The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-03-02
DESTRUCTION OF TIE BaSTlLB.
THE MAN IN TIE IRON MASK.


ne-sed,. in 1899, the demolition by the
Paris populace, Of the grim old fortress
identified with the despotsm and cruelty
OF the failing monarchy. 1t was a typical
incident, representing, as il were, the end
OF a wicked system, but unfortunately not
iuaugufa'ing the beginning OF one milder
and better, Much heroism was shown by
the multitude in their attack upon the Bas-
tile. for the defenders did not ridily submit,
and had a great advantage behind their
lofty walls But their triumph was sadly
stained by the massacre of The Governor,
DslAunay and many of his corps.
1t was now" says Lamartine, "that the
| mysteries OF this State prison were unveiled
Its bolts broken--its iron doors burst
open its dungeons and subteusnesn cells
| Peuetrated-from the gates of the towers 10
their very deepest foundations and their
submits. The iron rings aud The chains,
ruslins in their strong masonry, were point
ed out from which the victims were never
released, except 10 be tortured TO be exc
cuied or 10 die. On thosei walls they read
the names Of prisoners, the dates Of their
confinement, .heir griefs and their prayers
miserable men, who had left behind only
! those poor memorials in their dungeons 10
| siiest their prolonged existence and their
| innocence 1t was surprising 10 find Bl.
most all these dungeons empty. Ths Peo-
pie ran from one TO the other they ipene-
| lraied inlo the most secret recesses and
and caverns, 10 carry thilher the word OF
release, and 10 briug ray OF the free light
OF heaven 10 eyes long lost TO it they tore
the locks from the heavy doors, and those
/ heavy doors from the hinges they earned
off The heavy keys all these thiags were
displayed in triumph in the open court
/ They then broke into the archieVes, and
read The eniriss OF commitals These
papers, then ignominiousy scattered were
/ afterwards collected They were the an
nails Of arbitrary times, the records OF the
fears or vengeance of ministers, or The
meaner iutfigUes OF their isvorileS, here
faithfully kept to justify late exposure aud
reProach. The people expected to see a
spectre come forth from these rains, to ;es-
iiiy agsins, these iniquiies OF Kings. The
Basiile, however, long cleared OF all gcilt
by he gentle spirit oil Louis XVI, and By
the humane disposition of his ministers,
disappointed these gloomy expectations
The dungeons, the cells, The iron collars
the chains, were only worn-out symbols oi
antique secret incarceraiions, toriutes, and
burisls alive. They now represented only
recoileciions of old horrors. These vaults
restored 10 light but prisonsrs-3 OF whom
gray headed men, were shut up legimsiely
and whom family motives had Withdrawn
from the judgements of the ordinary courts
of law. Tavernier and With, TWO of them,
bad become insane. They saw The light oi
The sun with surprise and their incursble
insanity caused them 10 be sent TO the m aG-
house OF Charenton, few days after they
had enjoyed fresh air and freedom. The
third was lhe Count de Solages, ihirty-two
years before sent 10 this prison al his
fathers request. When restored free 10
Toulouse, his home, he was recognized by
none, and died in poverty. Whether he
had been guilty OF some crime, or was the
victim of oppression, was an inexplcable
enigma The other four prisoners had beu
confined four years, and on purely civi
grounds. They bad forged bills of ex-
change, and were arrested in Holland or
the requistion nf the bankers they had de-
lrauded royal commission had report
ed on their cases bot nothing vas now
listened TO against them. Whatever had
been branded by absolute authority, mus
be innocent in the eyes of the prejodiced
people These seven prisoners Of The Bastlle
viciims-released, caresssd, even crowned
with lasreIs, CARED in triumph by iheil
liberalors like living spoil snatched from
the hands of tyranny, they were paraded
about the arrests, and their sufFerings aveEg
ed by The peoples shouts and tears. The
in,oxication of the The viciors broke on
against the very stones OF the palace, and
the embrasures, torn from the towers, were
soon hurled with indignation into the ditch.
es"
II was asserted at the time, and loug
afterwards beIieVed-lhough there was nc
foundation Tor the ayermeni-thai Inc vast
ed body of the famous State prisoner, call
ed the Mar in the Iron Mask, had been
found chained in lower dungeon, with
the awful mask still upon the skull
SpecuIations had long Seen rise among
French historians, all tending to elucidale
the mystery connected with that celebrated
prisoner BY some, 1t was hiuied that ne
was lhe Twin brother oil Louis XVI, thus
frightfully sacrificed to make his senior sale
on his throne others affirmed him TO bs
The English Duke of Monmouth others
son OF Oliver Cromwell many, with more
reason, inchning 10 think him Stats pris
oner OF France, sneh as the Duke de Beau
fort, or the Court de Vermandcis. II wa
reserved Tor M. DeIort, at comparaliyel,