, 1869-05-07
rae NAN IN THE IRON MASK.

keo eyeI Ouo can see very oltuncuy tne
outlines Of the strong fortress built BY Car.
diual Richelieu, on the north western shore
Of the Island Of St. Marguerite. That was
during the latter part Of the thirty years
war, nbout 1852. After having been tai
ken by the Spaniards and rs.taken BY the
French, Il was remodelled aud repaired by
the famous enginer Vauban, and after the
revocation Of the edict Of Nantes, its duu>
gems become the prison Of many distin,
guished Prolestants, guilty Of not wishing
10 belle their coDsciences and Abjure their
faith.
It was into one Of the bomb-proois of this
fortress, that, on the 30th day of April,
1867, man was introduced by Monsieur de
St. Mars. He bad conducted him from
Pignerol in Piedmont, then Province of
France, where he had been incarcerated
since 1852. This prisoner wore upon his
face night and day, mask of black velvet,
fastened upon bands Of copper, and so con-
structed as to permit of the free use of the
mouth. The furniture of bis prison was of
the most sumptuous description. The YES.
sells of his toilette aud Of his table were of
silver, and st. Mars who served him with
his food, never presumed to sit in his pres
ence The order was to kill him the mo-
ment he uncovered his face.
The fame of this prisoner has gone
through all the countries Of the world as
1.-THE Man 10 the Iron Mask" and his name
his rank aud the object of bis imprison-
ment form one Of those mysteries Of history
which will probably remain mystery fO:>.
ever.
| L. ho Ill
plate with the point Of a knife and threw it
out of The window toward isherman's boat
that lay Just under the wall of his prison.
The fisherman picked it up and carried is to
the governor of the fortress, St. Mars He
took it, greatly astonished, aud asked the
fisherman if he had read what was written
upon it and upon his replying that be did
not know how to read, be had him held in
custody until he had the most positive proof
of that fact, and that the plate had been seen
by no one else he then dismissed him, say
ing, You are fortunate fellow in not
knowing how to read" immediately af-
ter this occurrence, the governor had fas.
tened into the thick walls (about twelve feet
thick) outside of the window Of his prison,
a triple network Of strong iron bars. They
are still to be seen there, half consumed By
rust.
No demand Of the prisoner, possible to
supply was refused him. He had the great
est fundness, amounting to kind OF mania,
ior the finest linen and laces. The fact is
well known that, at the request of Madame
dc St. Mars, Madame le Bret, her intimate
friend, busted herself at Paris in choosing
the finest linens and most beautiful laces,
which we're sent to him iu hispriSou.
One day frater saw something white
floating on the water under the window OF the
prison. He crept around the wall and drew
it up, and carried it to St. Mars 1t was
very tightly folded up. St. Mars unfolded
it, and found it to be fine linen shirt upon
which the prisoner had written from end to
end. With an air OF great concern, he in
auired of the frater if he had had the cu'
riosity to read what was written upon the
shirt The latter protested many times that
he had read nothing Nevertheless, two
days after, be was found dead 10 his bed.
At another time be demanded that they
should bring a woman to live with him in
his prison. A woman Of Mongins was found
willing for the price offered, which vas for
tune 10 her poor children. But when she
was about entering the door of the prison,
she was told that she was never to come out
or see her children again, or to have any re
lation with aay other human being. She
refused to be shut up with prisoner whose
acquaintance cost so dear.
At one time the arrogant minister Of
Louis xiv, the infamous Duke de Louvis,
rame to sec the prisoner; aud it was observed
that be stood up in his presence, and spoke
with great respect and humility.
In September, 1898, the prisoner was
! transferred, still under the conduct of ST.
: Mars, to the Bastle in Paris, where, as one
5 may still read in the journal of Monsieur de
Jonca, the kings lieutenant of the bastile,
] she died suddenly, on the 18th of Novem.
: Der, 1903, at O'Clock P NJ" Surprised
) by death, says the lieutenant, he vas not
{! able 10 receive the sacraments, but our al
t moner exhorted him a moment before he
! be died" In the night after his decease
: they buried him in the cemetery of the par
ish of St. Paups under the name of Manchi'
aii, aged about 49 years. On the morrow
f of his interment, a person bribed the grave
4 digger to uncover the BODY, thinking to gel
/, view of the unmasked face, as the faces
p of the dead are usually unmarked. They
|. found iu place Of the head a large stone.
i "The old surgeon Of the Bastile," say
: VOllaire, "tOld me that he bad often seen thu
:. tongue of this unknown, but never his face
h he was person admirably well made, will
q a slightly brown skin and most engaging
t voice. He never complained Of bis cOndi
Il tion."
). When the people Of Paris took the Bas
It tile, in July, 1889, upon examining Its reg
# ister, It was found that the leaf correspond
(; ing 10 the year 1898, the year Of his en-
y trance there, had been cut out.
e And who was "The man ID the 1roI
!. Mask 7" Many volumes have been flle'
70 with conjectures, in which the names of mel
10 of many countries and various conditions
|, and some women, too, have Ggured-th
Duke Of Beaufort. for instance, surname'
the King Of the Halles, who was the nstu
m raj son Of Cesar de Vendoms, the nstura
aon of Hanrv ~ hv Gahrialla d. EetYeee