Alfred de Rosann — page 179: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

170 ALFRED DE ROSANN. were to be trampled under foot, and to bow the knee to his majesty in blind idolatry. De Rosann scarcely believed his sight—he gazed a second time at the journal-he held in his hand, and still the official column commenced with the same words—the Gazette declared the privilege of recording public opinions to be suddenly withdrawn. Hence those diversified feelings expressed upon different countenances ; hence those anxious glances, those furtive looks, those timid whisperings. But the popular fury soon broke forth: astonishment yielded to indignation, indignation to cries of “ Liberty,’? and the crown trembled upon the head of the imprudent Charles. Like the fluid com- municated by the chains of a galvanic battery, flew the spirit of rebellion ; an oppressed people arose to combat for its rights and for its privileges ; the tri- coloured flag was hoisted from many a window ; the tri-coloured cockade was attached to many a cap; De Rosann now guessed the meaning of the watch-word he had whispered in the ear of Plombier ; all mystery was dispelled ; he was one of the chosen partizans of the original agitators ; and, according to his promise to Leblond, he seized a musket and a sword, and en- rolled himself amongst the ranks of those who fought for their rights against the evil devices of tyranny and oppression ! | For three days the combat raged with sanguinary violence. The trees of the Boulevards were cut down to form barricades against the approach of the cavalry regiments which still supported the Bourbon cause ; and when the citizens lacked arms and am- munition, they tore up the pavement to hurl at their opponents. From every window was pointed a deadly weapon of some kind: old men, young maidens, infants, and feeble women lent their aid to repel the royalists. Many a widow avenged her slaughtered husband’s massacre —many a veteran, with hoary locks and wrinkled brow, laid aside the staff that for years had supported his tottering limbs, and brandished the glittering sword. The tri-coloured Go JOOKS GO =) a