THE COMMUNE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1024, 7 November 1871, Page 3

THE COMMUNE.

Of all the prisoners of the Commune the only one who showed any nobility of spirit was a join aeyman dyer of the name of Clement. His story drew tears from many eyes, and was the only redeeming episode of the trials. For three years before the Commune, Clement had been foreman to a master, a most respectable man. This master, Hallu by name, gave evidence now in his favor — " When the Prussian bombs fell in the Vaugirard quarter, where he lived, all his workmen left him but Clement. He helped him to take his property down to the cellar, and slept in the cellar with him. He should feel eternally grateful to him for it. One day Clement said there was no good wine for the wounded in the hospital hard by, and he begged to be allowed, out of his wages, to pay for six bottles out of his master's cellar. The master took his money, and made up the dozen as a contribution. Three weeks after Clement was elected to the Commune and mayor of the 15th Arrondissement. He called upon his old master, and dined with him. Conversation naturally tnrncd upon the Commuue. Clement said. . " lam afraid they are a bad lot ; they are a set of Jacobins and will do no good; I wish I were again in my wooden shoes." The master asked him why he did not leave and come back to his work, and he answered that, having undertaken to be mayor of his arrondissement, he could not leave it, as he might prevent a great deal of harm. Witnesses innumerable proved that Clement protected priests, nuns, and churches with extraordinary zeal and courage. Priests especially spoke with eloquence in his favor, and said he was the type of an honest and honorable man. When the Versaillist troops entered Paris and the Commune was finally conquered, Clement called on his old master Hallu and confided to his care a sum of 10,600 f, the balance of the funds in the mairie. ( This money,' he ■aid, ' belongs to the poor of my arrondissement. Heaven knows what will become of me, but I can trust you will give this sacred deposit to the legally-consti-tuted authorities.' The master said the only thing he could say against Clement was that his head was turned by the socialist theories of Proudhon." He has accordingly escaped with three months' imprisonment.