Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-07-17
BLUE BEARD.


dom was no fabulous monster yelled in hu-
man form. He actually, lived, moved, and
had a being in the fifteenth century; not,
however, as along-robcd, turbaned Oriental,
as the pictures which used to make our blood
eurdle, would lead US to think.
On an eminence which overlooks the little
village of Champtoce, near the Loire, stands
the imposing ruin of an old feudal castle
Its grey walls, bare and broken, rear them
selves against the glorious sky; and awid
the tumbling turrets the bat and the owl
beat their wings and shrek in their mid
night revels. The supcrstitious pcasantry
avoid the neighborhood from fear, and when
the storm whistles and the wind means, they
imagine the sounds to be walls from the in
jured dead of the ruin. The road of the
place is not a new feeling, but has existed
among succeeding generations of pcasantry
since the reign of Charles the Seventh. 1t
was at that time the dwelling of GILES de
Bette, feudal baron, who, as he was then,
and still is called, the "Barbe Bleu," was,
no doubt, the original of our time-honored,
or rather feared, Blue Beard: His deeds of
blood, which were but the every day Incl
dents of his life, made him the terror of the
surrounding region. The bare mention Of
his name was enough to subdue the most re-
bellious urchn into submission; anu even
the parents believed that the winds which
reached them by passing over his domain,
were sulphur tainted.
Well does the history o. this man reveal
the dark superstition of the fifteenth century,
and also the impunity, with which one in
high rank might commit the most revolving
crimes against humanity. De Rotz had once
been in possession of immense estates and
untold wealth. But by the most dcbasing
excuses he not only squaiidcred his fortune,
but also ruined his constitution, that, while
yet young man, he bore the appearance of
decrepitude and old age. He could not,
however, consent to pay the penalty of his
sin by becoming old before his time. In the
blindness of his superstition he conceived
the hope ofreclaiming both health and wealth
by the power of magic. Having heard of a
famous Italian alchymist who had perform
ed some great miracles by this art, he sent
for him to the castle.
The cunning magician at once read his
man, and encouraged his hopes; he was,
therefore, employed at high price to un-
dcrtake the work, and invited to make the
lofty castle his home. The first act was win
ming back of health and vigor, without which
all other treasures are of little avail Num-
bcrlcss were the arts he tried, and mysteri-
Gus the preparations he made. The dark
dungeons and secret subtcrrancan passages
beneath the castle were the scene of his work.
Here the terrified peasantry imagined that
the Italian made compact with the Prince
of Darkness, and sold the duped De Retz to
him in compensation for his aid in restoring
health. Among many nonsensical and harm
less experiments, were also some of cruel
and abominable character He induced his
infatuated employee to believe there existed
in the blood of infants a charm for restoring
youth and vigor He assured him that by
bathing daily in the blood Of these innocents,
the pure young life which had so lately cours-
cd through their tiny veins would be trans
fcrrcd to his own.
The bloody baron did not shrink for one
moment from the commission of the horried
crime which this prescription rendered ne
ccssyry. Tender infants were secretly stolen
or furcibly torn from their parents, and kept
in the dungeons Of the castle till their blood
was required 1t is believed that not less
than one hundred humble mothers were
thus deprived of their youngest born. This
fcmd in human shape hired magician but
not q murderer. That office he reserved
for himself, nor did his savage nature shrink
from the horrid work imposed. With his
own hand did he pierce the hearts Of his
afFrighted little victims until there was blood
sufficient to cover his cnaciated body. This
| is one instance of the cruelty of De Rctz.-
We think very likely his wires shared the
f..fc of the poor infants, and that the story of
Blue Beard in wide trousers, loose robe and
turban, was not exaggerated.
| But crime cannot always GO unpunished.
Even then, when the rich ruled over the
poor, justice and mercy triumphed at last
The cries and cntreaticS of the heart broken
rcnrlc around his domains reached the ears
Of his superior, Jean Y. Hc was arrested
and brought before tribunal Of justice
His palace was thrown open to the public
Gaze, and its horrid dcns and vaults were
swift witnesses against him. lie was found
guilty of murders. by scores, and after COLI
Tossing many crimes, before unknown, he
was burnt at the stake in Nantes, LILO. This
was the original of "2luc Beard" and
although more than four hundred years have
passed away since he paid the penalty of his
crimes, the broken. walls and Jagged turrcts
stiIl-stand as n memorial that the wicked
shall not 90 unpun&hcd.
THE HUGHES TELEGRAPH.
The following, from Life Illustrated will
! be read with much interest The progress
of Tclcgraphing is the most astonishing of
anything Of the present day. We hope some
one will invent an impartial reporter: