1-150-610 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'The Niobe of Nations', 1870. A weeping Frances gathers her sisters, Paris, Metz and Lyons around her, Paris defiant to the last. Niobe, in Greek mythology, died of grief when her 12 children were killed. She was turned to stone by Zeus. This relates to the one of the final acts of France's war against Prussia. Metz had been surrendered to the Prussians. The drunken and cowardly behaviour of the French troops led to their general being charged with betrayal of his country. From Punch, or the London Charivari, November 5, 1870.