AL/lSKA—-WHAT IS IT WORTH!
1868.]
18 5
fear with and the agitation the letter Temple would be a luxury on this morn- l, and, cherished medal,isisfinished, handed ing of October 16, 1793, when even the Conciergerie is thought too good for hurriedly to Lebeau. But is not Marie “ Give them to Marie Antoinette. Well may Rosalie Antoinette doomed? Lamorliére and good Lebeau lament ‘ me,” cries an official spy. Vhat good over the fate of their royal charge, for to start, to complain, daughter of the Caesars? You thank Santerre when he here she comes, dressed in common white enters bearing your death-warrant: you cloth, haggard, feeble, an old woman at thirty-eight! Insults still are heaped refuse the proffer of one of Robespierre’s upon her: she may not even disrobe priests; you almost faint at sight of the without knowing that men's eyes are red-hooded executioner, Samson, and upon her; and see! an oflicer dares doubt recoil with horror when your hands are her virtue while death stares her in the bound. Louis XVI. was spared this in One face! All humanity even in 1793 is not sult. Submit; ’t.is God’s will. more agony and you will be worthy of brutal, thank Heaven! Marie Antoi nette can turn to Rosalie and Lebeau for immortality. Your beautiful hair, white as the driven snow, lies at your feet. sympathy_-aye, for aid even. They pro mise to fulfill her last requests and find Gaze at it sadly, 0 Queen! Then on her paper on which to write that historic your knees in prayer, defiant of man, letter to Madame Elizabeth. The Queen trusting in God, go to your grave as the is glad to die, for she knows that Simon bravest, most unfortunate, most beautiful has corrupted the Dauphin’s heart; she woman that ever ascended a throne. knows that her angel has signed that It is over; all are dead save one.
terrible accusation against herself; she does not know that the poor boy was stupefied with liquor at the time. “I appeal to the secret cry of nature, to every living mother-_let them say if it be possible!” exclaims the royal mother, with a pose ever to be remembered. Vhat? Lebeau undeceives her with regard to the Dauphin, and on her knees, l
almost frantic with joy, Marie Antoi
nette kisses the good man’s hands in very gratitude.
The Dauphin loves her.
It
is enough; and with a lighter heart she sits down to write.
A
repentant nation seeks to ease its guilty
In almost breathless
conscience by granting Madame Royale freedom and two trunk: uf cloz‘/1e.H “O Liberty! what crimes are perpetrated in thy name!” Ve have written of this drama as if it were real. It ir real. Ve have hardly mentioned Ristori, because Ristori is Marie Antoinette. Never have we seen a drama so splendidly acted from beginning to end, and with heart and head we thank Italy for such a picture of the French Revo lution as we ne‘er shall look upon again.
ALAS KA-WHAT IS IT WORTH?
THIS is now the foremost question of its kind “ before the House and the country,” as the Member from Blank has said, or will say, and it is proper to aid in elucidating it if we can furnish or suggest material for this purpose. It is popularly supposed that a train of pur
I
i
chase of Alaska, and many persons will doubtless form their conclusions as to the propriety of paying for this conti nental tract by their fears that the pre cedent may lead to bargains in volcanic islands, the very existence of which may not be depended upon. We propose to
of Samana and the Sandwich Islands are
l 1 '
and to give the reader some facts that
but the beginning, will follow the pur
I
we believe are new.
chases, of which St. Thomas, the Bay
Vo1.. l.—:4
look at this case on its merits, however,
