The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-26
For the National Era.
BELL SMITH ABROAD.
XXIu.-THE OLD PRISON.
PARIS, March, I8

PARIS, March, 1855.
Be- visiting the Arch Of Triumph and the
lsy Column in the Place Vendome, regularly,
ors can see Disconnected member Of French
.ciey commit suicide The use Of some court
4,or. AMI small consideration, properly placed,
E.I gam YOU admittance to an execution. The
Aa-gae Is open At all hours, and free to any
wishing to see how distressed humanity turns
" syan. But the prisons of Paris are difficult
q access. / have made various efforts, given
ZONE money and no little persuasion, but to no
purpose. This is to be regretted. The largest
ant most interesting portion of French history
pogrs through the vaulted passages and dim
cells Of these massive and silent friends of des-
poiism-and my peculiar mind always needs
the framework, as it were, to call up again be-
fore me the vivid pictures Of the past. have
always regretted the folly of the mob that caus-
81 the destruction of the Bastille. That strange
and ugly witness against cruel rulers should
have been left TO tell all future time the heart
le'sness of tyrants, and the justice of the Revo-
lgtlon. The darker deeds of Government should
be ieh as witnesses, and the light, graceful, and
fascinating evidences swept away. The people
should have destroTed the Louvre, burned the
Iuiieres and, after them, every palace in
france-lut left the prisons, gibbets, and in
sFunenfS Of torture, for their children's child
Zen to shudder at. |, however, regret the Bas-
he' It's historical associations make it some
lla- IN my mind. | should like to walk through
is 'ombre passages, sit in its darker cells. and
picture to myself the hundreds of authors, art
SIS philosophers, courtiers, and soldiers, who
had iretted day after day within its heavy walls.
Near Rue BOnaparte, in one of the dark
courts made by old buildings of various shapes,
Dli al high and weatherstained, stands an old
PRISON which we had often gazed at with much
interest Everything about it pertained to a
tFmer age. The long, narrow windows, the
aFsled door-ways, and, above all, the round
Fyecuons at the corners, gave evidence of a
Nlle When the place was not only a prison, but
o'en garrison. Every few years, the houses
IL me heighborhood are scraped, and to a GER
~n extent repaired; but the old prison, like
ace accused, Is neglected, and the dark stains
4" years gather and thicken upon its walls
VINE on the states grow in corners the green
q, ~'S'-a!l giving a sombre expression. as if.
"Ne human head, the old house had thouphts
ana memories which wrote readable characters
upon the cOuntenance.
o. nal an intense desire to walk through and
"e interior Of this relic-but the sentinel
-lo paced slowly to and fro before the entrance
,.'e NE TO understand, very clearly, that such
rs. -'a-oHS were forbidden. One day, however,
- 13'r again an attempt-the sentinel shook
9'Dilo head, and we were about turning
80 "hen an officer, who had witnessed the
Nd ny.'pIed forward, and, after a brief talk,
- invited US to enter. The invitation was
arl t.s-n5 as our request, but we followed,
~ laced under the supervision of an old
s:o,,. So u" ordinary conductor on such occa-
lpp-,-: were soon staring intensely at the
er.aJ -'I7floT. We assembled a few steps, trav-
OIL .On'' narrow, dim hall, from which
mo-, ~" "rched doors, and were shown room
VII "'' small, dark, and unwholesome,
bg;li.,- 'iity must have pinned slowly, for the
bsf.a vas constructed before Christianity
IN, - 1'-' the art Of ventilat;on-to say moth
fr,r--e further care and comfort of the un.
dorIIa -,e as J gazed at the heavy walls, the
;r,r..I AIRED windows, tho thick oak and we'll
Leon uCors, | wondered at the care taken to
m'P lew miserable wretches shut out from
es,an.i9 90 rs sunlight, and asked, had any ever
sjngla - were IN small apartment lit by
] a,te3 . .ii window, heavily ironed, when
alouJ NJ WIS question, more to myself than
atsrn,' -eh the old woman nodded her head
grayej !, y and pointed to name deeply en-
lsea a. a. very rude manner, near the fire.
he nan ''er some study, made out to reach
Ano,bs- VI Philip, Comte de Villeneuve."
iut 50 mi lame was evidently engraved below,
n,ss /, ~ up and worn by time we could not
TEMP. ~; J'' he old concierge, seeing my at
# s. Lr, briefly Louise Bertole." / asked
With the. anything of the history connected
on,,Ise Two names, but the answer was in
Loo .--'e'lTsiole-something in reference to a
Ia.sad - dropped the subject; but as she
aleI.,IDeIi'ue room, serving her probably a.
lrsor -,.I'lnoer, but formerly an Office to the
boak ' NE, ran IN and returned with an old
called Il. 'le Torn, and good deal smoked,
l,rta5 - :, PRISONS of Paris" and, opening,
al jac;I 81 me page where began the history
had irs, connected with the building we
his add. CANNED. OF course, / purchased
Soon deer '1u 10 an eccentric library, and was
ton os !. III The subject of our prison. A DOR.
toned !. i.>' relating to the names have men.
hsDsla.- mere given, translated well as one can
Con-. ny MOI u The best French in the world.
he Gu hlhp de Villeneuye was the adm;ra.
tib h; luton OF his day-young. handsome. and
a. Il. -S accomplishments were without limit
cGrredWSage was beyond question. All con-
Gus, and @1s = Cardinal Mazarin, who was zeal
in bell ar Oid General Hubre, who was stupid
hon t 70 that were Philip to turn his atten-
in the oIIe serious pursuit, he would be famous
tnup 70 V tn But the careless youth was Civ
deyoh,o y pleasure; and did he for a short time
Of some .-e 10 study or work, it was in quest
vas EI'. TITLE, unworthy the exertion. Philiu
and , Of aud admired by the Queen Mother,
lot 81 s,s course, hated by the Cardinal. It was
Cardinal q pleasant thing to be hated by the
TIA, the Or secretly married to Anne, of Aus
Xueen Mother, he had the Gouarnmeni