Middletown transcript., 1871-09-16
sl.Us ssAao.

Tho recent producsiea q Maesissi @.
era House Of tho comic opera u Bogbe
Bleus" brings 70 mind the history u ~
bugbcsr Of every nursery II Christsods0.
He was no fabulous moustsr vsiDs1 -
man form he actually lived. moved -
had being 10 the fifteenth csstusyj -
however. Is a long-robed and tusbope{
Oriental, ns the pictures which uesd "
make our blood curdle would lead - y
| think.
On m eminsnce which sverlooks -
little village Of Champsoce. near the Loire.
stands the imposing ruins Of an old fsseal
castle. Its gray walls, bare and bfoksn.s :
rear themselves against the glosioss ny.
and amid the crumbling turrets ths bat
and owl beat their wings, and shrisk In
their midnight rcvcls. Tho supsrstisious
poasantry avoid the nsighborbood Iron
fear, and when tho storm whistles. aad
the wind means. they imagine the sesnde
to be walls from the injured dead Of the
old ruin. The dread Of the place y ~
new feeling, but has existed smoug suc-
ccediug generations Of pessantry ever siase
tho reign Of Charles the Seventh. Il uas
at that time the dwelling Of Giles De Rst4,
feudal baron, who, a. he was thsn, snd
still is called "Barbc Blue" Was. no
doubt. the original Of our tims-honorsd,
or rather feared, Blue Beard. His deeds
Of blood, which were but the every day
incidents Of his life. made him the terror
Of the surrounding region. Tho bare
mention Of his name was enough to subdue
the most rebellious urchin into submissior.
and even parents believed that the winds
which reached them. by passing ever bic
domains. were sulphur tainted. =
Well does the history Of this man reveal
the dark superstition q the fifteenth cen
tury, aud also the impunity with which
one in high rank might commit the most
revolving crimes against humanity. De
Rci,z had once been in possession OF i'm
mense estates aud untold wealth but BY the
most debasng sxces-es. he not only squan-
dered his fortune. bu. also ruined his, oon.
-,itu,ion. SO that, while yet young ibah,
be boro the appearance Of dccrepitude aud
old age IIo could not however, consent
to pay the penalty Of his sin BY thus be-
coming old before his time. In the blind.
ness Of his superstition he conceived tls
hope Of reclining both health and wealth
by the power Of magic. Having heard Of
famous Italian alehymist, who had per.
formed great miracles by his art. he sent
for him to come to the castle The cuns
ming magician at once read his man. and
encouraged his hopes; ho was. therefore.
employed at high price to undertake the
work, aud invited to make the lofty castle
his home The srst object was the win-
Mug back Of health and vigor. without
which all other treasures are Of little avail.
Numbeross were tho arts be tried, 9pg
mysterious the preparations he made.
The dark dungeons and secret subtsrrs.
an passages beneath the castle we're tho
scencs Of his work. Here terrified peas
nntry imagined that the Italian made
compact with the Prince OF Darknea., and
sold the duped De Reiz TO him in compcn-
sation for his aid in restoring his health.
Among many nonscnsical and harmless
experiments were also some Of cruel and
aboniaable character lie induced his
infatuated employer to believe that therS
existed in the blood Of infants . charm for
restoring youth and vgor. He assured
him that by bathing daily in the warm
blood Of these innorents, the pure yousg
life, whel, had so lately conrsad through
their tiny veins, would be transferred ID
his own. The bloody baron did not shrink
for one momcn, from the commission Of
the horrid crimes which this prescription
rendered necessary. Tender infants we're
secretly stolen. or forcibly torn from their
parents. and KEEP, in the dungeons Of tho
castle. till their blood WAS required. Il u
believed ,hrt not less than one hundred
humble ,1otaess were thus bsreft Of their
youngest born This feud in human
shape hired magician, but not murder
er That office he reserved for himself.
nor did his savage nature shrink from the
horril work i, imposed. With his own
hand did he pierce tho hearts Of his af-
frightel little victims. until there Was
blood sufficient, TO cover his cmaciatcd bo-
dy. This is but one instance Of the mon-
sirous cruelty Of DE Re,z. We think -.
ry likely his wives shared the fate of the
poor iufants. aud that the story Of Blue
Beard in vide trowsers, loose robes and
turban, was not exaggerated. :.
But crime cannot always 60 unpunished.
, Even then, when the rich ruled over tho
poor, Justice aud mercy triumphcd At last.
The cries aud entrca.ies Of tho hcartbro.
ken people around bis domains reached
the ears Of his superior. Jean v. He
was arrested. and brought before tribu-
nal of justice His palace Was thown o.
pen to the public gaze, and iss hofrM dens
and vaults we're swim witnesses against
him He was found guilty Of murders By
the scores. and after confessing msn1
crimes before unknown, he Was burnt q
the stake in Nantes, 14i0. 1kis - tho
origin of Blue Bcord. and there. a1l6euetf
more than four hundred yesrs have pasest
away since he paid the penalty u ~
crimes. the broken wslls and jagged tups
rot. still stand as . memorial that tle
wicked ahall not 60 unpunished. IL