The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-05-22
The Man Of the Iron MASK


The latest theory in regard to this
mystery, resting upon letters recently
discovered addressed by Anne of Aus
tria and Cardinal Mazarin, each to the
other, is this: Upon the death of Louis
XIII, his widowed consort, by decree
of Parliament, was constituted absolute
regent. She thereupon announced that
she would retain Mazarin as her prime
minister. He is described as being
handsome man, of distinguished man
mers, elegant appearance and insinua-
ting address. The queen recognized
the difficulty of her position at the
kings death, surrounded as she was by
greedy courtiers grasping at high places.
AIazarin, always her favorite, offered
himself not only as a chiyalrous. COM
panion, but as the foremost statesmen
among her eOunselors. 1t was a de-
scent in the.social scale for the daughter
and widow Of king to mite her des-
TIMES by wedlock with a commoner.
But they were both in the early stage
Of middle hfe--their ages only. differing
by year, She in the maturity OF her
beauty, and he of his intellect-her
children, the dauphin and his brother,
six and four years Of age respectively,
peeding . guiding hands and among all
the courtiers who surrounded her Maz-
arin alone united the wisdom of states
manship 70 the sincerity of friendship.
There is no doubt Of their marriage
says the historian Michelet, ''the car
dinal having obtained q dispensation
from Rome; nor of the subsequent
birth ofp son. During Mazarin's life
the boy grew up in the palace, n play
mate of the two older children, and a
possible heir to the crown. But with
the death Of tho great minister came
greet change. The real emancipation
Of Louis XIV. then commenced. Anne
of Austria, deprived of ali share in the
government, quilted Paris. and during
the remainder Of her life made her
home at the convent of st. Denis. Her
son, then IS. followed her. To Louis
KY. and to the due d'0rieans this,
sleir heH-brother. in whose veins flowed
! ignoble blood, was an object Of dislike.
The queen kept him at her side, gave
him the advantages Of education, and
! Tor fotiF years caused him 70 be taught
ail manly and noble accomplishments.
He noyer returned to court but from
/ letters. still preserved, written by those
who paid their homage to the queen mp
/ to the last. it is evident that the boy
was regarded as giving unoommon
promise. To the fine person and win
4 ming manners inherited from the Aus
I TRAN side. he added the extraordinary
] gifts Of the great minister, his father
There are fnany among the noblesse of
the old regime who undoubtedly looked
for an eventuality that might piaos him
upon the throne Louis XIV. was
aware Of al this. ami the death sf
Anne of Austria, ia 1864. removed
every obstacle in the way Of his plalis.
/ Young rs the King was. he would brook
no possible rival to even his illeRiti.
mate successors The young prince
wss ssised in his bed at ST. Dsnis. the
irna nask. Invented by Colbert and
made by his direction, vas locked upon
his haad. and for 90 years he vas known
slnlv ns the man with the iron mask :
At the Supposed age II CO be died 81
- Narqaesiis 1'hsfs i no otlsel
piaasibie theory ab8nt the nnhnean
nan Eafssfzt AaihfN
as 80 tba feisEive siza - fhe bFasns
Il Europeaa msn and women, Il has
been foand shan ia snen Che brain il
absolutely LARGER than IA women. but Il
e. body. we Hhd the altanl r. b be on
the wefoan's si6e