The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-15

l could sec Jean Jacques Rousseau, listening in
delight to his own play, badly performed, be-
cause weak royalty smiled upon him | could
see Voltaire sneering at the royalty that pre-
surned to smile on him. If spirits no longer of
this world yet retaining the feelings born in
their brief career, could control material
things, these grand old rooms would no longer
be silent-to some, doors would open end sweet
music greet their entrance to others, these
doors would shut and chairs, tables, and even
altar candlesticks, become means Of offence.
Who is it that says that they who have
given themselves up to vile pursuits on earth,
and do bad deeds will follow the same path,
and, re-enact again and again forever their
evil actions? | am inclined to believe such
dreams, and received from Monsieur K, the
architect, in Illustration, the following nara
tion Of night Within the unseen life Of Fon-
taineblcau with decided belief:
PHANToMs.
After the destruction Of the roof and part of
the walls, the death of - called me to Paris
where remained some weeks, during which
our work was suspended. | returned at the
end of that time, however with the necessary
orders to continue the new theatre. | left in
the afternoon trains, and arrived in one Of the
sgiiest winter storms to be witnessed in France
After hearty dinner at the hotel and sleepy
readings by-nods of the days papers, at last
gathered up my little baggage, and wended my
way to the snuggery which | had sppropria-
ted in tho palace as a sleeping apartment.
passed the sentries, mufled in their cloaks
and crcuchiHg closely to their boxes, and al
most stopped In the grand court where so many
events have been enacted | could see the dim
outline of the palace could almost recog-
Mise the circular stairway, which so many
kings, queens, cOurhere statesmen, beauties,
and generals had traversed, and down which
Napoleon came to embrace in last adeu
his Old Guard AS | hesitated for o second
staring into the wild night, the old clock above
the doorway tolled out the hour of ten. 1t was
indeed the voice Of time, tolling its ghostly
summons into the drowsy ear of night. pull
cd my cloak closer about me, and sought my
little room.
To my great horror, found, from some in
terfersnce by our workmen with the roof
the continued rain and snow of the past week
had found their way in, and my room was
anything but habitable | had to find ether
quarties, snd tho idea OK wandering through
the vast Chateau Ia search Of O resting place
seemed as dresry as such q search would be
through deserted town at midnight. | had
no help for it, however. So, descending to the
lodge, secured the services Of old Marie and
two men, and we set off in cur search for
sleeping room. knew the most inhabitabic,
st least the most comfortable, were those Of
the Princess -, known as Madame de le
Pompadour's, and thither | conveyed my es-
cort Here three rooms are almost thrown
into one, being separated of the doorways
only by the heavy tapestry. The smaller, the
bedroom, is perfect gem. The floor is COW
cred with carpet, in which the foot sinks
noiselessly; the walls are hung with the finest
satin the furniture, of costly woods, is reflected
in tall mirrors, and set off by rare paintings,
any one of which is worth a journey TO look
upon.
Madame Marie soon arranged the huge bed,
and ordered the men to light the pile of wood
in the fireplace of the larger room. The
smoke, FOR while rolled heavily into tho
apartment, but as the heat gathered force,
took the proper direction and in few minutes
had capital fire. Left TO myself, drew an
armchair FROM its place, and for mere than
en- hour, sat looking into the suffering fire,
and listening to the storm rattle and beat upon
the windows. Drowsy at last, | stole to my
strange bed-so strange, that soon Weakened
TO a sense of restlesSness, to me unacccunta-
BILE. | conld not get to sleep, but turned and
turned for hours, listening to the furious storm,
or locking attic fire. At last the blaze went
down, and shadows, more and more gloomy,
seemed to dance upon the goblin tapestry in
the adjoining chamber into which | looked,
giving sort of lie TO the vivid figures. |
could, between sleeping and waking, almost
see the figures move. In vain attempted to
sleep; the drowsy god forsook my couch, tho
moro | couEted his soothing presence. My
mind took up the many legends-the many
cruel deeds, which had o.ce made the very
stones quake with fright | thought Of the
al; xUn hU
Louis the Just because clumsy trick, harmful
to 70 one but himself had failed All the
sudden deaths, and mysterious disappearance,
would throng my brain. | saw jealous and
Infatuated Christine Of Sweden approach
MousIdeschi, in the dim and ghostly gallery
of Cerfs," and demand the authorship Of Ger
tain letters to a fair Italian. saw her beckon
the two assassins and the priest; heard again
the surphcations for lfe-the strange absolu-
ton | saw the murderous attack upon the
unarmed man, who, clad in coat Of mail, re-
sisted with his hands, until face and hands
were cut to pieces, and, frightfol spectacle,
he bndiy ao~ from bis aseassine, vainly cry
ing for mercy---until he fol-, dying by inches.
| could not clear my brain OF this sSutf,
whiio the Storm dashed itself against the hugo
Windows the FIRE gradually burned down, I'M
til the room became moro dim, and long shad-
ows began to play upon the goblin tapestry, as
if the figures, endowed with life, were fitting
by and at each other. | would drop into a
doza and star. out again. as if upon the watch,
with f57erish sense Of uneasiness, difficult to
describe. At last, became conscious of some
one being in the room--the larger room ad-
Joining. where now smouldeTed the fire, end
into which looked through tho folding dra-
period Doors Yes, IL was surely so some one
stood before the fire. Strange to say was
not startled, or alarmed, only Influenced By y
strange sense Of awe. | could not, and yet |
could. see distinctly: the details were uncer-
tain, but the general outlines were there, mark
ing the fearful man--for it was indeed him.
saw the cooked hat-I could almost ees the
clear, cold face-the over-coat, tho hands fold
ed behind his back. Yes, he stood before that
fire, as be had stood before the most fearful
camp-fres of Europe.
While | gazed, spell-bound, upon this appa-
rition, another started into existence, froIn,
thought, the very tapestry, at the farther end
OF the room and it slowly, aud with kingly
seateliness, stalked across the floor, a gigantic
figure, dressed ia the costume Of another age
and, as it turned its face slowly as it advanced
towards the fireplace saw the straight line
from the forehead to the end of the nose, which
marks so decidedly his portrait in the Louvre
On he walked turning his head with a stare
of surprise until he me!ts into the heavy gloom
gathered az the further end of the apartment
And now come two others-the one, fair and
beautiful as summers dag, her long, silken,
auburn locks falling over, ard almost hiding,
the lustrous blue eyes; the other, dark as night.
They, too, glide on and disappear, TO be follow
ed By one unlike 81 others. What fierce,
stern woman what cruel, cold eye! She,
too, the mother of kings, passes on, glaring in
hatred at the motionless figure before the dying
fire. Hardly had the scowIing apparitop dis
appeared, than another came and so, in con-
trast, he seemed an angel of light; mild, quiet,