Employed in his factory was Fan
tine, a girl who had been deserted in
Paris by an unworthy lover. She
had left her baby, Cosette, with
crafty and hideous pair named. The
nader. When ito was learned that
she had an illegi innate enid, She a,
discharged without the knowledge of
M. Madeline, the benevolent manu-
facturer, and was reduced to such
poverty that she could not pay the
Thenadiers, who took Cosette's
clothes for their own girls and W.Ut.
Famine for more. The girl sold her
beautiful blond hair; then they in
formed her that Cosette was i'll,
which was q lie, and demanded 100
francs. To obtain this she sold two
front teeth to a travelling dentist;
then she went on the town, and when
absolute dandy, to annoy her, put
snow down her back, she scratched
his face and was arrested by JaverL.
inspector of police, brutal and over
oftlcious tyrant, who had been al.
tached to the galleys when Jean VAL
Jean was there and suspected the
mayor Of M. of being the former COZ. .
Wet. The mayor freed Famine, She
supposed he was the cause Of her
misfortune and spat in his face, He
took the affront meekly and investi-
gated her complaint. She was Ill of
consumption and he provided for her
and promised to look out for he1
child.
About the same time the police ar
rested another man, who three for
mer conv1cts sWore was the missing
Jean Vatican. Jean Valjean's con-
science would not allow an innocent
person to be punished In his place.
Surmounting extraordinary difficult
ties, he went to Arras, where the
trial took place, and just as the judge
was condemning the wrong man, he
confessed he was the missing convict
that had robbed the bishop and the
hurdy-gurdy boy.
The judge let him go; but Javert
was tmplacable and apprehended him
at Fantine's death bed. He was
lodged in Jail, but having enormous
strength, he broke out and returned
to his house to secure his great for
tune. He had time to hide his money
in the haunted forest of Montfer-
neil, but was captured once more
and sent to the galleys for life.
Nine months later at Toulon he
broke his chain and saved the life
Of a sailor who was hanging head
down from the topmast Of ship,
but he himself either fell or jumped
off from the par and was reported
drowned. The Battle OF Waterloo
had taken place and the Thenadters,
who had been guilty Of robbing the
dead on the fatal field, kept
wretched inn At Montfermei. They
treated Corsette, now eight years old.
with great cruelty. Christmas, 1929,
was the climax of her wretchedness;
she was sent after dark to fetch
water from a spring in the dreadful
forest. A poorly dressed stranger
passing, carried her heavy bucket. At
the tavern he protected her from
mistress threatened punishment, and
the next morning he paid Thenadier
1900 francs and took Corsette to