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Newport News, Virginia
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The Luxembourg Palace in Paris served as a prison during the French Revolution, holding figures like Josephine (whose husband was executed in 1794) and revolutionaries Danton, Desmoulins, and Robespierre, all later guillotined. From 1795-1799, the Directory met there and hosted a fete for Bonaparte.
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Perhaps the most interesting period of all the history of the palace was during the French Revolution, when it served as a prison. As the little girl said: "Josephine was one of the few, perhaps the only one, imprisoned there who did not have her head chopped off." Her husband, however, did. He was executed in 1794 and in 1796 she married Napoleon. It is almost comical to note the rapidity with which public feeling changed. The judges and rulers of one day were the victims of the next. The leaders of the revolution enjoyed to the full their power and then submitted cheerfully when the tide turned and laid their own heads beneath the same fatal knife. Danton, Camille Desmoulins, Robespierre, all were sent to the Luxembourg. All went thence to the same death they had inflicted on so many thousands.
Danton, the father of the French Revolution, kept at heart the love of country, even though carried away by the mad frenzy of that time, cruel, perhaps, but never a coward, never selfish, scorning to escape, when escape was possible.
"Can a man then take his country with him that I should dream of flight? I care not what becomes of me nor how my name is cursed it France be free."
Camille Desmoulins who roused the people and led them to the capture of the Bastille, laughed and went gaily to the guillotine when the frantic mob, careless of its words and wanting only blood, demanded his death too. They did not even spare his girl wife, the gentlest and the loveliest woman in all Paris, she was called.
When Robespierre was sent there, the gatekeeper, a personal friend, refused to take him prisoner. It did not delay his fate, however. The same day he was seized, wounded and thrown, groaning with pain, to the guillotine.
From 1795 to 1799 the five "directors" met in the Luxembourg. They gave a magnificent fete there, after the treaty of Campo-Formio had been signed in honor of the young General Bonaparte.
(Continued on Page Thirteen).
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Luxembourg
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During The French Revolution, 1794 1799
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Luxembourg Palace used as prison during Revolution; Josephine imprisoned but survived, husband executed 1794, married Napoleon 1796; revolutionaries Danton, Desmoulins, Robespierre imprisoned and guillotined; Directory met there 1795-1799, fete for Bonaparte.