RELICS OF THE TERROR.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17411, 25 May 1928, Page 9

RELICS OF THE TERROR.

REVEALED IN FRENCH ARCHIVES. A wonderful exhibition which vividly recalls the early years of the -French Revolution in all its horrors and dramatic movement was opened on January 25 at the Bibliotheque National by M. Harriot, Minister of Pub-Ire Instruction (writes the Paris correspondent of tiie Morning Post), j The State archives and museums | throughout France have been ran- ! sacked for relics and original do-cu-j mepls, while the Belgian Government ' has tent- for the occasion the famous I picture by David of Murat’s assassination’. The room in which the exhibition is being held is itself of high historic interest, for it was there that the French nobles asked ! Louis XVI for permission to hold a j meeting in view of the forthcoming I Assembly of the Slates General. ' Among this mass of interesting material (nearly 1000 pieces in ail are catalogued), it is hard in single out any object for special attention, hut perhaps the exhibit which brings most vividly to one’s mind the revolutionary ■scene is a copy of Marat’s periodical ! "L'Arni du Peupie." Two sheets are 1 shown, the tower halves of which j are marked with a reddish-brown | slain, the blood of Marat. These | sheets were found by the side of his ; hath by his sister Albertine after he had been assassinated by Charlotte j Corday. There are also a number of I letters' of Charlotte Corday herself. 1 One letter written shortly before her execution, hut, nevertheless, penned in a bold hand exceedingly easy to i read, is addressed to the Committee of j tiie rfurete Generate, and asks for her I portrait to be painted. Charlotte be- ! gins the letter, “Since I have still | some moments to live,” and then asks i if some artist can be sent. 1 should | like to leave to my friends this sign j of my remembrance.” She adds ! something ironically, "As the image ol i good citizens is cherished, curiosity I sometimes makes good people search ! for Dial of great criminals.” I One of the most touching exhibits j is a small "ulliee” belonging to Marie j Antoinette, in which she said good- ! live to her children before being taken j lo the scaffold. The message runs: ; “iGth October, 4.30 in the morning, i Mon Dim, my eyes have no more ! tears to weep for you, my poor ch.il- : dren. Adieu. adieu. —Marie AnI loinette.” Close to the case in j which this book is shown is another ! containing a handbill announcing the

sale of the furniture and the belongings of the Queen. An exhibit la which M. Herriot appeared to pay special attention was a brief diary of the time, kept by Bailly, Mayor of Paris, who was later guillotined. It is open at July, 1789, and under the date of the 14th, when the Bastille fell, appears a single word, “Rien” (“Nothing”). The hall is hung with copies of the flags which were used I at one time or another during the re- * volutionary period—any of them being far more artistic in appearance than the present tricolour. ;Tlie historic letters of Louis XVI are -also j shown, one written before the attack jon the Tui-i erics. ordering the Swiss ! Guards to lay down their arms and I return to the baracks, and the other j demanding “an interval of three days i to prepare themselves to appear be- ! fore the presence of God.”