In its solitude drooping, like one in despair,
It shrunk ’neath the blast of the wintry air.
In the wildness of nature unnoticed it grew,
No solace or warmth from companions it drew;
Forsaken—unpitied—unwept for—unknown,
Like a child of the desert, it perished alone.
Robespierre.—Mademoiselle Gabarcos, the daughter of a Spanish banker, and one of the finest women of her time, married Talien, to save the life of her father. At the epoch of the 8th Fructidor, some deputies who had been placed on the proscription list by Robespierre, wished to delay the attack upon him in the Convention. Madame Talien, who had brought them together in her house, finding that they hesitated, addressed them in the following terms:—“Cowards, since you will not deliver France of this monster, you shall not live to see the destruction of your country, for I will immediately send him your names.” This bold declaration electrified them. Next day Robespierre ceased to exist.
W.G.C.
Who are “the uneducated?”—What is meant by uneducated, in a time when books have come into the world; come to be household furniture in every habitation of the civilized world. In the poorest cottage are books; is one book, wherein for several thousands of years the spirit of man has found light, and nourishment, and an interpreting response to whatever is deepest in him; wherein still, to this day, for the eye that will look well, the Mystery of Existence reflects itself, if not resolved, yet revealed, and prophetically emblemed; if not to the satisfying of the outward sense, yet to the opening of the inward sense, which is the far grander result. “In books lie the creative Phoenix’ ashes of the whole Past.” All that men have devised, discovered, done, felt, or imagined, lies recorded in books; wherein whoso has learned the mystery of spelling printed letters, may find it, and appropriate it.—Edinburgh Review.
A veteran dramatist now alive, distinguished for the oddness of his humour, being required to state his grounds of exemption from serving in the militia, actually wrote on the official paper, “Old, lame, and a coward!”