The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-06-22
The Man in the iron Mask.

on the lSlh OF September. lG9S e,
about three o'clock, the guarded litter
passed the draw-bridgc of the Bastile.
and the prisoner was placed in one of
the rooms OF the tower Of La Bcrtaudiere
Here, tor i've Years, the Man in the Mask
is lost 10 sight. Yet tradition has thrown
a faint and doubtful light upon the sinou-
lar story. It is said that the prisoner was
always treated with unusual dcfcrencc; :;
that his iailer never sat down in his pres
cnce; that he was supplied with every lux
ury; that he was clothed in the finest
linen and the costlicst laccS, for which
he showed an eNtravagant fondncss that
his table was abundant; that he amused
his leisure by playing on the guitar. But
from all intercourse with the world around
him he was sternly cut Off His mask
was never raised even when he took his
food, and orders We're given to kill him
should lie attempt to remove it.
An aged physician OF the Bastile. who
had often attended him, stated that he
never saw his face, although he had cv-
amincd his tongue. He was finely
formed, said the doctor; his complexion
was dark, his voice low and soft. Yet
he never complained of his condition, nor
gave the least indication of who he was.
A perpetual terror had probably broken
down within him every thought of re-
sistance TO his royal prosecutor 4 doubt
full story il told that 1T st. Marguerite
the prisoner one day wrote with Il knife
on silver plate which he had used at
dinner, and threw it out OF the window
toward q boat that lay On the shore near
the foot of the tower A fisherman. own
er of the boat, found the plate and brought
it to the governor. lie asked the fishers
man, in establishment and alarm. Have
YOU read what is written on this plate ~
las any one seen it in your possession 2''
The man replied that he could not rcll,
and that he had shown it TO no one. The
governor detained him until he had made
sure that he spoke the truth, and then
dismissed him, saying, 1T is happy for
you that you can not read" Another leg
end relates that the prime minister of
France, Louvois visited the masked prs-
oncr i'll his cell at st. Marguerite, and
during the interview refused to sit down
in his presence. lie evidently treated
the miserable captive as if he were hi,
superior.
For five years the Man of the Iron
Mask survived his removal to the Baslilc
Winter and summer his narrow cell in the
lonely tower echoed to thn motto of bis
mourniul guitar. almost tho onlv snnnI
that awoke the utter silence Ills vonth
and manhood had passed ay,v anI ~
had never heard the sweet voiaos nf NJ svn,
pathv. of friendship. of commission or of
love. The suspiciolls tones Of tbn c,ut;o,,s
Saint Mars, and the stcalthy tread Of his
spies. were the only sonn,is Win whi4h
he was familiar ironnl b;n, ho ,,,;arl,t
hear the murm1r of hnsv p,ri.. at q
Marguerite he NAV have cauoht fbn rnai.
of the tempest-toSscI waves Hnt 10
must have Ior@otten in liz onllnss c,n-
tivitv, the cheerful sounds of his childhood
or perhaps fancied Them revived i, thn
gentle music of his guitar. His mind, no
doubt, sank into imbecilitv in his solitary
BONDAGE. 1t hannanna f. mnst Of III
captives of fine maonitrnnt onis IN fam
into premature dofaoc and to din sn,.
rounded by mental aiIusions Nor conII
the Man in the Mask have csr,nn1 mo
common fate of Fonnunt anl l.n1,,, ~
Avedick and the Iiurunnot ,,'ist,, min;stnrs
Old ace came upon 6im without rrvnrnnce
and without rp%ar,) No frinnJlv ovo baJ
looked mon bis veilcl countcnancn. no
children nor grandchildren chnnrnd his
weary hours os thev dronneI slowly our,,-
The fatal purpose of Louis \IY asnr,..