Home › Contents › Great Events of History

Great Events of History

OOKING into the rec- The great Revolution in France, at the ords of ages past, we close of the last century, was full of wondiscover many events derful events, many of which might be too important ever to appropriately recorded in our pages. One be forgotten. These of the most striking among them was the have been recorded, storming and capture of the Bastille, a and no one can fail vast state-prison which was begun to be to read them with built in 1369 by Charles V, and finished intense interest. All by his successor in 1383. The demolition young persons should of this fortress was the first triumph of know something of the armed populace of Paris, and it renthose renowned his- dered the progress of the Revolution irretoric scenes which sistible. As the day closed in on the evehave had a forming influence upon the ning of Monday, the fourteenth of July, thought, the government, the civilization 1789, a reckless multitude of rioters, after and religion of modern times. While we seizing 30,000 muskets and several pieces can present only a few in a work like this, of artillery at the Hotel des Invalides, which contains so much on other sub- rushed in wild excitement to the Bastille, jects, yet we take pleasure in picturing rendered hateful to the people by the some of those historic events, the graphic political imprisonment of many hapless accounts of which will always be read men in past times, although less frewith eagerness and profit. quently under the rule of Louis XVI.