, 1863-03-26
NOlil4l., B
The oritinAt Of 1lue Beard

e@S OeA0AA@ @aeA8
At Champtoce, little village near the right
bank Of the Loire, in Francs, stand some imposing
ruins, the remains Of one of The castles Of GiIla
De Retz, Sieur De Laval, called Bafbe Blue4 the
original Of Blue Beard. This nobleman, vholiyed
In the first half Of the fifteenth century, ives band
some In person, captivating In address acquainted
with books, and ihllOf admiration Cor meh 9sp1ke
the Latin language with ease and eleEnnca. ,HeWas
considered religious. too, because his taste and q.
tentation led him to adopt the fashion then pevar
lent Of maintaining afney 0fnamented chapel sgilh
many boy ehoristeFs, educated at great expens1e.
His band was large finely discipline. well sup.
went He belougql TO . princsly iamiy, was AZ
pointed Marshal Of France. and was especially
honored ct the coronation Of Charles VII. By On
order TO repair TO Remy and bring thence The holy
ampulla To bis own class be appeared q brilliant
and loyal cavalier but haunting fear Of him
gradually spread among the peasantFy, wherever Be
dwelt. This fear was Just, Tor within lhe recelE3
Of bis castles ct ChamptOee, La Sue. and elsewhere
be pursued course Of unparalleled atrOcity. isse
Having squandeFed an Immense fortune and r,
ined bis constitution BY his exceses be resortd 70
magic. He took into bis service en- Ilalian priest
Of Pistola, who persuaded him, Or permitted him
to believe that bis property and health might 10th
be restored BY the use Of charmed bath made q
the blood Of young children. HeWns not deferred
from the trial either By lie dicuty q horror. but
Immediately began 10 tax bis ingenuity 10 procure
victims. Sometimes an old woman, called b Mel1
ffaie, travelled about the country always with heFi
face half hidden By black scarf WheneveFsha
chanced upon children tending cattle, Or begging
at distance from their friends, she caFes1td and
fattered them, and coated them little By LITTLE 20
the grounds Of de Retz, 0nce there, they neyer
escaped. They were taken TO the dungeons Of the
n.atfa Sha kt1sa1 f1.arn rt(k 49,,
longed torture, enjoying their sufrings and olsr-
ing them to the devil with prayer that be would
grant him In nreturn /" gold, knowledge and poWefss
he went On thus for fourteen yeaFsy and destroyed
i was computed, not les than hundred and t@tys
victims. ~ 81 49, 4, N. 8.
As long Is tie country people alone suffered. %
one dared 10 express suspicions but bis insfrag
ments, growing boldef, began % entiCe sway the9
children Of tOWnsmen, and obtained possession q
The brother Of WelLknown Hftist, promising 70 ,
educate him a. chorister In the Laval chapel
Fortunately 4 rare combination Of circumstances
led to the arrest and pnnishmeht Of The criminal
Three pOWers, seldom united IN anything. agrueas
IN getting rid of him Jean v. :, Duke Of Brittany,
his 6uzeran, who could not endure that the lamily
Of Laval and De Retz should occupy 20 many fof-
tre1sB on the Marches Of Maine, Brittany, and ?
POitoui the Bishop of Nantes, who held over him
spiritual jurisdiction, and who hated him foF hav,,
ing forced one Of his churches, and the King Of
France, Charles VII, whose Constable was the
mortal enemy Of soFcefers. When, therefore, The :
Duke vas on visit to bis cousin, The Bishop. a
Nantes, the latter brought certain charges against
De Retz. The Duke entertained them, and q tri.
bunal was formed Of the Bishop. who was Al1o
Chancellor Of Brittany, the Vicar Of the 1nquiai-
ton, and the Grand Judge Of the Duehy. d. ReiH
might have escaped, bot be thought that no one
would dare to proceed 70 extEemitles against him.
and permitted himself 10 be arrested Al thi1rn
welcome news, crowd Of bereaved parents, broth Z
ers and sisters hocked to the court rs witnesses,
against him, who were It length joined By his own
agents Henriet, bis body servant, declaring that
be had delivered 20 him with bis own hands forty.
children HeWaadFiyen thus TO . ceuiupinn Nhiihs,
struck terror to The hearts Of al Who heard him
He was condemned to Be burned, and was placed
1t the stake but was, out Of regard to his funk,
ytrangled before the flames reached him Strangely d
enough. De Retz believed that he bad secured the
lavof Of God BY masses and PROFESSIONS, and had
eluded the devil BY making reservation u bis
life and soul while Offering him service. Heparted
rom his magician with these words; q Adiul,-
Fnncis, my friend may God grant yon patience
md knoRledge, and resi- assured provided you have
patience and hope u God We nhall msst IN 10
ioyn Of Darnd1a" s1sist 4 5 All, 4 a aaitl51 I
Bsrbe Blue. or Blue BesFd transformed into :
Turk, and made the murderer Of wives inslead Of
children, b ct once the delight and tegFof q the
nursery, and appears 70 have achieved q undyingi
popularity. sod dsash q s3s siA Y NJ tiitsioi