X. Madame Roland. "The mind is its own place."-MILTON. GREAT events are the pedestals that bear aloft noble and beautiful characters, which might else lie low in obscurity; nay, they are the chisel strokes which give bold prominence to characters that might otherwise have been unskilfully shaped, or destined to grace only a hidden niche. The revolutions that have repeatedly convulsed France must necessarily have furnished numerous subjects for history. Though there are many whose career was longer and more brilliant, there are few, if any, who came forth from the lower ranks of life and secured, by their talent, such influence over intelligent minds as was gained by Madame Roland. Gifted with a vivid imagination balanced by strong good sense, quick perceptions, and clear reasoning pow ers, and inspired by an ambition to emulate the old Roman heroines in the achievement of some great and virtuous deed, it is not surprising that she should have soared above the humble sphere in which her girlhood was placed, even had not her father's bitter denuncia tions against the all-powerful aristocracy, or the spirit which pervaded the lower classes before the outburst of the revolution, given shape and direction to her aspirations. Jeanne Manon Roland was born in 1754, in an humble home on the Quai des Orfevres, Paris. Her father, called Gratien Phlippon, was an engraver and daily superintended the thrifty shop with its busy workmen, which was the source of his limited fortune. By industry, economy, and the assistance of a prudent wife, he had secured comfortable apartments above the shop, where they lived as happily as his restless, fretful disposition would allow. At the time of Manon's birth he had grown discontented with his lot in life; hatred burned in his heart towards the pampered nobility who rolled in wealth, while he and his fellow-laborers, were made to yield an unjust portion of their hard earnings to support the luxury of arrogant superiors. Madame Phlippon had no sympathy with the feverish discontent of her more ambitious husband. Of a cheerful, placid temperament, she was satisfied to remain in the position in which God had placed her, and with the faith and fortitude of a Christian, performed in unquestioning readiness whatever she found for her hands to do. Thus to a virtuous, pious mother, and an infidel father was given a young spirit, ready for the moulding hand of good or evil. Had Manon been one of several children, she might have been left more to her mother's guidance and instruction, but the only surviving child of eight, lively and precocious, pretty and winning, her father took her into his arms and |