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〃She keeps the keys to the stores！〃 howled Marat； 〃she prevents the
baker opening them。〃
〃She shall give us the keys！〃 yelled the great woman。
〃All the mothers and all the women of Paris must go to Versailles to
the baker's wife！〃
〃All mothers； all women to Versailles！〃 resounded in a thousand…
voiced chorus over the square； and then through the streets； and
then into the houses。
And all the mothers and wives caught up these thundering cries；
which came to them like unseen voices from the air； commissioning
them to engage in a noble； an exalted mission； calling to them to
save Paris and procure bread for their children。
〃To Versailles； to Versailles！ All mothers and women to Versailles！〃
Who was able to resist obeying this command； which no one had given；
which was heard by no single ear； yet was intelligible to every
heartwho could resist it？
The men had stormed the Bastile； the women must storm the heart of
the baker's wife in Versailles； till it yield and give to the
children of the poor the bread for which they hunger。
〃Up； to Versailles！ All wives and mothers！〃
The cry sweeps like a hurricane through the streets； and everywhere
finds an echo in the maddened； panic…stricken； despairing； raging
hearts of the women who see their children hunger； and suffer hunger
themselves。
〃The baker's wife feeds her apprentices with cakes； and we have not
a crumb of bread to give to our poor little ones！〃
In whole crowds the women dashed into the largest squares； where
were the men who fomented the revolution； Marat； Danton； Santerre；
Chaumette； and all the rest； the speakers at the clubs； there they
are； giving their counsels to the maddened women； and spurring them
on！
〃Do not be afraid； do not be turned aside！ Go to Versailles； brave
women！ Save your children； your husbands； from death by starvation！
Compel the baker's wife to give bread to you and for us all！ And if
she conceals it from you； storm her palace with violence； there will
be men there to help you。 Only be brave and undismayed； God will go
with mothers who are bringing bread to their children； and your
husbands will protect you！〃
They were brave and undismayed； the wives and mothers of Paris。 In
broad streams they rushed on； they broke over every thing which was
in their way； they drew all the women into their seething ranks。 〃To
Versailles！ To Versailles！〃
It was to no avail that De Bailly； the mayor of Paris； encountered
the women on the street； and urged them with pressing words to
return to their families and their work； and assured them that the
bakers had already opened their shops； and had been ordered to bake
bread。 It was in vain that the general of the National Guard；
Lafayette； had a discussion with the women； and tried to show them
how vain and useless was their action。
Louder and louder grew the commanding cry； 〃To Versailles！ We will
bring the baker and his wife to Paris！ To Versailles！〃
The crowds of women grew more and more dense； and still mightier was
the shout； 〃To Versailles！〃
Bailly went with pain to General Lafayette。 〃We must pacify them； or
you； general； must prevent them by force！〃 〃It is impossible；〃
replied Lafayette。 〃How could we use force against defenceless
women？ Not one of my soldiers would obey my commands； for these
women are the wives； the mothers； the sisters of my soldiers！ They
have no other weapons than their tongues with which to storm the
heart of the queen！ How could we conquer them with weapons of steel？
We must let them go！ But we must take precautions that the king and
the queen do not fall into danger。〃
〃That will be all the more necessary； general； as the women will
certainly be accompanied by armed crowds of men； and excitement and
confusion will accompany them all the way to Versailles。 Make haste；
general； to defend Versailles。 The columns of women are already in
motion； and； as I have said to you； they will be accompanied by
armed men！〃
〃It would not be well for me to take my soldiers to Versailles；〃
said Lafayette； shaking his head。 〃You know； M。 De Bailly； to what
follies the reactionaries of Versailles have already led the royal
family。 All Paris speaks of nothing else than of the holiday which
the king and queen have given to the royal troops； the regiment of
Flanders； which they have summoned to Versailles。 The king and the
queen； with the dauphin； were present。 The tri…colored cockade was
trodden under foot； and the people were arrayed in white ribbons。
Royalist songs were sang； the National Guard was bitterly talked of；
