The Memoirs of a Physician (Volume 32) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1894. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER LV. THE DECLARATION OF HUMAN BIGHT8. Pitou, to whose mind this noise recalled the Parisian riots, which he had more than once witnessed, --believing that he saw a band of ruffians approaching, believing that he should be called upon to defend some new Flesselles, some new Foulou, some new Berthier, -- gave the order "To arms " and put himself at the head of his thirtythree men. Then the crowd divided, and he saw advancing the Abbe Fortier, dragged along by Billot, and needing only a palm-branch to make him like the ancient Christians, when they were forced into the arena of the Coliseum. A natural feeling impelled him to the support of his old teacher, of whose offence he was as yet ignorant. "Oh Monsieur Billot I" he cried, throwing himself in front of the farmer. "Oh father I" cried Catherine, with a movement so exactly like Pitou's, that one might believe they had been trained by the same scene-manager. It only required a glance from Billot, to check Pitou on one side, and Catherine on the other. There were both the eagle and the lion in that man, who represented the incarnation of the popular uprising. At the foot of the staging he loosed his hold upon the priest, and said, pointing to the platform with his finger: "There is the Patriot Altar, at which thou hast disdained to officiate, but which I now declare thee unworthy to serve. To ascend these sacred steps the heart should be filled with three sentiments -- desire for liberty, devotion to country, love of humanity. Priest dost thou desire the enfranchisement of the world? Priest art thou devoted to thy country? Priest lovest thou thy neighbor as thyself? Then ascend boldly to the altar, and call upon God but if thou dost not feel thyself to be a leader among us, as a citizen, -- chief among ...