Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/326

 houses in which children were formerly educated. These women offered to employ the children under their charge in making linen bags necessary for the barricades, that they also might have their glorious part in the defence of Paris.

A commission was signed authorizing the citizens to transform their schools into workshops. The little girls, assimilated with the Federal soldiers, were to receive rations of food and wine. The young boys were ordered to aid in the erection of the barricades.

Towards evening, an order was placarded giving the National Guards full permission to enter private apartments, and take possession of any objects likely to aid in the defence. This authorization caused great alarm to the wealthy inhabitants, as it opened the door to every kind of pillage; but the rapid advance of the Versailles troops rendered it, fortunately, of little avail.

The following is one of many orders of the same purport given by Delescluze:

"Commune of Paris:

"The Citizen Jacquet is authorized to requisition all inhabitants, and all objects necessary to him, in the construction of the barricades in the Rue du Chateau-d'Eau and of the Rue Alhouy.

"Wine and whiskey alone are and remain excepted.

"All citizens, men or women, who refuse their aid, shall be immediately shot.

"The citizen chiefs commanding the barricades are charged to assure the security of the different quarters.

"Domiciliary visits are to be made to suspected houses, and, during the perquisition, all doors and windows must be opened.

"All window-shutters must be open; all windows closed.