The Centenary of the Execution of Marie Antoinette.

Manawatu Herald, 19 December 1893, Page 2

The Centenary of the Execution of Marie Antoinette.

' The centenary of the execution of Marie Antoinette was observed by the celebration of mass in several of the Fienchjparish churches. Xavier was a service at St Francois Hairer, attended by the partisans of the Comte de Paris.. Another, was held at St. Germain rAuxeirWis by request of Louis Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Nonnanby, and head of the Nimnslorf family of pretenders. About one hundred and fifty persons wore present. A splendid wreath bore the inscription, ** Pour porter a Marie Antoinette, paxles soins de son petit-fils Charles de Bourbon." The Chapelle Espiatoire, in the 80-jlvard Hanssmann, was visited by a considerable number of pet'sods during the day. t ne hundred years ago, on October 16, 1798, Marie Antoinette, widow of Louis XVI. was guillo tioned on the Place de la Revolution, now the Place de la Concorde. Thomas Carlyle, quoting from the " Histoiie de la Revolution poir deux amis de la liberie,' " thus describes the tragedy : — By ten o'clock numerous patriots were circulating in the streets. 30,--000 foot and horse drawn up under arms. At eleven Make Antoinette was brought out. She had on an undres3 of pique blanc. She was led to the place of execution in the same manner as an ordinary criminal —bound on a cart ; accompanied by a constitutional priest in lay dress, escorted by numerous attachment of infantry and cavalry. These and the double row of troops all along her road, she appeared to regard with indifference. On her countenance there was visible neither abashment nor pride. To the cries of " Vive la Republiqu&4" and " Down with tyranny !" which attended her all the way she seemed to pay no heed. She spoke little to her confessor. The tricolour streadmers on the housetops occupied her attention in the streets dn Roule and Saitit Honor©, she also noticed the inscriptions on the house fronts. On reaching tlu Piace de la Revolution h >r looks turned towards the Jardin National (whilom Tuilerie-j) ; her face at that moment gave signs of lively einotiou. She mounted the scaff >ld with e Mirage enough. At a quai-L-r ra^t twelve her head fell ; the executioner showed it to the people, amid universal, long continued ories of " Vive la Ropublique !"