"The Ninth Thermidor."

The Ninth Thermidor marked the close of the "Reign of Terror" in France, July 28th, 1794. At the end of the French Revolution, a new calendar was set forth. It was to date from September 22d, 1792, which was to be the first day of the year one, the year of the foundation of the Republic. The new year was to consist of twelve months of thirty days each, with five additional days for festivals in an ordinary year, and six in a leap-year. In order that the Lord's Day might not be observed, it was ordered that the month should be divided into three decades, a day of rest being allowed at the end of each decade, or ten days. To each month was given a name significant of the weather, or the season. Beginning with the Autumn (September 22d) the months were as follows: Vendemaire, vintage month; Brumaire, fog month; Frimaire, hoar-frost month; Nivose, snow month; Pluviose, rain month; Ventose, wind month; Germinal, sprout month; Floreal, flower month; Prairial, meadow month; Messidor, harvest month; Thermidor, hot month; Fructidor, fruit month.

"The Revolution of the Ninth Thermidor" was when the Convention, seeing that Robespierre would condemn friends and foes alike, formed a combination to impeach him. Robespierre attempted a defence, but cries of "Down with the tyrant!" drowned his voice. The night was passed in a furious struggle. When the day had fairly dawned, Robespierre lay on a table in the Tuileries, a prisoner, self-wounded and insensible. Before night his head had fallen by the guillotine, and the long "Reign of Terror" was over.

An English wit, by way of ridicule, gave the following translation of the new French calendar:--