and an oath was given to the king and queen that commands would only
be received of them。 My soldiers are exasperated； and many of my
officers have desired of me to…day that we should repair to
Versailles and attack the regiment of Flanders and decimate them。 It
is； therefore； perilous to take these exasperated National Guards to
Versailles。〃
〃And yet something must be done for the protection of the king；〃
said Bailly； 〃believe me； these raging troops of women are more
dangerous than the exasperated National Guards。 Come； General
Lafayette； we will go to the city hall； and summon the magistracy
and the leaders of the National Guard； to take counsel of them。〃
An hour later the drums beat through all the streets of Paris； for
in the city hall the resolve had been taken that the National Guard
of Paris； under the lead of General Lafayette； should repair to
Versailles to protect the royal family against the attacks of the
people； but at the same time to protect the National Assembly
against the attacks of the royalist troops。
But long before the troops were in motion； and had really begun
their march to Versailles； the troops of women were already on their
way。 Soldiers of the National Guard and armed men from the people
accompanied the women； and secured among them a certain military
discipline。 They marched in ten separate columns； every one of which
consisted of more than a thousand women。
Each column was preceded by some soldiers of the National Guard；
with weapons on their shoulders； who； of their own free will； had
undertaken to be the leaders。 On both sides of each column marched
the armed men from the people； in order to inspire the women with
courage when they grew tired； but at the same time to compel those
who were weary of the long journey； or sick of the whole
undertaking； and who wanted to return to Paris； to come back into
the ranks and complete what they had begun； and carry the work of
revolution still further。 〃On to Versailles！〃
All was quiet in Versailles that day。 No one suspected the horrors
which it was to bring forth。 The king had gone with some of his
gentlemen to Meudon to hunt： the queen had gone to Trianon alone
all alone！
No one of her friends was now at her side； she had lost them all。 No
one was there to share the misery of the queen of all who had shared
her happiness。 The Duchess de Polignac； the princesses of the royal
house； the cheery brother of the king； Count d'Artois； the Count de
Coigny； Lords Besenval and Lauzun； where are they all now； the
friends； the suppliants of former days？ Far； far away in distant
lands； flown from the misfortune that； with its dark wings sinking；
was hovering lower and lower over Versailles； and darkening with its
uncanny shadows this Trianon which had once been so cheerful and
bright。 All now is desolate and still！ The mill rattles no more； the
open window is swung to and fro by the wind； and the miller no more
looks out with his good…natured； laughing face； the miller of
Trianon is no longer the king； and the burdens and cares of his
realm have bowed his head。 The school…house； too； is desolate； and
the learned master no longer writes his satires and jokes upon the
great black…board in the school…room。 He now writes libels and
pamphlets； but they are now directed against the queen； against the
former mistress of Trianon。 And there is the fish…pond； along whose
shores the sheep used to pasture； where the courtly company；
transformed into shepherds and shepherdesses； used to lie on the
grass； singing songs； arranging tableaux； and listening to the songs
which the band played behind the thicket。 All now is silent。 No
joyous tone now breaks the melancholy stillness which fills the
shady pathways of the grove where Marie Antoinette； the mistress of
Trianon； now walks with bended head and heart…broken spirit； only
the recollection of the past resounds as an echo in her inner ear；
and revives the cheerful strains which long have been silent。
At the fish…pond all is still； no flocks grazing on the shore； no
picturesque groups； no songs。 The spinning…wheel no longer whirls；
the hand of the queen no longer turns the spindle； she has learned
to hold the sceptre and the pen； and to weave public policy； and not
a net of linen。 The trees with their variegated autumn foliage are
reflected in the dark water of the pond； some weeping…willows droop
with their tapering branches down to the water； and a few swans come
slowly sailing across with their necks raised in their majestic
fashion。 As they saw the figure on the shore； they expanded their
wings and sailed quicker