NARROW ESCAPES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5490, 21 June 1879, Page 7

NARROW ESCAPES.

Most singular was the escape of a young Shropshire lady from an ignominious death Staying in Paris daring the Reign of Terror she was dragged, with other unfortunate '. "aristocrats," before one of the tribunals. She pleaded, that she was an Englfshwoman ; but was on the point of being hurried out to the waiting tumbril, when one of the Judges asked her what province in England she was a native of. In her fright she exclaimed, " Salop 1" a reply greeted by a general shout and clapping of hands, followed by an order to let her gn ; and, ainid cries of "Salope! Salope !" the dazed girl was hustled into the street to run home, wondering that her head was still on her shoulders, little thinking that by uttering the word ".•falop," she had effectually rebutted the notion of her being one of the hated aristocrats, thanks to "Salope" being a word then used to designate one of the moat depraved of her sex. Another remarkable escape of that terrible time was that of M. De Chateaubrun, for he was not only condemned, but actually waited his turn at tho gullotine, stanning fcixteenth in a line of twenty. The fifteenth head had fallen, when the machine got out of order, and the fivo had to wait until it was repaired. The crowd pressed forward to see what was going on, and as it began to grow dark, M. De Chateaubrun found himself gradually thrust into the rear of the spectators ; so he wisely sloped away, and meeting a man simple enough or charitable enough to take his word that a wag had tied his hands and run off with his hat, had his hands set free, and managed to reach a safe hiding place. A few days later he put himself beyond the reach of the executioner.— Chamber's Journal.