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ALEXANDRE DUMAS AND THE
EXECUTIONER.
In the Indipcndaito of Naples, M. Alexandre
Dumas has just published, under the title of
' Memories de Monsieur de Paris, the following
curious narrative : " I have read," said the
writer, in many narratives of the death of Louis
XVI. that he refused to ascend the scaffold,
that it was found necessary to use force, and
that a struggle took place between him and the
executioner's assistants. This incident seemed
to me so contrary to the character of the King
that was anxious to ascertain the truth, if
possible, and, for that purpose, resolved to apply
to Monsieur de Paris himself, who was the son
of Sanson, who guillotined Louis XVI. ; he was
only twelve or fourteen years old at the time,
and, as he was present on the scaffold, he must
certainly remember all that took place on that
memorable occasion. * * I told him who I
was, and after an exclamation of surprise he
eagerly requested to know what he could do to
oblige me. 'You can clear up, I said an
historical doubt. You were present at the execution
of Louis XVI. ?' I was.' ' And do you
remember it perfectly of ' I do ' Well, sir, some
historians say that, at the foot of the scaffold
Louis XVI. shrunk from death that he struggled
with the executioners, and was, in a manner
lifted on to the scaffold. For my part I do not
believe the statement, as it was contrary to his
character and temperament.' ' There is nevertheless
some truth in it' replied the other, ' as
Louis XVI did struggle violently for a moment
with my father's assistants, and for the reason
I am about to explain. You are aware that Louis
XVI. was conveyed to the place of execution in
his own carriage and without being pinioned.
Before he ascended the steps, the executioner's
assistants, fearing he might struggle at the last
moment, wished to bind his hands with a cord ;
but this indignity roused all the pride still surviving
in the unhappy monarch, and he resisted
exclaiming, 'None ; I will never submit to that 1
The men were about to use force, when my
father stepped forward, _ and, taking from his
pocket a handkerchief, said, in a tremulous voice
and tearful eyes, ' With this handkerchief,
sire r" Louis XVI. had not heard himself called
sire for six months before. He looked at my
father, saw his tears, and at once held out his
hands, which my father tied with the hands
kerchief. The great passed us related by the
historians.' Having obtained Samson's permission
to ask a few other questions, I requested
to know whether it was true that the office he
held was hereditary and obligatory in his family.
No, sir,' he replied, ' but in the absence of a
positive law, there is the law of properties.
What profession but his father's can the son of
an executioner follow P I await your other
questions.' My next inquiry was, whether it
was true that he could not have a carriage
except on condition that his name should be
inscribed on the doors. There is no obligation,'
replied he but such is the custom. Should
you like to see how we elude it in practice ?'
Having answered in the affirmative, he said that
he would take me down to see the carriage, and
accordingly ordered the servant to bring a
lantern. While the man was gone, Samson said
that his daughter would never forgive him if
he allowed me to leave without her seeing me,
and was about to fetch her when I remarked
that I would rather go to her in the drawing
room. He seemed pleased with my proposal,
and we went there. On entering the room, we
found her seated at the piano. She was a fair
girl of about eighteen, with blue eyes, and a
rather melancholy expression of countenance.
My dear, said Sanson, 'here is a gentleman
you think much of ; knowing all your admiration
for him, I would not let him leave without doing
you the honor to embrace you. She looked
embarrassed, and blushed quite rod. ' First of
all, father, said she with some confusion, ' I
wish to know the gentleman's name. He
replied, ' You shall know it afterwards, for if I
told you first, it is you that would embrace
him.' ' O father I' she exclaimed, in a tone of
reproach. I then embraced her, after which
she looked inquiringly at her father, who said
Well ! he is M. Alexandre Dumas.' She
then dropped on a chair, and sat looking at
me as if amazed. ' Look at him well, girl,'
said the father, with that melancholy accent
which was habitual to him, for it is probably
the first and the last time you will ever behold
him !' This little scene made such an impression
on me, that fifteen years later I attempted to
reproduce it in the novel of Latino Margot.'
We then went down to the coach-house, in
which there were two or three carriages. Sunaon
took me to the handsomest, and showed me the
escutcheon on the door. It represented a
broken bell argent on a red ground, and under it
as a motto were the two words sans servicing
a pun on the family name. Having learned all
I wished to know, I now expressed my thanks
to M. Samson, and took my leave."
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