Journal+Entry+1-+Anne+Boucher

July 14, 1789

Dear Journal,

Today, our whole family was invited to a party of my brother's friend, Mister Raphael Lacroix. I had heard lots about him from my brother even before the party and he seemed fairly like a nice gentleman.

I was enjoying his mansion, filled with luxury and wealth which included many rooms, dinning halls, jewels, etc. The host of this party, Mr. Lacroix, and I conversed a little in the dinning hall and I realized that our backgrounds were similar; however, we had contradicting feelings towards it. Mr. Lacroix had inherited his wealth from his dead parents. It seemed as if he was enjoying the abundance of wealth, whereas I felt those inherited wealth was like a burden among myself.

It was then, when somebody stormed into the ball room and reported that the Bastille prison was attacked by mobs overwhelming the guards and seizing the control of the building. They put many guards and prison commanders to death while seeking for gunpowders and arms in Bastille, for their own self-defense.

As soon I heard of the news, I asked myself, ‘What am I doing here, partying, while the majority of the French citizens are in pain and agony, risking their life for liberty?’. I felt selfish and greedy, standing here, dressed perfectly and nice- nothing compared to what those peasant would be wearing right at this moment. If they were to be in the similar position as I was, would they have reacted similarly as they were doing right now?

This was already the third time those peasants had stroke and nobody has done anything to stop it. I silently wished anyone to stop this chaos after this biggest stroke of the fall of the Bastille. I knew that these strokes were going to hurt the second/the first estate people, and wished everything to end and for France to come back to a peaceful and quiet nation back.

When we got back home, Father had called Denis and Mother into the guest room. Once their long discussions were over, they all made a grimace as they walked to their room.

As I laid back on my bed, I wondered what terrible action will take place next and what will it do to us. Will this be the last strike of those people? Or do they have more to destroy and to take away from us?

I am indeed threatened from those peasants and that is probably how all other second and the first estate classes feel as well. However, what worries me the most is how we are going to respond to this rebellion next.

Sincerely, Anne Boucher