Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-06-14
LYNCHBURG,
n \ m
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Tat's Magazine
PrisOu.Scenc During the Reign Of
TArrnr.


and fellow rambler of mine the pleasure had
derived from ,ist TO the Palais &c Luxem-
bourg. in Paris, 'Oh." said he. my rrcoliec-
lions Of the Luxembourg Palace are anstLing
but pleasant. One entire generation has pass.
ed away. and second has followed far on the
same road. since entered it; but We're 10
live TO the age of an artcdiluvian. | imagine
the remembrance of the period " hich passed
IN the Luxembourg would dwell with me TO
the last hour of my life
These words naturally raised my curiosity.
and, flom the character of the speaker. whom
! had know for many years as a man Of much
and varied know ledge and unimpeacbstle pro-
bny, also aroused my sympathy; l pressed
him, therefore, to favor me with the incidents
which had made so indelibe an impression up
on his mind. He made no difficulty Of com
plying with my request; but. stirring the fire
aud leaning back iu his easy chair. delivered
his brief nalr raive very nearly III the following
words
You do not perhaps remember that the Pa
lais du Luxembourg Was at one period used
as prison. Some Of those splendid saloons
which you so much admire were once border
ed with cells hastily erected with rough planks,
II
room for the whole of the prisoners When
the Revolution of 1889 broke out in France,
as the junior partner of an English house do
ing business in certain kind OF merchandise
in the Rue st. Honroe. l was very Young,
almost lad, indeed. hut had invested the
" hole of my small fortune in the concern. |
was active and sedulous. and devoted my en-
tire energies to the prosecution of our Joint
interests, which throve considerably. When
the troubles came, my partners, who conceiv-
ed that they had grounds for apprehension, re
solved to quit the country; and they offered
me the whole ofihe business upon terms SD ad-
vaniageous that did not feel justified in re-
iusing them. ! had never medded with po-
li,ics. (for which, indeed, had no talent or in
chna'Ion.) l as too young to have any enc
mics or to be suspected Of partisanship; so
closed with the offer that was made me, and
resolved to brave the perils of the time. max
ing my business the sole object Of my care and
sociude, and leaving all things else to take
their course. l pursued this plan rigidly, a
voidlng all participation in the excitement of
the period, and not even conversing on the SUBJ
ject of public affairs. concerning which upon
all occasions professed, what indeed was the
truth, that | knew nothing. went on thus
for some years. and amidst all the horrors and
vicissitudes of the Revolution nv business
throve properously. | experienced no sort
OF lnterruption-ncver Received a single domi-
ciliary visit from any one Of the factions upon
whom the sovereign authority so suddenly de-
volved-and to all appearance. had escaped
suspicion under each and all Of the rapidly
changing dynastes. had well-nigh doubled
my wealth by unwearied diligence. and had
long banished all thought of peril in the course
was pursuing. when, rainy night in the
summer of 1898. | was reused from my rest
after had been full hour asleep in bed. COM
PEELED TO hurry on few clothes at a minutes
notice, pushed into carriage waiting at my
door, and driven off to midnight tribunal
Arrived at the Hotel de Vile. / requested to
hear the charge which had been made against
me. but was desired to hold my peace. Twas
brought there for identification. and not for a
hearing. the rufiian in Office informed me, and
1t would be time enough for me to hear the
charge when | was called upon II answer i.
1t was in vain that pleaded the injustice of
such proceeding; ! " As obliged to submit 10
their pleasure. A pen was put into my hand,
and was ordered I" write my protest, if | had
any 10 nuke. | did so in few words, claim
ing protection as a French citizen The pre-
siding scoundrel pretended to compare my wri-
ting with some imaginary seditious docume mt.
OF which 1t was not possible that | could have
been the author. ami at once committed me TO
prison. was kept in waiting bile some 9th
or pretended examinations were gone through.
and then, IN company with three more unfor-
tuna,es. driven off to the Luxembourg,
where, at about two o'clock in the morning, j
WAS bundled into cell furnished with a straw
p0llasse aud rug, a deal table and single
chair, and ligl ted by small lamp suspended
alolt out of my reach.
When could find time to reflect upon the
sudden calamity which had overtaken me,
could come to no other conclusion than that
had been made the victim of the cupdirv of
some villain or villains who had contrived TO
incarcerate me out OF the way. hie they made
aplunder of my property. The impuat:on of
sedtious correspondence, which knew to be
nothing bu, preience, bore me out in this
conjecture; and. upon thinking the matter ov cr
again and again. came by the conviction at
last. that, bad as the matter was, il might hav We
been much worse | thought saw that there
was little chance of my being brought up for
idi' aS u Nouiu De ifloTe IoT tne Interest OF my
enemies whoever they were. to keep me oct
Of the way. than to bring me before tribunal
which might or might not condemn me to DEATH
but v hich could hardly fail of discovering the
motive of my abduction and imprisonment-
Thus got rid of the fear of the guilloine. and
soon found another cause for graduation in
the fact that had not been searched had
considerable sum of money in my pocket-book.
and. by piece OF good fortune. the book con.
tanning my banking-account was in the breast
pocket of my over coat, which had put on
the previous evening, in consequence of sud
den storm, and which, on hearing the patter-
ing rain. had instinctively seized upon com
ing away. Before | lay down upon my mis-
cradle couch conirived effectuaIy to secrete
my valuables, in the fear that they might be
abstracted in case should be so fortunate as
TO sleep | had been locked in by the gaoler,
and imagined that the ten square feet which
limited my view would cnnine all my motions
during the term of my imprisonment. In spite
of all my anxieties and the disasreeabIe novel
ty of my position, fell off to slumber abot run
rise, and into pleasant dream of home in Eng
land, and the sunny fields OF childhood.
was awoke soon after seven o'clock by the
sound of laughter and loud voices mingled with
the twanging OF a lu'e. | started up. and. see
ing that the door Of my cell was standing ajar,
| bent forward and looked out. My appari-
lion in sad night-cap was received with a
burst of merriment loud and prolonged from